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NEW YORK (AP) -- For Shea Hillenbrand, Friday night didn't start in the very best way.

Toronto's designated hitter popped out in his first at-bat against the New York Yankees and then hit into a double play in his next swing.

"I didn't feel too good on those first two at-bats," Hillenbrand said. "You never know."

Hillenbrand followed those swings with a three-run homer in the sixth and a solo shot in the ninth, powering the Blue Jays to a 7-2 victory.

It was the fourth multihomer game of his career and the first since July 7, 2003 when he hit three with Arizona against Colorado.

The homers stretched his hitting streak to eight games. He has 11 hits in his last 16 at-bats and has jumped his average from .217 to .329.

Hillenbrand has always had success at Yankee Stadium where he had a .322 career average coming into this season. "It's the atmosphere, I think," he said. "I love hitting here."

Toronto nursed a 2-0 lead behind Roy Halladay until Hillenbrand's three-run homer in the sixth. "That gave us some breathing room," manager John Gibbons said.

Halladay pitched in and out of trouble, but got the big outs when he needed them.

"When he's healthy, he's as good as any pitcher in baseball," said Derek Jeter, who had a pair of hits to stretch his hitting streak to seven games.

"He's the best pitcher in the American League, period," said Johnny Damon. "Fortunately, he didn't have his A game. That shows how good he is."

The Blue Jays struck quickly against Jaret Wright (0-2).

Russ Adams drew a leadoff walk and Frank Catalanotto followed with his second home run of the season, connecting on a 3-2 pitch.

Halladay (3-1) allowed seven hits over 5 1-3 innings but worked his way out of trouble several times, leaving six Yankees runners stranded.

Wright left in the sixth after a walk to Catalanotto and an infield single by Vernon Wells. Scott Proctor relieved and got two outs before Hillenbrand hit his second home run of the season, extending the lead to 5-0.

Halladay left after retiring the first batter in the sixth with his 99th pitch. Scott Schoeneweis relieved and walked Hideki Matsui with two out. Williams followed with his first home run of the season on a 3-1 pitch.

In the seventh, Jorge Posada opened with a pinch-hit single. After Damon forced Posada, Justin Speier relieved and struck out Jeter and Sheffield to end the inning.

But in the eighth, Rodriguez led off with a single and Jason Giambi walked. B.J. Ryan relieved and retired Matsui on a fly ball before getting Williams to hit into an inning-ending double play. Ryan earned his fourth save and has allowed just three hits over 12 innings.

"Our bullpen has been unbelievable," Halladay said. "It's a big difference from where we were. I'm able to come out after five innings and the pen picks me up with four innings."

The Blue Jays added two in the ninth on Hillenbrand's second home run of the game and a sacrifice fly by Aaron Hill to make it 7-2.

Game notes

Hall of Famer Yogi Berra visited the Yankees clubhouse before the game. ... The Yankees observed a moment of silence before the game in memory of Steve Howe, who died in a car accident earlier Friday. Howe pitched for the Yankees from 1991-96. ... Wright was making just his third appearance of the season and first in 13 days. He threw 84 pitches, 44 for strikes. ... Damon's streak of 19 straight steals ended when Bengie Molina threw him out in the third. ...The Yankees turned four double plays in the first five innings.