TORONTO—Ricky Romero became the latest Toronto pitcher to take a no-hit try into the late innings, losing his bid in the eighth when former teammate Alex Rios homered Tuesday night in the Blue Jays’ 4-2 win over the White Sox.Romero struck out a career-high 12 and was in complete control until hitting A.J. Pierzynski with a pitch to start the eighth. Rios followed with a no-doubt drive to deep left for the Sox only hit, ruffling Romero.A pitching staff that lost ace Roy Halladay in the offseason again came close to a no-hit gem. Shaun Marcum held Texas hitless for 6 1/3 innings on opening day before Vladimir Guerrero singled. There has been just one no-hitter in Toronto history, by Dave Stieb in 1990.CC Sabathia of the New York Yankees neared a no-hitter last Saturday, shutting down Tampa Bay until Kelly Shoppach’s two-out single in the eighth.Pierzynski led off the eighth and was granted first base on a pitch that appeared to hit the dirt, not his right toe. Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston came out to argue and home plate umpire Tim McClelland called the rest of the crew in to discuss the call, but let it stand.Romero (1-0) started Rios with a called strike, then fell behind 2-1 before the two-time All-Star outfielder hit a changeup over the wall in left.Romero turned around toward center field, put his hands on his knees and spit after the home run. He lowered his head and shouted as Rios circled the bases to a chorus of boos.Once Rios crossed home plate, the crowd of 12,167 gave Romero a standing ovation, then gave him another as he left the field at the end of the inning. Romero covered his mouth with his glove and yelled at himself as he descended into the dugout, slamming his glove on top of the bench.Rios spent most of last year with Toronto before Chicago claimed him on waivers in August. The two-run homer was his second of the season.Former Cub flop Kevin Gregg worked the ninth for his third save as Toronto won for the 11th time in 12 games against the White Sox at Rogers Centre.Romero walked two. The 25-year-old lefty also pitched well in his 2010 debut, limiting Texas to one run in seven innings.He made his major league debut last season and went 13-9, and solidified his spot in the Toronto rotation with a 1.89 ERA in five starts during spring training.Romero’s previous career best for strikeouts was nine, set last June 16 at Washington. He topped that mark by fanning two in each of the first six innings.He had just two three-ball counts, walking Carlos Quentin in the fourth and Paul Konerko in the seventh.The White Sox didn’t get a ball out of the infield until the seventh, when Quentin hit a one-out drive to center, but the ball hung up long enough for Vernon Wells to make an easy catch.Rios had the only other hard-hit ball early on, a sharp one-hopper to short leading off the third that was fielded by Alex Gonzalez.Toronto opened the scoring in the second when Gonzalez singled and Wells doubled. Lyle Overbay, who came in 2 for 27 this season, followed with an RBI single.Edwin Encarnacion blooped a two-run double off Gavin Floyd (0-2) in the fifth.