AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

Chicago White Sox’s Tyler Flowers, right, is greeted at home by Adam Dunn, after Flowers’ home run off Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Henderson Alvarez, during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011 in Chicago.

Mark Buehrle pitched seven shutout innings in possibly his final start for the White Sox and Tyler Flowers homered to lead Chicago to a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
The White Sox played their first game since Ozzie Guillen was released from his contract after Monday night’s victory over the Blue Jays. Pitching coach Don Cooper served as interim manager.
Buehrle (13-9) allowed six hits, struck out six and walked none. He left to an ovation before throwing a pitch in the top of the eighth.
Buehrle will be a free agent after the season. General manager Ken Williams said before Tuesday night’s game he didn’t know yet whether Buehrle fit into the team’s future plans. Buehrle, a 38th-round draft pick in 1998, is 161-119 in his career.
The durable and fast-working left-hander has a no-hitter and a perfect game on his White Sox resume from a career that began in 2000. He reached the 200-inning mark for the 11th straight season when he got the second out of the second inning, and he’s had at least 10 wins and 30 starts every season since 2001.
When the White Sox came out for the start of the eighth, the rest of the team stayed behind near the dugout, allowing Buehrle to go to the mound by himself. Cooper then went out and removed Buehrle from the game as his teammates stood and applauded.
Buehrle waved to the fans who where chanting his name and hugged his teammates as they headed to the field. Several minutes later, Buehrle emerged again from the dugout for a curtain call, taking off his cap and extending his arms toward the small crowd announced at 23,934.
Flowers hit a solo homer, his fifth of the season, off Henderson Alvarez (1-3) in the second. A.J. Pierzynski singled home a run in the sixth.
Toronto’s Mike McCoy greeted Jesse Crain with his second homer to cut the lead to 2-1.
Chris Sale got the final five outs to earn his eighth save in nine chances.
Alvarez allowed seven hits in seven innings.
Chicago first baseman Adam Dunn went 0 for 3 with three strikeouts, dropping his average to .159 with 177 strikeouts. Dunn needs six plate appearances in the final game to finish with the worst qualifying batting average in modern big league history, surpassing Rob Deer’s .179 mark in 1991.
NOTES: White Sox RHP Phil Humber (9-9) makes his 28th appearance and 26th start in Wednesday’s season finale. Humber is 1-5 with a 6.15 ERA in his last 10 starts. He is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in three career games, including a start, against the Blue Jays. Toronto counters with Brandon Morrow (11-11), whose 10.18 strikeouts per nine innings leads the American League. … Omar Vizquel, at age 44, said he’d like to play another season, but is not sure if he’ll try to follow Guillen to Florida — should he become Marlins manager — or maybe stick with the White Sox another season. He did attend Guillen’s final news conference Monday to show support for his fellow Venezuelan. … Toronto’s Edwin Encarnacion has an inflamed nerve in his left shoulder but no structural problems. He has not been ruled out of Wednesday’s season finale.

CHICAGO (AP) — In what turned out to be manager Ozzie Guillen’s last game with the White Sox, Tyler Flowers hit a three-run homer, rookie Dylan Axelrod threw six shutout innings and the Chicago White Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 on Monday night.

Guillen met with White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf on Monday. Before the game, Guillen said that he had repeated his request for a contract extension and expected Reinsdorf to take a couple of days to make a decision about his future. After the game, the club announced that Guillen had been released from his contract.

Axelrod (1-0) won his first big-league game, striking out six and holding Toronto to three hits.

Sergio Santos got the last three outs to become the eighth White Sox pitcher to record 30 saves, picking up his first since Sept. 6. He allowed a two-run double to David Cooper in the ninth and walked Marcus Thames and Jose Bautista, but struck out Adam Lind with the bases loaded to end the game on his 44th pitch of the inning.

Flowers made a rare start at first base and hit his fourth homer with two on in the second. Dayan Viciedo roped an RBI double in the seventh and A.J. Pierzynski added two singles for Chicago.

