TORONTO

Francisco, Pena homer in Rays' 9-4 win over Jays

The Canadian Press Published Sunday, September 2, 2012 5:02PM EDT

Toronto Blue Jays Edwin Encarnacion (right) celebrates with Colby Rasmus after hitting a two run homer off Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Cesar Ramos during the ninth inning of MLB American League baseball action in Toronto on Sunday September 2 , 2012. (Chris Young/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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TORONTO - Ben Francisco and Carlos Pena hit home runs as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 9-4 on Sunday to hand Ricky Romero his 12th consecutive loss.

Tampa Bay rapped out a season-high 18 hits. The Blue Jays had eight hits including Edwin Encarnacion's 37th homer of the season that scored two runs with two out in the ninth against Cesar Ramos.

A six-run second inning vaulted the Rays (73-61) to their second win in a row and gave them a split in the four-game series with the Blue Jays (60-73).

Romero (8-13) did not get an out from seven batters in the second inning. He was charged with seven runs on eight hits and a walk and did not strike out a batter on his one-plus innings to increase his earned-run average to 5.85.

The left-hander has not won in his 13 starts since June 22 at Miami when he beat the Marlins to go to 8-1 with a 4.34 ERA.

Rays' left-hander David Price (17-5) allowed six hits, four walks and two runs and hit a batter while striking out five in 6 2/3 innings. He is 12-2 with a 2.29 ERA in his career against Toronto.