Blue Jays 11, White Sox 9: Colby Rasmus homered and drove in three runs, leading an early offensive barrage, as visiting Toronto halted Chicago’s five-game winning streak.

The Blue Jays, who had totaled just two runs in the first two games of the series, seized the upper hand right away when Rasmus and Edwin Encarnacion hit two-run homers against Dylan Axelrod (0-2) in the top of the first. Alex Rios answered with a three-run shot in the bottom of the inning, but Rasmus added an RBI double in the second and Kelly Johnson clubbed a two-run homer in the third to give Toronto a 7-3 cushion.

Jeff Mathis hit a solo home run in the fourth inning for the Blue Jays, who snapped a three-game losing skid. Jesse Chavez (1-1) got the victory in relief of starter Brett Cecil, who lasted just 4 1/3 innings. The White Sox brought the winning run to the plate with two out in the ninth inning against Casey Janssen, but Alejandro De Aza struck out to end the final comeback bid.

Chicago cut it to 8-7 with a four-run fifth, but Toronto got three of those runs back in the top of the sixth. Jose Bautista and Adam Lind each had an RBI double.

Alexei Ramirez capped Chicago’s fifth-inning rally with a two-run triple right after Rios had doubled to drive in his fourth run of the day. Kevin Youkilis had an RBI double in the sixth inning, and Dayan Viciedo's sacrifice fly in the seventh accounted for the final run of the game.

Neither starting pitcher survived for long. Axelrod gave up seven runs on six hits in three innings, while Cecil surrendered seven runs (six earned) on six hits and three walks before being pulled in the fifth.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The White Sox had won seven straight home games ... Janssen is perfect in 12 save situations since taking over the closer’s role, allowing just four hits and a walk in 12 1/3 shutout innings while striking out 13 ... Chavez had not gotten a win since pitching for Kansas City on Aug. 21, 2010. That victory also came against the White Sox ... Youkilis has at least one RBI in each of the last seven games ... The season series between the two clubs is even at 3-3.