Toronto’s Dustin McGowan (0-2) allowed four hits and three runs in four innings, leaving after throwing 73 pitches. McGowan has been limited to a strict pitch count as he works his way back from two shoulder surgeries.

Adam Lind drove in Toronto’s only run with on a groundout in the eighth. Mike McCoy stole two bases and scored a run. Mark Teahen reached base three time in his first game against his former club.

The White Sox won for just the seventh time in their last 28 games against the Blue Jays. Toronto needs to win the last two games of the series to finish the season with a winning record for the fifth time in six years.

Axelrod pitched out of jam in the fifth, getting Mike McCoy on a foul pop and striking out Thames with runners on second and third.

Blue Jays manager John Farrell missed the game while attending to a family matter. He is expected to manage on Tuesday. Bench coach Don Wakamatsu served as acting manager for the series opener.

Adam Dunn went 0 for 2 with two walks and two strikeouts, dropping his average to .160 with 174 strikeouts. Dunn needs nine plate appearances in the final two games to finish with the worst qualifying batting average in big league history, surpassing Rob Deer’s .179 mark in 1991.

Dunn is 1 for 16 with 10 strikeouts against Toronto this season.

NOTES: In the last series of the season, the Blue Jays are making their only trip to Chicago in the 2011 season. Chicago and Toronto haven’t played each other since May 29 and hadn’t met in Chicago since May 9, 2010. Colby Rasmus (flu-like symptoms) and Adam Lind (birth of his child) both returned the Toronto lineup. Bautista went 0 for 3 with three walks after leaving Sunday’s game early because of a knee injury suffered chasing after a fly ball. Bautista leads the Yankees’ Curtis Granderson by two home runs in his bid to become the first player to lead the big leagues in homers in consecutive seasons since Mark McGwire in 1998 and 1999. The Blue Jays will send Henderson Alvarez to the mound on Tuesday to face Chicago’s Mark Buehrle, who could be making his last start for the White Sox. Buehrle will be a free agent after the season.

In what turned out to be manager Ozzie Guillen’s last game with the White Sox, Tyler Flowers hit a three-run homer, rookie Dylan Axelrod threw six shutout innings and the Chicago White Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 on Monday night.

Guillen met with White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf on Monday. Before the game, Guillen said that he had repeated his request for a contract extension and expected Reinsdorf to take a couple of days to make a decision about his future. After the game, the club announced that Guillen had been released from his contract.

Axelrod (1-0) won his first big-league game, striking out six and holding Toronto to three hits.

Sergio Santos got the last three outs to become the eighth White Sox pitcher to record 30 saves, picking up his first since Sept. 6. He allowed a two-run double to David Cooper in the ninth and walked Marcus Thames and Jose Bautista, but struck out Adam Lind with the bases loaded to end the game on his 44th pitch of the inning.

Flowers made a rare start at first base and hit his fourth homer with two on in the second. Dayan Viciedo roped an RBI double in the seventh and A.J. Pierzynski added two singles for Chicago.

Toronto’s Dustin McGowan (0-2) allowed four hits and three runs in four innings, leaving after throwing 73 pitches. McGowan has been limited to a strict pitch count as he works his way back from two shoulder surgeries.

Adam Lind drove in Toronto’s only run with on a groundout in the eighth. Mike McCoy stole two bases and scored a run. Mark Teahen reached base three time in his first game against his former club.

The White Sox won for just the seventh time in their last 28 games against the Blue Jays. Toronto needs to win the last two games of the series to finish the season with a winning record for the fifth time in six years.

Axelrod pitched out of jam in the fifth, getting Mike McCoy on a foul pop and striking out Thames with runners on second and third.

Blue Jays manager John Farrell missed the game while attending to a family matter. He is expected to manage on Tuesday. Bench coach Don Wakamatsu served as acting manager for the series opener.

