The Toronto Blue Jays began a three game series with the Tampa Bay Rays Monday night at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

The Jays sent ace Roy Halladay to the mound to do battle with Tampa Rookie of the Year candidate Jeff Niemann.

Roy Halladay has not looked like himself in his last two starts.

This was a game to forget for Halladay, as he was roughed up for his second consecutive start by the Rays.

Halladay, who has had trouble with the Rays for most of his career, was taken apart by the power and speed offensive approach of Tampa.

The Rays scored eight runs, seven earned, on twelve hits off Halladay who only lasted a mere six innings.

It was the second start in a row for Halladay not pitching at least seven innings.

The score made this game seem closer than it actually was as Tampa ended up with a 12-7 victory.

The Jays had the lead after a five run second inning, in which Rod Barajas hit a grand slam off Jeff Niemann, but Niemann composed himself and went on to shut down the Jays over six and a third innings of work.

Randy Ruiz added another home run to his statistics in the eighth inning hammering a Dan Wheeler pitch into left field. His fourth home run since joining the Blue Jays.

On Tuesday, the Rays continued their dominance over the Jays as they got to rookie left hander Brett Cecil early in the game.

Cecil allowed six runs; five earned over the first three innings and was yanked from the game after pitching only three and a third.

Rays first baseman Carlos Pena had two home runs in the game. Both home runs from Pena were recorded off Cecil, the second being a monster shot into the second deck of the right field stands.

The Blue Jays bullpen combination of Josh Roenicke, Casey Janssen, Brian Tallet, Scott Downs and Jason Frasor did a wonderful job allowing one run, on five hits, while walking four and striking out six over five and two thirds to keep the Jays alive.

However, the Jays offense was not impressive and could only manufacture three runs in the game, although they had ten hits.

Trvais Snider has three home runs since his recall from the minors.

Of the three runs scored two came courtesy of home runs off the bats of Aaron Hill (30th) and Travis Snider (6th, and 3rd since being recalled from Triple A).

A wild finish at the Rogers Centre in the finale of this three game set saw the Jays avoid a sweep by Tampa.

Three different umpires were used at home plate in the game, as two umpires left home plate due to injuries.

Crew chief Jerry Crawford, who began the game behind the plate, left after two innings because of back spasms and his replacement, Tom Hallion, was struck in the chest by a pitch from Rays starter Scott Kazmir in the sixth.

Hallion fell backwards when Travis Snider swung and missed at a two-strike pitch.

The Kazmir pitch seemed to cross up Rays catcher Gregg Zaun, slamming straight into Hallion’s ribs.

Trainers and medical staff rushed to assist Hallion, waving a cart onto the field.

Hallion eventually stood up and walked off on his own.

After a 21-minute delay, the game resumed with Hallion at third base.

First base umpire Brian O’Nora moved behind the plate and Scott Barry moved from third to first.

Along with the umpire injury incidents, the Jays won this game in the ninth inning on a wild pitch from Tampa closer J.P Howell.

With a 2-1 lead, Howell allowed a pinch hit home run to Blue Jays catcher Rod Barajas in the ninth inning.

Howell proceeded to walk three batters in the inning loading the bases.

Howell than missed badly with a curveball that bounced off the shin guard of catcher Gregg Zaun, allowing Marco Scutaro to race home for the game winning run.

Both starting pitchers in this game were sensational.

Tampa starter Scott Kazmir allowed only one run, on four hits, while striking out ten over six innings.

Blue Jays starter Marc Rzepczynski, who was wild at times, walked five hitters, but allowed only two runs on three hits, while striking out seven over six innings of work.

Utility infielder and Toronto fan favorite John McDonald got the start at third base in this game and made a spectacular play on a Pat Burrell line drive in the second inning.

McDonald dove and knocked down the Burrell liner and followed that up by throwing the ball from his knees to get the slow footed Burrell at first.

The Jays have the night off Thursday, as they travel into Boston to do battle with the Red Sox at Fenway Park this Friday.

The series opener pits Canadian born starter Scott Richmond up against Boston ace and Cy Young candidate Josh Beckett.

In other Blue Jays news, Blue Jays third baseman Edwin Encarnacion has been put on the 15 day disabled list with a strained left hamstring.

With the roster spot open the Jays have activated closer Scott Downs from the disabled list.