Music: {allcanada} DEROSA'S 11TH-INNING HOMER LIFTS JAYS PAST PADRES

SAN DIEGO -- Toronto's bullpen was lights-out in a three-game series against San Diego, from a series-opening, 17-inning game that stretched from Friday night into Saturday morning through Sunday night's finale, when the Blue Jays lost 40-year-old starter Ramon Ortiz to an apparent right elbow injury.

Mark DeRosa hit a go-ahead homer into the second deck in left field leading off the 11th inning and the Blue Jays beat the Padres 7-4 Sunday night to avoid a three-game sweep.

Six relievers allowed just two singles in nine innings of scoreless relief after Ortiz was hurt throwing his third pitch to Chase Headley leading off the Padres' third.

For the series, the pen allowed just one run and 10 hits in 22 2-3 innings while striking out 16 and walking eight.

"They truly have been great all year for us and we've certainly needed them to be that way to keep our heads above water," DeRosa said. "You never like to use them that much, but tonight was an exception to the rule."

It was the second extra-inning game of the series. The Padres won Friday night's game 4-3 in 17 innings.

Ortiz came up holding his right elbow after making his third pitch to Headley. He slammed his glove to the ground at the back of the mound. A trainer came out and was looking at his right elbow.

Ortiz appeared to be crying as he walked to the dugout.

"What a kind of sombre game for us, and kind of watching him reflect on his career and hopefully he didn't throw his last pitch," DeRosa said. "Tough series. We had to win this game. Definitely made for a happier flight. Everyone contributed. Bullpen was asked to do a heck of a lot, not only in this game, but in the 17-inning game."

Manager John Gibbons said Ortiz's injury "doesn't look good." The pitcher is scheduled to travel to Florida to have an MRI.

The Blue Jays have thrown the most innings of any bullpen in the majors.

"We're proud of it, but then again, we're only as good as our next one," reliever Steve Delabar said. "When the phone rings and we get up, we have to do it again."

Casey Janssen (1-0) pitched the 10th for the win. Aaron Loup pitched the 11th for his second save.

"We weren't able to solve them," Padres manager Bud Black said of Toronto's pen. "We had some good swings versus Ortiz, but when they went to their pen, we couldn't solve any of their guys. We couldn't muster any offence. I can't explain it except their bullpen did a great job this series."

Ortiz was recalled before Saturday's game when Brandon Morrow was placed on the disabled list with a forearm strain.

DeRosa drove a 3-1 pitch from Brad Boxberger (0-1) an estimated 428 feet, his fourth, in the 11th inning.

It was the first of five straight hits opening the three-run inning. The Blue Jays' second run that inning came in on third baseman Headley's throwing error and Jose Bautista hit an RBI double.

An inning before he was hurt, Ortiz allowed a three-run homer to San Diego starter Edinson Volquez, his first in the big leagues.

Volquez's homer capped a four-run inning that gave the Padres a 4-1 lead. Rookie Jedd Gyorko was aboard on an RBI double and Will Venable on an intentional walk.

Toronto's Edwin Encarnacion homered for the second time in three games, reaching the second deck in left field with two outs in the third. It was his 16th.

The Blue Jays tied it in the fifth on Adam Lind's two-run double off centre fielder Alexi Amarista's glove against the fence. Melky Cabrera was aboard on a single and Encarnacion on a two-out walk.

Volquez allowed four runs and six hits in five innings, struck out seven and walked three.

NOTES: It was the first time in 303 career games in 12 seasons that Ortiz surrendered a home run to a pitcher. ... Gyorko had his first career stolen base in the sixth. ... Padres LF Carlos Quentin crashed into the wall while catching Cabrera's fly ball to end the eighth with runners on first and third. ... The Padres recalled RHP Brad Boxberger from Triple-A Tucson and optioned LHP Robbie Erlin to Tucson. Erlin earned his first big league win in his first start on Saturday night while filling in for LHP Clayton Richard, who pitched the final two innings of San Diego's 17-inning victory against Toronto that started Friday night and ended just into Saturday morning. ... Boxberger has made 17 relief appearances with Tucson this season, going 0-3 with a 5.73 ERA. This is his second stint with the Padres this season, posting a 0.00 ERA in two relief appearances. ... The Padres start a three-game series at Dodger Stadium on Monday night, when LHP Eric Stults (4-4, 3.86) is scheduled to face LHP Chris Capuano (1-4, 5.45). It'll be the first time Quentin plays at Dodger Stadium since breaking Zach Greinke's collarbone in a brawl at Petco Park on April 11. The Padres opened a three-game series at Dodger Stadium four days after that brawl, but Quentin was serving an eight-game suspension. ... The Blue Jays are off Monday before continuing their trip with a two-game series at San Francisco starting Tuesday night, when RHP Josh Johnson (0-1, 6.86) faces RHP Tim Lincecum (3-5, 5.12).