Adam Dunn went 0 for 2 with two walks and two strikeouts, dropping his average to .160 with 174 strikeouts. Dunn needs nine plate appearances in the final two games to finish with the worst qualifying batting average in big league history, surpassing Rob Deer’s .179 mark in 1991.

Dunn is 1 for 16 with 10 strikeouts against Toronto this season.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO — J.P. Arencibia’s two-out single in the bottom of the ninth drove in the winning run as the Toronto Blue Jays rallied to edge the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 on Saturday.

Toronto tied the game earlier in the inning on a wild pitch.

Baltimore took a 4-3 lead on Vladimir Guerrero’s double in the eighth but closer Kevin Gregg, a former Blue Jay, couldn’t hold the lead in the ninth.

Gregg (0-3) gave up a two-out walk to Kelly Johnson and single to Jose Molina. Chris Woodward ran for Molina and former Orioles pitcher Adam Loewen of Surrey, B.C. batted for Dewayne Wise and was hit by a pitch.

Arencibia pinch-hit for Mike McCoy and a wild pitch brought Johnson in with the tying run before Arencibia won it for the Jays (73-73).

Toronto starter Henderson Alvarez didn’t figure in the decision after allowing nine hits and three runs over seven innings. The 21-year-old right-hander allowed one walk and fanned four before Jesse Litsch (6-3) took over in the eighth in a 3-3 tie.

Robert Andino led off the eighth against Litsch with a double and scored on a one-out double by Guerrero to give the Orioles (58-86) a 4-3 lead.

Orioles starter Rick VandenHurk allowed three runs and three hits in 2 1-3 innings, surrendering homers to Jose Bautista — his major league-leading 41st of the season — and Brett Lawrie of Langley, B.C. He was replaced by Zach Phillips.

Toronto shortstop Yunel Escobar left in the second after being hit on the left elbow with a pitch from VandenHurk. X-rays were negative and he’s listed as day to day.

McCoy ran for Escobar and took over at shortstop.

Consecutive first-inning singles by Nick Markakis, Guerrero and Chris Davis put Baltimore ahead 1-0.

A leadoff walk to Escobar and Bautista’s homer in the bottom of the inning gave Toronto a 2-1 lead.

Kyle Hudson bunted for a single and took on second on Alvarez’s throwing error to lead off the second. Shortstop Pedro Florimon, playing his first major-league game, also bunted but was called out on a close play that brought manager Buck Showalter out to argue.

Hudson took third on the sacrifice and scored on Matt Angle’s single.

Lawrie countered in the bottom of the second with his ninth homer since making his major-league debut in Baltimore on Aug. 5.

The Orioles tied it again in the third on Guerrero’s single and Davis’s double. Davis was thrown out at home by centre-fielder Wise on a single by Josh Bell.

NOTES: Attendance at Rogers Centre was 17,742.. ….Toronto DH Edwin Encarnacion didn’t play due to a left shoulder strain picked up when he struck out in the seventh inning of Friday’s 2-0 loss to Baltimore … Orioles centre-fielder Adam Jones did not start Saturday because his left ankle was swollen after taking a foul a ball Friday night … Dustin McGowan (0-0, 6.75 earned-run average) will make his first start for the Blue Jays since July 8, 2008 when he faces Tommy Hunter (3-3, 5.28 ERA) on Sunday.

 

 

CBSSports.com wire reports
Sep. 7, 2011

TORONTO — Edwin Encarnacion hit a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays rallied to deny Tim Wakefield his milestone win, beating the Boston Red Sox 11-10 on Wednesday night.

Wakefield has not won since July 24 against Seattle, a span of seven appearances. The victory looked to finally be in hand before slipping away late, but the knuckleballer wasn’t sweating it.

“If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t change what I’ve done,” he said. “I’d like it to happen but more important is for us to get into the postseason. That’s our ultimate goal.”

Toronto trailed 8-6 heading into the eighth against Bard (2-6), who opened the inning by hitting Brett Lawrie and giving up a single to Adam Loewen, the former pitcher’s first career hit. J.P. Arencibia walked before Bard struck out Dewayne Wise and caught Yunel Escobar looking. But the Blue Jays tied it when Bard issued consecutive walks to Eric Thames and Jose Bautista.

