Frank Thomas smashed two home runs to move up the all-time home run list and lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 9-5 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday afternoon at Rogers Centre.   

Thomas hit a three-run shot in the first inning and a solo home run in the third to move past Eddie Murray for 20th on the all-time list.

Blue Jays Alex Rios, left, and Vernon Wells, centre, celebrate as teammate Frank Thomas scores on his three-run homer during the first inning Saturday.
(Aaron Harris/Canadian Press)

The 39-year-old Thomas took pride in passing his longtime friend.

"He's one of my buddies, one of the greatest of all time," Thomas said of Murray, who played for five different teams from 1977-1997. "It's a good feeling, a real good feeling."

The man known as "The Big Hurt" now has 505 career homers, six shy of tying Mel Ott, who is 19th with 511. Right on Thomas's heels is Yankee Alex Rodriguez, who hit his 500th home run Saturday against the Kansas City Royals.

"I really want to stay focused and finish strong because I'm disappointed in my season so far," said Thomas, who is batting .255 with 18 homers and 60 RBIs.

The Jays got off to a 6-1 lead in the first inning and never looked back. 

Shawn Marcum (8-4) gutted out the victory for the Jays, allowing eight hits and three runs (two earned) in six innings. The right-hander walked none and struck out five.

Brian Wolfe pitched a perfect seventh and Brian Tallet worked the eighth. Brandon League allowed a pinch-hit homer to Brad Wilkerson and an RBI single to Adam Melhuse in the ninth before Scott Downs got the final two outs.

Texas has dropped six of eight following a season-high four-game winning streak, and lost despite out-hitting Toronto 11 to nine.

"We just didn't deliver," Texas manager Ron Washington said.

The three-game series concludes on Sunday (CBC, 1 p.m. ET).

The Blue Jays open a three-game set against the New York Yankees on Monday (CBC, 1 p.m. ET).

With files from the Associated Press