Blue Jays Lower Boom on Wells

The Toronto Blue Jays made Boomer hear the boos.

Alexis Rios, Bengie Molina and Vernon Wells homered off David Wells in the left-hander’s first start of the season, and the Blue Jays defeated the Red Sox, 8-4, on Wednesday night at Boston.

Wells (0-1), who requested a trade during the winter then rescinded that request in spring training, was booed early and often after giving up three runs in the first, two in the second and two in the sixth.

“I just have to go out there and try to keep my team on the ballgame,” Wells said, “and if you don’t then you’re going to get that, especially me. But that’s fine and I can deal with it. I have been in worse places.”

Wells gave up seven runs, 10 hits, walked one and struck out one in four-plus innings before leaving to boos in the fifth.

“He just made a couple of mistakes. They weren’t good pitches at all,” Molina said. “He left a couple up and right down the middle.”

Rios had a two-run homer and a career-best four RBIs for the Blue Jays, who collected a season-high 16 hits.

Dustin Mohr had a two-run homer, and David Ortiz and Wily Mo Pena had solo shots for Boston, which lost a chance to match its best start in 86 years in dropping to 6-2.

Toronto starter Gustavo Chacin (2-0) benefited from a 5-0 lead after two innings, giving up three runs and five hits in five innings.

Seattle 11, Cleveland 9 -- Richie Sexson’s sixth-inning grand slam helped the visiting Mariners end a four-game losing streak and stop the Indians’ winning streak at six.

Raul Ibanez went four for four with four RBIs, and Ichiro Suzuki snapped an 0-for-18 slump with three singles and scored four runs for Seattle, which knocked starter Paul Byrd (1-1) out in the fourth.

Casey Blake had four RBIs for Cleveland and teammate Travis Hafner hit a two-run homer, moving into a tie for the major league lead with his sixth of the season.

Chicago 4, Detroit 3 -- Jim Thome homered for the second straight game and Jose Contreras pitched eight strong innings to lift the White Sox at Detroit.

Contreras (1-0), who stretched his winning streak to nine games dating to last season, struck out two and allowed six hits and one walk.

Chris Shelton hit his sixth homer of the season with Magglio Ordonez on second in the ninth to pull the Tigers within one. But Bobby Jenks recovered to get the next two outs for his third save.

New York 12, Kansas City 5 -- Gary Sheffield homered and drove in four runs, and Shawn Chacon overcame a shaky start to help send the Royals to their 13th straight loss at Yankee Stadium.

Jason Giambi had a pair of RBI doubles, Derek Jeter scored three times and Sheffield finished with three hits as New York tagged Royal starter Jeremy Affeldt (0-1).

Chacon (1-1) allowed three runs in the first inning, then settled down. He gave up five runs and seven hits in six-plus innings, striking out five.

Minnesota 6, Oakland 5 -- Justin Morneau hit his second homer in as many nights and Torii Hunter had two hits and a home run for the Twins at Minneapolis.

Tony Batista added three hits and an RBI for the Twins, who averaged 2.8 runs in their first five losses before bouncing back with two big nights in a row.

Carlos Silva (1-1) worked seven innings to get the win.

Tampa Bay 7, Baltimore 4 -- Jonny Gomes hit a tiebreaking grand slam in the eighth inning off Sendy Rleal (0-1), helping lift the Devil Rays at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Ty Wigginton homered for the second straight game, hitting a two-run shot off Oriole reliever John Halama to tie the at 3-3 in the seventh.

Kevin Millar homered twice and drove in three runs for the Orioles.