Matt Albers came on and gave up a three-run double to Encarnacion.

Bard said he was battling with his control throughout the eighth.

“It kind of came and went as the inning progressed,” he said. “I just didn’t have very good timing with my delivery.”

Bard said Wakefield made sure he didn’t hang his head after coughing up the lead.

“When I got in the clubhouse, he was the first guy to come up and shake my hand, pat me on the back,” Bard said. “He knows how hard I’m trying. To be that close to getting out of it with the lead intact makes it even tougher. We’re trying for him. He did his job today and I didn’t do mine.”

Bard, who allowed five earned runs, saw his ERA rise from 2.10 to 2.76. He came in having allowed just one earned run in his previous 10 outings.

“I guess it proves he’s human,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. “Once you get to him you feel pretty good. It was a battle the whole inning. He just couldn’t get the last out.”

Encarnacion went 2 for 4 with a sacrifice fly and matched a career-high with five RBI.

Shawn Camp (4-3) pitched one inning for the win and Frank Francisco survived a two-run ninth to record his 13th save in 17 chances.

Adrian Gonzalez led off the ninth with his 24th home run, snapping Francisco’s streak of 16 scoreless innings. David Ortiz followed with a single, took second on a grounder and scored on a two-out hit by Marco Scutaro before pinch-runner Mike Aviles was thrown out trying to steal second on an 0-2 pitch to Josh Reddick.

“It’s probably the best pitch to get thrown out on,” Aviles said. “It wasn’t a pitchout but it was up and out. It just didn’t work out well.”

Blue Jays manager John Farrell called it “a fitting ending to an otherwise crazy game.”

Jacoby Ellsbury homered and finished with four hits and Ortiz also went deep, but it wasn’t enough for the Red Sox, who missed a chance to gain ground on the first-place Yankees, who lost to Baltimore on Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s tough on our team,” Francona said. “The whole idea is to win and in the course of winning games, things like what Wake’s doing is very special, or will be. It’s hard for everybody and I’m sure it’s hard for him.”

Wakefield allowed five runs, four earned, and three hits in five innings. He walked three and struck out three.

“I struggled the first three innings throwing strikes and put a lot of pressure on those guys from the sixth on through the ninth,” Wakefield said. “I take the blame for not getting deeper in the game.”

The Red Sox gave Wakefield an early lead by scoring three times in the first against Brandon Morrow. Kevin Youkilis was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Scutaro hit a two-run single to center.

Toronto answered with a run in the bottom half on Encarnacion’s sacrifice fly, then tied it on J.P. Arencibia’s two-run drive to center in the second.

The homer was Arencibia’s 21st of the season, the most in a season by a Blue Jays catcher. John Buck hit 20 homers for Toronto in 2010.

The Blue Jays took a 5-3 lead by scoring twice in the third. Thames was hit by a pitch, took second on a wild pitch and scored on Bautista’s double. Two outs later, Lawrie walked and Bautista stole third. Then, when Lawrie stole second, Bautista broke for home on catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s throw to second, sliding in ahead of a wide return throw from shortstop Scutaro.

Bautista is the first player to steal home and hit at least 40 homers in the same season since Adam Dunn did it with Cincinnati in 2004.

Boston reclaimed the lead with a four-run fourth. Reddick hit an RBI double and Ellsbury drilled a three-run blast to right, his 25th.

Ortiz made it 8-5 with a solo shot to right in the fifth, his 29th.

Morrow (9-11) left after Youkilis followed with a single. The right-hander allowed eight runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Toronto cut it to 8-6 against Dan Wheeler in the seventh when Escobar hit a leadoff double and scored on a two-out base hit by Encarnacion.

