TAMPA, Fla., March 24 (UPI) -- David Wells allowed three runs and nine hits over six innings Sunday as the New York Yankees held on for an 8-7 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Signed by the Yankees as a free agent in the offseason, the 38-year-old Wells had his worst outing of the spring. He has allowed seven runs over 21 1/3 innings for a 2.91 ERA.
With two outs in the top of the first, the lefthander walked Brian Lesher -- his first free pass of the spring after 16 1/3 innings. He also struck out two.
Jason Giambi delivered a two-run double in a three-run first, helping the Yankees win for the 11th time in their last 12 games.
However, setup man Steve Karsay gave up three runs in the top of the ninth as the Blue Jays nearly erased an 8-4 deficit.
Brandon Lyon suffered the loss, yielding five runs and five hits over 5 1/3 innings.
Rookie Marcus Thames, who is making a late bid for the final spot on the Yankees' 25-man roster, went two for three with an RBI single in the fourth.
Tom Wilson had three hits for the Blue Jays, including a solo homer off Wells in the fifth. He also delivered an RBI single in the sixth. Raul Mondesi hit a solo homer for Toronto in the seventh.
