Wells Picks Up 13th Victory to Lead Majors

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Boomer came through again.

David Wells became the major leagues’ first 13-game winner and Jose Cruz Jr. homered as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the host Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 5-2, Wednesday night.

Wells (13-2) pitched a five-hitter in picking up his sixth consecutive win and fourth complete game of the season.

“When you’re locked in, you’re locked in,” Wells said, “I just go out there and I’m in my own little world.”

The left-hander struck out five and did not walk a batter for the ninth time in 17 starts.

“What can you say . . . he’s 13-2,” Blue Jay Manager Jim Fregosi said. “To me, he’s been the best pitcher overall in the league this year, and that’s saying something because that guy in Boston is pretty darn good.”

Wells tied Roger Clemens (1997), for whom he was traded last year, for the most wins by a Blue Jay pitcher by the All-Star break. He could break the record in his next scheduled start Monday at Baltimore.

The first-place Blue Jays hold a three-game lead over the Yankees in the American League East.

“As long as we do our job, let the rest speak for itself,” Wells said. “I’m just happy we’re winning.”

Wells threw 85 of 108 pitches for strikes. He retired 12 of the last 13 hitters he faced.

Toronto’s Carlos Delgado extended his career-high hitting streak to 21 games with a fourth-inning single. He is tied with Baltimore’s B.J. Surhoff for the longest current streak in the league.

Russ Johnson hit a solo homer for Tampa Bay in the third. The Devil Rays have homered in a team-record eight consecutive games.