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ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- The Toronto Blue Jays are trying to recapture the aggressive offense that fueled their early-season success. Alex Gonzalez hit a three-run homer and double, and Shannon Stewart drove in three runs as the Blue Jays beat the Texas Rangers 9-3 Friday night. The Blue Jays opened the season with a 16-8 record, but since then they've gone 5-12. Manager Buck Martinez felt the team began to rely too heavily on sluggers Raul Mondesi and Carlos Delgado -- on Friday night, Toronto got RBIs from five different players. "It's a little bit more of what we did in the first month of the season," Martinez said. "Everyone contributed rather than us relying on Mondi and Carlos. It was a good team win." Toronto had fallen to 10th in the league with a team batting average of .258 prior to Friday night's game, prompting Martinez to alter his lineup. Delgado was switched from cleanup to third in the order and Mondesi moved from third to fourth. "That was the key," Martinez said. "Carlos was up for it. We're just going to be flexible from now on." The Blue Jays beat Texas for the sixth straight time. The Rangers have lost 15 of 18. Gonzalez chased rookie starter Aaron Myette (0-1) with his fourth-inning homer, which pushed Toronto's lead to 7-1. Stewart had a two-run double in the third. He added an RBI grounder in the fourth. Stewart is 9-for-19 against Texas this season. Toronto's Homer Bush, activated from the disabled list before the game, went 3-for-4, including an eighth-inning home run, his first of the season. Vernon Wells, a native of Arlington, went 2-for-4 with a double in his first major league game in his hometown and sixth game since being called up from the minors. "I wasn't nervous tonight," said Wells. "I actually got nervous when I got called up last week, but tonight I was fine. I knew going in not to press too much and just tried to get a couple hits." Chris Carpenter (4-1) took advantage of the big early lead to win his third straight decision. He allowed three runs and five hits over seven innings. Carpenter said he needs to keep his composure if he is to maintain his strong start. "I feel like I'm a different pitcher this year," said Carpenter. "I've been rushing the past few starts and it's something I've been battling. But tonight I felt in control and got ahead of a lot of batters. I felt more relaxed and was able to make some good pitches." The Rangers took a 1-0 lead in the second on Gabe Kapler's fourth homer, but the Blue Jays came back with a three-run third. Toronto loaded the bases with nobody out when Wells doubled, Bush singled and Alberto Castillo was hit by a pitch. Stewart doubled and Raul Mondesi's forceout brought home another run. Myette retired the first six hitters before Wells got the Jays rolling in the third. "I went up to the plate and just wanted to get it started for the club," said Wells. The Blue Jays knocked out Myette with a four-run fourth. Toronto loaded the bases on a leadoff walk to Tony Batista and singles by Wells and Castillo. One run scored on Stewart's grounder, and Gonzalez hit his fifth homer of the season. "I made some good pitches when I needed to early, but I started getting behind guys and things started to happen," said Myette. "I've got to throw more first-pitch strikes and get ahead." Texas made it 7-2 in the fourth when Randy Velarde tripled and scored on Rafael Palmeiro's groundout. Toronto added runs on Carlos Delgado's RBI single in the seventh, and Bush's homer in the eighth. Ken Caminiti drove in Texas' third run with a single in the eighth. Game notesHome plate umpire Mike Fichter warned both dugouts after a pitch by Rangers reliever J.D. Smart sailed behind Brad Fullmer in the fifth inning. ... Myette was making his fifth major league start. ... Toronto reliever Dan Plesac made his 900th major league appearance in the eighth inning, 12th all-time. Next on the list is Cy Young at 906 games. "I'm proud that I've done this as long as I have, " Plesac said. "The love is still there like it was when I started. I enjoy it for what it is and I take it like that every day.". ... Wells said he provided 30 tickets for family and friends, "and however many I could buy from the other guys."  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
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