TORONTO (Ticker) -- Carlos Delgado , Josh Phelps , Orlando Hudson and Frank Catalanotto homered as the Toronto Blue Jays continued their offensive explosion with a 13-8 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates .

Delgado's American League-leading 20th homer of the season was a three-run shot that tied the game, 5-5, in the second inning. Phelps and Hudson then hit back-to-back shots to open the third.

Delgado has four homers and 15 RBI in eight games so far this month.

"I've been able to stay more calm when guys are on base," Delgado said. "It's probably the best I've been hitting the ball. "My swing is pretty good and that's important. When that happens, I'm able to get some hits."

Pittsburgh starter Kris Benson (5-7) was the victim of that early barrage. The righthander lasted only 2 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs and eight hits. Benson hurt himself further with three walks, and notched only one strikeout.

"They came out swinging the bats today," Benson said. "I just didn't make the pitches and it cost us the ballgame."

Catalanotto added a three-run shot off Brian Meadows to make the score 11-5. The Toronto left fielder had three hits.

The Blue Jays have scored 84 runs, hitting 16 homers in their last 10 games.

"It's fun to watch our club produce offensively," Toronto manager Carlos Tosca said.

But the Blue Jays have lost four of their last 10 games because they have allowed 68 over that span.

To that end, Aramis Ramirez extended his hitting streak to 21 games in the first inning with a two-run homer that put Pittsburgh on the board. But Toronto got both of those runs back in the bottom of the frame on a two-run single by Phelps.

Ramirez drove in another run with a groundout in the second to cap a three-run rally and give the Pirates a short-lived 5-2 lead.

Ramirez is 39-for-89 during his hitting streak with two homers and 17 RBI. He has raised his batting average to .303.

Matt Stairs and Brian Giles also homered for Pittsburgh.

Blue Jays starter Cory Lidle (9-4) avoided his third straight loss despite giving up seven runs and 12 hits in six-plus innings. Lidle struck out three and did not issue a walk.

"That was a tough one," Lidle said. "I give this one to everyone on the team. The bullpen and the hitters. The 'W' goes by my name but I didn't deserve it."

Lidle surpassed his win total from last season with the victory. His only better campaign was 2001, when he won 13 for Oakland.

The Pirates have lost six of their last seven games.