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B.J. Ryan returned from injury to record his first save in more than a year on Sunday as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Texas Rangers 5-4 in 10 innings.

Alex Rios made a running catch to preserve Ryan's save, which looked like an iffy proposition after leadoff batter Marlon Byrd stretched what looked like a double into a triple.

Aaron Hill of the Toronto Blue Jays makes the throw to first from his knees during Sunday's game in Texas.
(Donna McWilliam/Associated Press)

Ryan, 32, underwent Tommy John ligament replacement surgery for his left elbow almost one year ago. He recorded his last save on April 11, 2007, and was forced to the sidelines after an appearance three days later.

Third baseman Joe Inglett knocked in his second run of the game with a sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th. Pinch runner Marco Scutaro crossed the plate on the play for the winning run.

Catcher Rod Barajas doubled and singled to knock in two runs, his first RBIs as a Blue Jay. Alex Rios marked his fifth RBI of the young season.

The streaky Blue Jays were involved in their third consecutive series sweep, coming out on the winning end for the second time.

Toronto (7-5) plays a two-game set in Baltimore beginning Monday night, with Dustin McGowan the probable starting pitcher. The clubs share the lead in the American League East.

The Jays came out on top of a seesaw affair Sunday during which they hit into three double plays and stranded 10 baserunners overall.

A.J. Burnett failed to get a decision for the second time in three starts this season. Burnett lasted five and 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits and four runs.

He surrendered a home run in the fourth inning to Josh Hamilton of the Rangers.

Texas starter Scott Feldman lasted went six innings, giving up three runs on eight hits.

Both starters struck out three and walked two in the game at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas.

Texas (5-7) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when Ian Kinsler singled and then stole second, scoring a run on Hamilton's grounder.

Barajas doubled in the top of the second to knock in Lyle Overbay.

Toronto threatened to have a big inning in the fourth when Frank Thomas led off with a single and Feldman walked Overbay. After Barajas hit into a double play, Inglett sent Thomas across the plate with a single.

The Rangers got the run back immediately in their half of the inning when Hamilton hit his third home run of the season. The right-fielder, who overcame drug addiction after being one of baseball's brightest prospects, was traded from Cincinnati to Texas in the off-season.

The score was 4-4 after seven. Kinsler and former Blue Jay Frank Catalanotto drove in the Ranger runs, with Toronto's coming courtesy of a Barajas single and Rios sacrifice fly, which brought David Eckstein home in a close play at the plate in the seventh.

Toronto used seven pitchers on the day and got some clutch work from their middle relievers. Brian Tallet faced just one batter but got a big strikeout when he replaced Burnett in the sixth, while Scott Downs worked himself out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth by striking out Jason Botts.

The Blue Jays had a chance to go ahead in the ninth when Shannon Stewart singled with one out and Aaron Hill walked but Texas reliever C.J. Wilson struck Rios out and got Vernon Wells to hit a fly ball for out No. 3.

In the top of the 10th, Dustin Nippert walked Thomas and Overbay. Scutaro came in to run for Thomas and Gregg Zaun, who had entered the game for Barajas, moved both runners over a base with a sacrifice bunt.

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