MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Ted Lilly threw six shutout innings, Bengie Molina backed him with a two-run homer and the Toronto Blue Jays began a 10-game trip with a 5-0 win over the Minnesota Twins Thursday.

Alex Rios had two RBIs for Toronto, which trailed Minnesota by 7 games in the AL wild-card race when the day began. Chicago was a half-game back and Boston was 1 games behind.

Carlos Silva (8-10) lost for the first time in six starts for the Twins, whose bats were stifled by Lilly a night after their dramatic, 4-3 comeback victory over division-leading Detroit.

Helping the Blue Jays win for the fourth time in five games following a seven-game losing streak, Lilly (10-10) allowed only three hits and two walks. He struck out three and gave Toronto a big boost in the opener of a four-game series. After hanging in playoff contention all summer, the Blue Jays have faded since the All-Star break.

Minnesota had runners at the corners with two outs in the second, but Jason Tyner grounded into an inning-ending fielder’s choice.

In the sixth, Luis Castillo and Nick Punto started with singles. Joe Mauer moved them over with a groundout to second, but Michael Cuddyer struck out and Justin Morneau popped one up to Troy Glaus at third.

Silva was even with Lilly until the fifth, when Lyle Overbay led off with a single for Toronto’s first hit. Two batters later Molina belted his 10th homer to right-center field, giving the Blue Jays a 2-0 lead.

Toronto tacked on some insurance in the seventh, when Eric Hinske and Molina each reached on singles. Aaron Hill’s high chopper to third was stopped by a leaping Punto, who chased Hinske home and threw him out. John McDonald followed with an infield hit to load the bases, though, and Molina scored on Silva’s wild pitch. Then Rios stroked a single through the hole to left, driving in two, making it 5-0 and sending Silva to the dugout.

Notes: The Twins handed out replica Mauer sideburns to the first 10,000 fans through the gates. Made of synthetic hair, the black, fuzzy novelties came with double-sided tape for easy sticking to the face. Several teammates, including Morneau, Torii Hunter and Jason Bartlett, wore them during batting practice. … Toronto and Minnesota are first and second in the majors in team batting average. … The Blue Jays are in a stretch where they’re playing 20 out of 26 games on the road.