Ruiz became the latest hitter in the majors to recently get beaned. Down for a few minutes after being hit by Josh Towers, Ruiz walked off the field without assistance and left the game.
Aaron Hill doubled twice and drove in three runs. The Yankees made a season-high four errors, and outfielders Johnny Damon and Melky Cabrera collided while making a catch — they were OK.
Derek Jeter had three hits, and is four away from breaking the Yankees record held by Lou Gehrig (2,721).
Ruiz, making his first career start at first base, batted with the bases loaded in the fifth inning after Towers relieved Mark Melancon. Towers threw an 0-2 pitch that appeared to hit Ruiz in the cheek.
Ruiz fell forward on his knees, holding his head. Trainer George Poulis and manager Cito Gaston rushed to Ruiz's side, and team physician Dr. Ron Taylor also tended to him.
After a few minutes, Ruiz stood up, walked off and left the game. David Wright, Scott Rolen and Marco Scutaro are among other major leaguers to get hit in the head by pitches in recent weeks.
Nick Swisher hit a two-run homer, but also lost a fly ball in the sun. Cabrera hit a three-run homer, and also held on to a fly ball after running into Damon.
The Yankees' infield was especially sloppy – first baseman Mark Teixeira made a fielding error and third baseman Jerry Hairston Jr., second Robinson Cano and backup shortstop Ramiro Pena all made throwing errors.
Brian Tallet (6-9) won for the first time since June 23, allowing five runs and eight hits in five innings.
Making his first start since Aug. 29, when he was knocked out of the game after taking a liner off his forearm, right-hander Sergio Mitre (3-2) allowed 11 runs and 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings. Two of the runs were unearned.
An error by Hairston set up Hill's RBI double during a three-run first. The Yankees tied it with a three-run third, getting two runs on Hideki Matsui's two-out, bloop single.
Toronto reclaimed a 4-3 lead in the third when Vernon Wells reached on a double that Swisher lost in the sun and scored when Teixeira failed to come up with Edwin Encarnacion's grounder.
Swisher made up for his miscue in the fifth with a two-run homer for a 5-4 lead. Of his 24 home runs this season, 21 have come on the road.
The Blue Jays broke open the game with eight runs in the fifth. Ruiz tied it with an RBI single, Travis Snider and Joe Inglett also singled home runs and Hill chased Mitre with a bases-loaded walk.
Melancon came on and walked Adam Lind on four pitches, bringing home another run, then left for Towers after an RBI single by Wells and a bases-loaded walk to Encarnacion. The final run came when Towers beaned Ruiz.
Notes
The Yankees play a day-night doubleheader against Tampa Bay on Monday. Jorge Posada will catch CC Sabathia in the afternoon game with Jose Molina scheduled to catch A.J. Burnett in the night game, manager Joe Girardi said. … CF Brett Gardner (thumb) is expected to come off the 15-day DL and join the Yankees in time for Monday's games.