Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Lyle Overbay's two-run homer in the sixth inning put Toronto ahead for good and the Blue Jays went on to a 7-5 win over the Minnesota Twins in the opener of a three-game series.

Jose Bautista hit a two-run homer and finished with four hits, while Alex Rios ended 4-for-5 with a home run and two RBI for the Blue Jays, who have won three straight games.

Joe Mauer collected two hits, an RBI and a run scored for the Twins, who have alternated wins and losses over their last six games following a four-game skid. Minnesota remained tied with the White Sox atop the AL Central after Chicago lost to Cleveland on Tuesday.

"Every game right now from here on out is important and anytime you lose, it's tough," said Minnesota's Denard Span. "We had the lead, but they came back. They've got a good bullpen, and that shut us down."

Glen Perkins started for Minnesota and allowed four runs on 10 hits over five innings, but did not factor into the decision.

Trailing by one run in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Blue Jays came to bat against Minnesota reliever Boof Bonser (3-7), who was credited with the loss. Scott Rolen drew a leadoff walk before Overbay turned on a Bonser offering and drilled it over the wall in right field for a 6-5 Toronto advantage.

Jesse Carlson (5-1), who also tossed a perfect sixth, pitched a 1-2-3 frame in the top of the seventh in earning the win. Rios added an RBI double in the bottom of the eighth for a 7-5 Toronto advantage.

Scott Downs needed only 10 pitches in the scoreless eighth and B.J. Ryan closed it out in the ninth for his 26th save of the season.

"We came from behind, which is always nice to do," said Carlson. "Our offense has been great. We just kept battling and got some runs. We got into the bullpen and did a good job throwing strikes. Overall, it's a good win for the team."

The Twins opened the scoring in the top of the third inning. Leadoff batter Alexi Casilla singled to center and moved to third when Mauer followed with a base hit. Another single, off the bat of Justin Morneau, allowed Casilla to cross the plate. Later in the inning, with one out and runners on second and third, Toronto starting pitcher David Purcey uncorked a wild pitch and Mauer scored on the play. The three-run rally was capped via Delmon Young's RBI single.

Toronto cut its deficit to 3-1 in the home portion of the frame. Consecutive one-out singles by Bautista and Rios preceded Vernon Wells' base hit to center field that brought home Bautista.

In the top of the fourth, Minnesota made it 5-1 via an RBI single by Span and a sacrifice fly from Mauer. Purcey was taken out after Span's hit, was replaced by Brian Tallet, and finished with a line of five runs allowed on seven hits in three-plus innings.

The Blue Jays began to chip away at their deficit with three runs in the fifth. Marco Scutaro drew a leadoff walk before Bautista belted a fastball over the wall in left field. Rios followed with his 11th home run of the year, but Perkins got three straight outs thereafter and the visitors held a 5-4 lead after five innings.