TORONTO (CP) - Lyle Overbay may be looking at a career change - from doubles hitter to home run threat.
Overbay homered twice and drove in a season-high five runs, backing a solid outing from Casey Janssen as the Toronto Blue Jays blasted the Philadelphia Phillies 8-1 Friday.
The homers were Overbay's fourth and fifth in the last five games, giving him 14 on the season. Known more for his ability to hit to the gaps, the first baseman showed impressive power on the night his boyhood idol - longtime Blue Jays infielder John Olerud - was honoured by the team.
Overbay insists there's nothing special about his sudden power surge.
"I'm just taking good swings more consistently," said Overbay, whose career high is 19 homers. "I've been getting pitches to hit .. it's just a matter of taking those good swings and trusting (them)."
Janssen stymied the Phillies over six innings and the Jays provided plenty of run support for their rookie right-hander as Toronto (45-34) won its fourth straight. With the victory, the Jays moved 11 games above .500 for the first time since June 28, 2003.
Janssen (6-6) scattered five hits to end a personal three-game losing streak. He walked two and struck out three, the biggest coming on an Aaron Rowand punchout with the bases loaded in the top of the first inning.
"It was a big out," said Janssen. "You don't want to fall behind in the first inning. The team's on a roll and I just wanted to keep it going."
Overbay applauded the effort of starters Janssen, Roy Halladay, Ted Lilly and A.J. Burnett, who have each earned victories during the winning streak - Toronto's longest since Aug. 9-12, 2005.
"As long as they keep us in the game, we're going to score some runs and give them every chance to win a ballgame," said Overbay. "That's what we ask of them, and they've done a great job. Hopefully it'll continue."
Right-fielder Eric Hinske, batting leadoff for the first time in his major league career, also homered and ended the game with a spectacular diving catch before 17,311 at Rogers Centre.
"It'll be on ESPN tonight," joked Toronto manager John Gibbons. "Or TSN. Or Sportsnet. Or The Score."
David Dellucci provided Philadelphia's only offence, belting a solo homer - his sixth of the season - off reliever Jason Frasor with two out in the seventh.
Phillies right-hander Adam Bernero (0-1) was torched in his first major-league start in nearly two years, allowing eight runs on seven hits in just two innings. Bernero, who was promoted from triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, walked two and threw batting practice the rest of the time as the Phillies (36-43) lost for the eighth time in nine games.
Bernero wouldn't make excuses for his rough outing.
"Obviously you don't have Lyle Overbay and Vernon Wells at triple-A," said Bernero, who spent last season as a reliever with Atlanta. "You don't get away with as many mistakes here."
Toronto had to do without right-fielder Alex Rios, who remained in hospital Friday after having fluid drained from his lower left leg. Rios, batting .330 with 15 home runs and 53 RBIs, fouled a ball off his leg Tuesday night against Washington and was hospitalized Thursday after developing an infection.
The Jays cruised even without their star leadoff hitter, sending eight men to the plate in a four-run first. Hinske and Frank Catalanotto opened with walks, and one out later, Troy Glaus scored Hinske with an RBI double to left.
Overbay followed with a three-run shot that just cleared the right-field wall.
Hinske continued the hit parade in the second, belting his fifth homer of the season, a 442-foot solo shot to straightaway centre. Glaus made it 6-0 with an RBI double before Overbay hit a two-run homer to left centre.
Wells left the game in the fifth inning with a hamstring cramp and was replaced in centre field by Reed Johnson. Wells will be re-evaluated Saturday.
Notes: .. No decision has been made on whether the Jays will put Rios on the 15-day disabled list. Gibbons has said the team would likely carry an extra reliever if Rios was placed on the DL. .. Overbay has at least two hits in nine of his past 13 games, boosting his average above .300 for the first time since May 29. .. With a 16-11 record in June, the Blue Jays have posted three straight winning months for the first time since April-June 1993. .. Entering Friday, Toronto relievers had allowed just three earned runs over their last 28 1/3 innings of work.