TORONTO (Ticker) -- David Wells, untucked shirt tails and baggy pants giving him the look of a plumber after a long day, punched out Glenallen Hill on three pitches, then pumped his fist.

The portly lefthander kept his former team guessing all night, striking out eight without a walk to become the first 20-game winner in the major leagues this year and carry the Toronto Blue Jays to a 3-1 victory over the New York Yankees.

Wells (20-6) gave up five hits in his eighth complete game of the season and 44th of his career. He was in such control that only three times did he fall behind 2-0 to a batter, and not until the seventh inning.

"I'm just a stubborn old mule," Wells said. "I want to go out there and get everybody out. No free passes."

Four of his eight strikeouts came on three pitches as he set down David Justice, Jose Canseco and Hill twice without wasting a throw.

He showed no ill effects of the gout in his left foot that kept him from starting the opener of the three-game series with the Yankees on Tuesday. He said he'd taken a cortisone shot in an attempt to start, but everything else except went numb except his sore toe.

Tonight, that was not a problem.

"The toe felt great," he said. "It's a little tender still. It's not that bad. I can put a shoe on and put pressure on it. I still feel it, but it's nothing to be concerned about."

Carlos Delgado slugged his 41st home run and Alex Gonzalez doubled in a run to help the Blue Jays hand the Yankees their fifth straight loss and remain in contention for the American League wild card spot.

The Blue Jays' fourth straight victory lifted them a season-high 10 games over .500 and pulled them within 4 1/2 games of the AL East-leading Yankees. In the wild card race, they moved within two games of Oakland, which plays Seattle later tonight.

The Blue Jays swept a three-game series from the Yankees for the first time since July 31-August 2, 1992 and with a 7-5 record against New York won the season series for the first time since 1994.

Wells' domination contributed to Tino Martinez's ongoing woes at the plate. The first baseman was 0-for-3 and is mired in a career-worst 0-for-24 stretch.

"He's a good competitor," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "He loves the challenge and I'm sure he took great delight in beating our club. He's earned everything he's got because he goes out there and answers the bell."

The burly Blue Jay set down the first 13 Yankees in order, striking out five, as Gonzalez gave him a 1-0 lead with an RBI double in the third.

"(Wells) was pretty amazing out there," Delgado said. "When the guy's on, he's on. He's got good control and had a good changeup today and breaking ball. He's really hard to hit."

Delgado increased the lead to 2-0, leading off the sixth with a home run, and Jose Cruz's sacrifice fly gave Wells more than he needed.

At 37 years, 124 days, Wells became the second-oldest pitcher to have his first 20-win season, behind Allie Reynolds, who did it with the Yankees in 1952 at 37 years, 228 days.

"To go out there and win 20 in a season is a major accomplishment," Wells said. "For me, it's just something to cherish when you retire. Right now, we're in a pennant race and we need to stay focused and not worry about our numbers. It was a good team win. Games like this are fun. (It was a) good pitching duel."

The only flaw on the night was Bernie Williams' leadoff homer in the seventh, his 29th. It was the Yankees' only extra-base hit. "Boomer just pitched well today," Williams said. "He was mixing up the pitches and had everybody off-balance. He seemed to be really focused."

Wells, who went 32-14 with New York from 1997-98, is 2-0 against his former team this season and 16-8 lifetime. His best season came as a member of the Yankees in 1998, when he went 18-4 and threw a perfect game against Minnesota.

Orlando Hernandez (12-12) turned in a strong performance, but it was not good enough to best Wells. "El Duque" allowed three runs and eight hits over seven innings, striking out two and walking one.