TORONTO, April 22 (UPI) -- Chris Gomez hit his first career grand slam in the eighth inning and drove in five runs Thursday night, giving Toronto a 7-3 victory over Boston.
The Blue Jays dropped their first eight games at SkyDome but avoided the fate of becoming the first team to start 0-9 at home since the 1995 Florida Marlins.
The unlikely hero was Gomez, the ninth hitter in the lineup who had just nine at-bats this season. Even more surprising was the fact his homer came off one of the best pitchers in baseball.
Curt Schilling (2-1) lost for the first time in four starts with Boston, serving up the homer on his 123rd and final pitch of the night.
Singles by Carlos Delgado and Eric Hinske and a walk to Orlando Hudson set the stage for Gomez, who lined a pitch over the left field fence with two outs.
Schilling was tagged for 13 hits and struck out six.
