TAMPA, Fla., March 3 (UPI) -- Vernon Wells highlighted a five-run third inning with a bases-clearing triple Monday as the Toronto Blue Jays posted a 9-8 victory over the New York Yankees in a Grapefruit League contest.
Wells singled home a run in the fourth inning as the Blue Jays took an 8-0 lead. The 24-year-old outfielder batted .275, hit 23 homers and drove in 100 runs last year.
Mark Hendrickson started for Toronto and surrendered just one hit. The 6-9 lefthander threw 16 of his 26 pitches for strikes.
The Yankees rallied with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, four in the fifth and one each in the fifth and ninth.
Japanese star Hideki Matsui hit his second home run of the spring off Blue Jays reliever Evan Thomas, a three-run shot in the fifth inning. He continued his hot spring by going 3-for-3 and is batting .555 (5-for-9) in three games.
Alfonso Soriano and Dave Post also homered and Todd Zeile had a two-run double for New York.
The good news for the Yankees was the performance of starter Andy Pettitte, who retired all six batters he faced in his spring debut.
Steve Karsay also made his first appearance of the spring. Karsay, who underwent back surgery in November, allowed an unearned run and two hits while retiring two batters.
However, Chien-Ming Wang gave up seven runs and four hits over 1 1/3 innings.
