Toronto pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes celebrated his first win in nearly three years on Monday and avoided setting a Major League Baseball record for consecutive starts without a victory.

Reyes had gone 28 starts since he last won on June 13, 2008 pitching for Atlanta, but he ended his drought in style, the Blue Jays beating Cleveland 11-1 in Reyes's first complete game.

The home fans chanted Reyes' name while jubilant team mates rushed the 26-year-old pitcher in celebration.

It was exciting. Couldn't be a better game to do it, Reyes told reporters. This team is awesome. They wanted to see me break the streak as much as everyone else.

The long-awaited win for the left-hander allowed him to escape being the first pitcher to go 29 starts without a win. He had tied Matt Keough (1978-1979) and Cliff Curtis (1910-1911) for the mark of 28 in a row.

Reyes allowed the one run and eight hits over the nine innings on Monday.

(Reuters; Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford)