by Paul Hoynes, Plain Dealer Reporter , Plain Dealer

Toronto hit five homers, including four off Pavano, on the way to a 10-6 victory. The Blue Jays' five homers, including two by former Tribe farmhand Marco Scutaro, were a season high.

The Indians , who have lost 22 of their past 30 games, were no match for Toronto's power. The Tribe has hit two homers in six games since the break.

Pavano (8-8, 5.48) was making his first start since July 11. The Indians felt the 10-day rest would help him in the second half because he didn't pitch much over the past four years with the Yankees because of injuries.

"You can't expect him to have the command he normally has," said manager Eric Wedge, referring to the long layoff. "But his delivery was good. His arm was working good. I think that will come back to us here in the second half."

Pavano, who had won his past two starts, allowed seven runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked two on 90 pitches.

"The layoff didn't affect me," Pavano said. "It was just one of those games where I struggled to get the ball down. I didn't get a ground-ball out until the fourth inning.

"The balls I left up, they hammered and made us pay."

Scutaro, who used to be a weak-hitting utility infielder, led the power parade for Toronto with consecutive homers. He homered off Pavano in the fifth and hit a three-run shot off Jose Veras in the sixth.

Toronto turned a 2-1 lead into 7-1 lead with a five-run fifth.

Homers by Alex Rios and Scutaro highlighted the inning. Toronto scored four of the five runs with two out.

"The fifth inning hurt us," Pavano said. "I get two outs and I couldn't buy another out. I needed to get out of that inning and get us back in the dugout. I thought we were swinging the bats well.

"Early in the game we had guys on base every inning. It was going to take one hit to open this game up, but I couldn't get the job done."

Luis Valbuena gave the Indians hope when he hit a three-run homer off Ricky Romero (8-4, 3.44) in the sixth to make it 7-4, but Scutaro answered with his three-run shot in the sixth to make it 10-4.

It was Valbuena's fifth homer, but his first since he hit two against the Cubs on June 20.

"Scutaro always seems to match up well against us," Wedge said. "He's one of those guys who just keeps getting better."

Jhonny Peralta's double and Ben Francisco's single accounted for the Indians' final two runs in the seventh.

The Indians outhit the Blue Jays, 10-8. It was only the second time they've had 10 hits in a game since the break.

"Offensively we were better," Wedge said. "We're nowhere near where we need to be, but we were better tonight."

Ryan Garko led the Indians with three hits. Victor Martinez, perhaps emerging from a long slump, added two hits. Martinez, who won Tuesday's game with a double in the ninth inning, has four hits in the past two games.

Veras didn't help the Indians in the sixth. He walked the first two batters he faced before Scutaro homered.

"We're right in that game if the pen does a better job," Wedge said.

The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the first when Grady Sizemore walked and Asdrubal Cabrera doubled him to third. Sizemore scored on Travis Hafner's grounder.

Four of Toronto's five homers were solos. Vernon Wells tied it at 1-1 with a homer in the second. Aaron Hill put the Blue Jays ahead to stay, 2-1, with a leadoff homer in the fourth.

In Tuesday's victory, the Indians stranded seven runners in the first three innings. They stranded three, one for each inning, Wednesday.

Pavano, who has allowed 15 homers this season, says there will be no more minivacations to protect his arm.

"I plan on starting every fifth day from here on out," he said.

It would be even better if he gets better results than Wednesday night.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

BOX:

Today

What: Indians at Blue Jays.

When: 12:37 p.m.

Where: Rogers Centre, Toronto.

TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio; WTAM AM/1100.

Pitchers: LHP David Huff (4-4, 6.60 ERA) vs. LHP Marc Rzepczynski (1-1, 2.50).

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