Notes

• The Red Sox are 73-3 when leading after seven innings.
• Ellsbury extended his hitting streak to 12 games.
• Boston RHP Josh Beckett (right ankle) was scheduled to rejoin the team Wednesday after traveling back to Boston Tuesday to visit doctors.
• Red Sox RHP Clay Buchholz (back) made 60 throws at over 100 feet Wednesday. He’ll take Thursday off, then throw from 120 feet Friday.
• Loewen made his major league debut as a position player. A former pitcher with Baltimore, elbow injuries forced Loewen off the mound in July, 2008. He’s been playing in Toronto’s minor league system since 2009.
• Youkilis has been hit by a pitch 81 times, the most in Red Sox history.

Posted: 12:00 AM

TORONTO (AP) — Edwin Encarnacion hit a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays rallied to deny Tim Wakefield his 200th career win, beating the Boston Red Sox 11-10 Wednesday night.

Toronto trailed 8-6 heading into the eighth against Daniel Bard (2-6), who opened the inning by hitting Brett Lawrie and giving up a single to Adam Loewen, the former pitcher’s first career hit. J.P. Arencibia walked before Bard struck out Dewayne Wise and caught Yunel Escobar looking. But the Blue Jays tied it when Bard issued back-to-back walks to Eric Thames and Jose Bautista.

Matt Albers came on and gave up a three-run double to Encarnacion.

Encarnacion went 2 for 4 with a sacrifice fly and matched a career-high with five RBIs.

Shawn Camp (4-3) pitched one inning for the win and Frank Francisco survived a two-run ninth to record his 13th save in 17 chances.

Adrian Gonzalez led off the ninth with his 24th home run and David Ortiz singled, took second on a grounder and scored on a two-out hit by Marco Scutaro before pinch runner Mike Aviles was thrown out trying to steal second

Jacoby Ellsbury homered and finished with four hits and Ortiz also went deep, but the Red Sox couldn’t give Wakefield his first win since July 24 against Seattle.

Wakefield allowed five runs, four earned, and three hits in five innings. He walked three and struck out three.

The Red Sox gave Wakefield an early lead by scoring three times in the first against Brandon Morrow. Kevin Youkilis was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Scutaro hit a two-run single to center.

Toronto answered with a run in the bottom half on Encarnacion’s sacrifice fly, then tied it on J.P. Arencibia’s two-run drive to center in the second.

The homer was Arencibia’s 21st of the season, the most in a single season by a Blue Jays catcher. John Buck hit 20 homers for Toronto in 2010.

The Blue Jays took a 5-3 lead by scoring twice in the third. Eric Thames was hit by a pitch, took second on a wild pitch and scored on Jose Bautista’s double. Two outs later, Brett Lawrie walked and Bautista stole third. Then, when Lawrie stole second, Bautista broke for home on catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s throw to second, sliding in ahead of a wide return throw from shortstop Scutaro.

Bautista is the first player to steal home and hit at least 40 homers in the same season since Adam Dunn did it with Cincinnati in 2004.

Boston reclaimed the lead with a four-run fourth. Josh Reddick hit an RBI double and Ellsbury drilled a three-run blast to right, his 25th.

Ortiz made it 8-5 with a solo shot to right in the fifth, his 29th.

Morrow (9-11) left after Youkilis followed with a single. The right-hander allowed eight runs and eight hits in 4 1-3 innings.

Toronto cut it to 8-6 against Dan Wheeler in the seventh when Escobar hit a leadoff double and scored on a two-out base hit by Encarnacion.

Edwin Encarnacion hit a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays rallied to deny Tim Wakefield his 200th career win, beating the Boston Red Sox 11-10 last night.

Toronto trailed 8-6 heading into the eighth against Daniel Bard (2-6), who opened the inning by hitting Brett Lawrie and giving up a single to Adam Loewen, the former pitcher’s first career hit. J.P. Arencibia walked before Bard struck out Dewayne Wise and caught Yunel Escobar looking. But the Blue Jays tied it when Bard issued back-to-back walks to Eric Thames and Jose Bautista.

