TORONTO (AP) -- Kenny Rogers felt fortunate to become the first

eight-game winner in the major leagues.

Rogers walked seven, but the Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue

Jays 4-2 Sunday to stop a four-game losing streak.

"It was as much of a struggle as I've ever had trying to find

the strike zone," Rogers said. "I was extremely lucky."

Rogers (8-2) won his fourth straight start, allowing an unearned

run and six hits in 5 1-3 innings. The walks were one shy of his

career high.

"I couldn't find the right recipe, mechanically or mentally,"

he said. "Whatever I was doing out there was totally wrong."

Rogers, off to the best start of his major league career, has

won six times following Texas losses. He escaped a pair of

bases-loaded jams, and the Blue Jays tied a season high by

stranding 14.

"It was a magic act for the most part," said Rogers, who

enjoys being the ace of the staff. "Even when you don't have your

best stuff, you know everybody here believes in you. I can't

overstate how much that means to a pitcher."

Francisco Cordero pitched two innings for his 16th save in 16

chances, ending Toronto's five-game winning streak.

Blue Jays slugger Carlos Delgado missed the game with a strained

right ribcage. Without their team leader in RBI, the Blue Jays

went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

"Kenny is a guy that just doesn't give in," Toronto's Vernon

Wells said. "We had a lot of guys on. We just weren't able to

drive them in."

Justin Miller (1-1) allowed three runs and seven hits in five

innings.

Rogers walked three batters in the first, but escaped as Alexis

Rios grounded out. He loaded them again in the fifth by allowing a

single and two walks, but Bobby Estalella hit into an inning-ending

double play.

"We were extremely lucky to win with that many walks," Texas

manager Buck Showalter said.

Texas built a 2-0 lead on Hank Blalock's RBI single in the third

and Rod Barajas' run-scoring single in the fifth. Brad Fullmer

ended a 0-for-21 slump with a homer in the sixth, giving the

Rangers a 3-0 lead.

Texas had gone 20 consecutive at-bats without a hit from its

cleanup hitter until Fullmer homered.

Shortstop Michael Young's fielding error loaded the bases in the

sixth, and reliever Carlos Almanzar walked Frank Menechino, forcing

in Toronto's first run. Wells then struck out, smacking his bat in

frustration.

Eric Hinske hit an RBI single in the seventh as Toronto closed

to 3-2. Blue Jays reliever Valerio De Los Santos threw two wild

pitches before David Dellucci hit a run-scoring grounder in the

seventh.Game notes
Rogers' parents drove from Florida to see him pitch. ...

Rogers has won four straight against Toronto. ... Fullmer is

4-for-9 in his career against Miller. .. Delgado is day to day.