Juan Rivera's three-run homer highlighted a five-run third inning to lead the visiting Toronto Blue Jays to a 6-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday.

Rivera’s blast was the Blue Jays' only hit in their big inning. Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia (6-3) walked the bases loaded, gave up a sacrifice fly to Adam Lind and allowed a run on a throwing error. Rivera then blasted a 407-foot shot to left field. Only one of the five runs scored against Garcia was earned.

Carlos Villanueva (5-1) allowed two runs and five hits in six innings to earn the win for Toronto, which has won the first two games of the three-game series.

The Cardinals threatened in the eighth when their first two batters reached against Jon Rauch, but Matt Holliday was called out on strikes and ejected by home plate Marvin Hudson for arguing the call. Reliever Marc Rzepczynski entered the game and enticed Lance Berkman to hit into a double play.

Edwin Encarnacion added a solo home run for the Blue Jays in the ninth.