Matt Albers came on and gave up a three-run double to Encarnacion.

Encarnacion went 2-for-4 with a sacrifice fly and matched a career-high with five RBIs.

Shawn Camp (4-3) pitched one inning for the win and Frank Francisco survived a two-run ninth to record his 13th save in 17 chances.

Adrian Gonzalez led off the ninth with his 24th home run and David Ortiz singled, took second on a grounder and scored on a two-out hit by Marco Scutaro before pinch runner Mike Aviles was thrown out trying to steal second.

Jacoby Ellsbury homered and finished with four hits and Ortiz also went deep, but the Red Sox couldn’t give Wakefield his first win since July 24 against Seattle.

Wakefield allowed five runs, four earned, and three hits in five innings. He walked three and struck out three.

The Red Sox gave Wakefield an early lead by scoring three times in the first against Brandon Morrow. Kevin Youkilis was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Scutaro hit a two-run single to center.

Toronto answered with a run in the bottom half on Encarnacion’s sacrifice fly, then tied it on J.P. Arencibia’s two-run drive to center in the second.

The homer was Arencibia’s 21st of the season, the most in a single season by a Blue Jays catcher. John Buck hit 20 homers for Toronto in 2010.

The Blue Jays took a 5-3 lead by scoring twice in the third. Thames was hit by a pitch, took second on a wild pitch and scored on Bautista’s double. Two outs later, Brett Lawrie walked and Bautista stole third. Then, when Lawrie stole second, Bautista broke for home on catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s throw to second, sliding in ahead of a wide return throw from shortstop Scutaro.

Bautista is the first player to steal home and hit at least 40 homers in the same season since Adam Dunn did it with Cincinnati in 2004.

Boston reclaimed the lead with a four-run fourth. Josh Reddick hit an RBI double and Ellsbury drilled a three-run blast to right, his 25th.

Ortiz made it 8-5 with a solo shot to right in the fifth, his 29th.

Morrow (9-11) left after Youkilis followed with a single. The right-hander allowed eight runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Toronto cut it to 8-6 against Dan Wheeler in the seventh when Escobar hit a leadoff double and scored on a two-out base hit by Encarnacion.

Notes: Boston RHP Josh Beckett (right ankle) was scheduled to rejoin the team yesterday after traveling back to Boston Tuesday to visit doctors. … Red Sox RHP Clay Buchholz (back) made 60 throws at over 100 feet Wednesday. He’ll take Thursday off, then throw from 120 feet Friday. … Loewen made his major league debut as a position player. A former pitcher with Baltimore, elbow injuries forced Loewen off the mound in July, 2008. He’s been playing in Toronto’s minor league system since 2009.

TORONTO (AP)—Tim Wakefield(notes) didn’t begrudge Daniel Bard(notes) for keeping him
waiting on career win No. 200.

Edwin Encarnacion(notes) hit a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning and the
Toronto Blue Jays rallied to deny Wakefield his milestone win, beating the
Boston Red Sox 11-10 on Wednesday night.

Wakefield has not won since July 24 against Seattle, a span of seven
appearances. The victory looked to finally be in hand before slipping away late,
but the knuckleballer wasn’t sweating it.

“If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t change what I’ve
done,” he said. “I’d like it to happen but more important is for us to get
into the postseason. That’s our ultimate goal.”

Toronto trailed 8-6 heading into the eighth against Bard (2-6), who opened
the inning by hitting Brett Lawrie(notes) and giving up a single to Adam Loewen(notes), the
former pitcher’s first career hit. J.P. Arencibia(notes) walked before Bard struck out
Dewayne Wise(notes) and caught Yunel Escobar(notes) looking. But the Blue Jays tied it when
Bard issued consecutive walks to Eric Thames(notes) and Jose Bautista(notes).

Matt Albers(notes) came on and gave up a three-run double to Encarnacion.

Bard said he was battling with his control throughout the eighth.

