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          From worst to Sturtze: Tanyon improves to 2-0

          Apr 9, 2003

            TORONTO (AP) -- Tanyon Sturtze is enjoying baseball again.

            Sturtze won his second straight start and Vernon Wells hit a grand slam as the Toronto Blue Jays rallied for their fifth straight victory, 10-5 over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.

            Sturtze (2-0) went 4-18 with a 5.18 ERA last year with Tampa Bay, leading the majors in losses. His second victory last season didn't come until Aug. 18.

            "This team has made baseball fun again for me after the miserable time I had last year,'' Sturtze said. "This year is a great new beginning. I love being in this clubhouse with this team.''

            The 33-year-old right-hander allowed three runs and six hits in
            seven strong innings. He struck out five and walked one.

            The Worcester, Mass., native said beating the Red Sox was extra special.

            "It's always better to get a win against Boston. I think I concentrate a little better because I don't want to embarrass myself in front of everybody at home,'' Sturtze said.

            Mike Bordick doubled twice and drove in three runs for the Blue
            Jays, who haven't lost since dropping their first three games of
            the season to the New York Yankees.

            Manny Ramirez extended his career-high hitting streak to 22 games with a three-run homer for the Red Sox, who have lost three of four.

            Ramirez's homer gave Boston a 3-0 lead in the fourth, but
            Toronto's Dave Berg homered off Casey Fossum (1-1) in the bottom
            half and the Blue Jays scored five runs in the fifth.

            After Fossum walked Chris Woodward, Bordick hit an RBI double.
            Shannon Stewart and Berg followed with walks off Fossum.

            Wells homered off reliever Ramiro Mendoza for his first career
            slam, giving Toronto a 6-3 lead.

            "He gave up a grand slam on a changeup. It wasn't an awful pitch. I give Vernon a lot of credit,'' Boston catcher Jason Varitek said.

            The Blue Jays added three runs in the sixth off Mendoza on
            Orlando Hudson's sacrifice fly and Bordick's two-run double.

            Fossum allowed five runs on three hits and three walks in 4 2/3
            innings. Boston's struggling bullpen gave up five runs on five
            hits.

            "Of course the bullpen concerns us, but hopefully success will
            come soon,'' Varitek said.

            Game notes
            Ramirez hit his 17th career homer at SkyDome, the
            third-most of any opposing player. Alex Rodriguez and Jose Canseco
            have 18. ... Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi signed Sturtze
            in 1990 as a scout with Oakland. ... Wells hit Toronto's first
            grand slam since Oct. 5, 2001. ... Wells has three home runs. ...
            Bordick went 2-for-3 with a walk in his first career start at third
            base.