“It kind of came and went as the inning progressed,” he said. “I just
didn’t have very good timing with my delivery.”

Bard said Wakefield made sure he didn’t hang his head after coughing up the
lead.

“When I got in the clubhouse, he was the first guy to come up and shake my
hand, pat me on the back,” Bard said. “He knows how hard I’m trying. To be
that close to getting out of it with the lead intact makes it even tougher.
We’re trying for him. He did his job today and I didn’t do mine.”

Bard, who allowed five earned runs, saw his ERA rise from 2.10 to 2.76. He
came in having allowed just one earned run in his previous 10 outings.

“I guess it proves he’s human,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.
“Once you get to him you feel pretty good. It was a battle the whole inning. He
just couldn’t get the last out.”

Encarnacion went 2 for 4 with a sacrifice fly and matched a career-high with
five RBIs.

Shawn Camp(notes) (4-3) pitched one inning for the win and Frank Francisco(notes) survived
a two-run ninth to record his 13th save in 17 chances.

Adrian Gonzalez(notes) led off the ninth with his 24th home run, snapping
Francisco’s streak of 16 scoreless innings. David Ortiz(notes) followed with a single,
took second on a grounder and scored on a two-out hit by Marco Scutaro(notes) before
pinch-runner Mike Aviles(notes) was thrown out trying to steal second on an 0-2 pitch
to Josh Reddick(notes).

“It’s probably the best pitch to get thrown out on,” Aviles said. “It
wasn’t a pitchout but it was up and out. It just didn’t work out well.”

Blue Jays manager John Farrell called it “a fitting ending to an otherwise
crazy game.”

Jacoby Ellsbury(notes) homered and finished with four hits and Ortiz also went
deep, but it wasn’t enough for the Red Sox, who missed a chance to gain ground
on the first-place Yankees, who lost to Baltimore on Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s tough on our team,” Francona said. “The whole idea is to win and in
the course of winning games, things like what Wake’s doing is very special, or
will be. It’s hard for everybody and I’m sure it’s hard for him.”

Wakefield allowed five runs, four earned, and three hits in five innings. He
walked three and struck out three.

“I struggled the first three innings throwing strikes and put a lot of
pressure on those guys from the sixth on through the ninth,” Wakefield said.
“I take the blame for not getting deeper in the game.”

The Red Sox gave Wakefield an early lead by scoring three times in the first
against Brandon Morrow(notes). Kevin Youkilis(notes) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded
and Scutaro hit a two-run single to center.

Toronto answered with a run in the bottom half on Encarnacion’s sacrifice
fly, then tied it on J.P. Arencibia’s two-run drive to center in the second.

The homer was Arencibia’s 21st of the season, the most in a season by a Blue
Jays catcher. John Buck(notes) hit 20 homers for Toronto in 2010.

The Blue Jays took a 5-3 lead by scoring twice in the third. Thames was hit
by a pitch, took second on a wild pitch and scored on Bautista’s double. Two
outs later, Lawrie walked and Bautista stole third. Then, when Lawrie stole
second, Bautista broke for home on catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s(notes) throw to
second, sliding in ahead of a wide return throw from shortstop Scutaro.

Bautista is the first player to steal home and hit at least 40 homers in the
same season since Adam Dunn(notes) did it with Cincinnati in 2004.

Boston reclaimed the lead with a four-run fourth. Reddick hit an RBI double
and Ellsbury drilled a three-run blast to right, his 25th.

Ortiz made it 8-5 with a solo shot to right in the fifth, his 29th.

Morrow left after Youkilis followed with a single. The right-hander allowed
eight runs and eight hits in 4 1-3 innings.

Toronto cut it to 8-6 against Dan Wheeler(notes) in the seventh when Escobar hit a
leadoff double and scored on a two-out base hit by Encarnacion.

Notes: The Red Sox are 73-3 when leading after seven innings. … Ellsbury
extended his hitting streak to 12 games. … Boston RHP Josh Beckett(notes) (right
ankle) was scheduled to rejoin the team Wednesday after traveling back to Boston
Tuesday to visit doctors. … Red Sox RHP Clay Buchholz(notes) (back) made 60 throws at
over 100 feet Wednesday. He’ll take Thursday off, then throw from 120 feet
Friday. … Loewen made his major league debut as a position player. A former
pitcher with Baltimore, elbow injuries forced Loewen off the mound in July,
2008. He’s been playing in Toronto’s minor league system since 2009. …
Youkilis has been hit by a pitch 81 times, the most in Red Sox history.

TORONTO – Edwin Encarnacion hit a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays rallied to deny Tim Wakefield [stats] his 200th career win, beating the Boston Red Sox [team stats] 11-10 Wednesday night.

Toronto trailed 8-6 heading into the eighth against Daniel Bard (2-6), who opened the inning by hitting Brett Lawrie and giving up a single to Adam Loewen, the former pitcher’s first career hit. J.P. Arencibia walked before Bard struck out Dewayne Wise and caught Yunel Escobar looking. But the Blue Jays tied it when Bard issued back-to-back walks to Eric Thames and Jose Bautista.

Matt Albers came on and gave up a three-run double to Encarnacion.

Encarnacion went 2 for 4 with a sacrifice fly and matched a career-high with five RBIs.

Shawn Camp (4-3) pitched one inning for the win and Frank Francisco survived a two-run ninth to record his 13th save in 17 chances.

Adrian Gonzalez led off the ninth with his 24th home run and David Ortiz [stats] singled, took second on a grounder and scored on a two-out hit by Marco Scutaro before pinch runner Mike Aviles was thrown out trying to steal second

Jacoby Ellsbury homered and finished with four hits and Ortiz also went deep, but the Red Sox couldn’t give Wakefield his first win since July 24 against Seattle.

Wakefield allowed five runs, four earned, and three hits in five innings. He walked three and struck out three.

The Red Sox gave Wakefield an early lead by scoring three times in the first against Brandon Morrow. Kevin Youkilis [stats] was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Scutaro hit a two-run single to center.

Toronto answered with a run in the bottom half on Encarnacion’s sacrifice fly, then tied it on J.P. Arencibia’s two-run drive to center in the second.

The homer was Arencibia’s 21st of the season, the most in a single season by a Blue Jays catcher. John Buck hit 20 homers for Toronto in 2010.

The Blue Jays took a 5-3 lead by scoring twice in the third. Eric Thames was hit by a pitch, took second on a wild pitch and scored on Jose Bautista’s double. Two outs later, Brett Lawrie walked and Bautista stole third. Then, when Lawrie stole second, Bautista broke for home on catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s throw to second, sliding in ahead of a wide return throw from shortstop Scutaro.

Bautista is the first player to steal home and hit at least 40 homers in the same season since Adam Dunn did it with Cincinnati in 2004.

Boston reclaimed the lead with a four-run fourth. Josh Reddick hit an RBI double and Ellsbury drilled a three-run blast to right, his 25th.

Ortiz made it 8-5 with a solo shot to right in the fifth, his 29th.

Morrow (9-11) left after Youkilis followed with a single. The right-hander allowed eight runs and eight hits in 4 1-3 innings.

Toronto Blue Jays’ Edwin Encarnacion hits a game-winning three-RBI double in the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox in Toronto. The Blue Jays defeated the Red Sox 11-10. (Darren Calabrese/Canadian Press)

One timely throw from Toronto catcher Jose Molina ended any comeback plans for the Boston Red Sox.

Molina gunned down Mike Aviles at second base for the game’s final out to support Edwin Encarnacion’s five-RBI night as the Blue Jays hung on for a wild 11-10 win over the Red Sox on Wednesday.

Molina, who just entered the game, caught closer Frank Francisco’s high fastball on an 0-2 pitch to Josh Reddick, leapt to his feet and threw out pinch-runner Aviles, who was trying to steal second.

“Somewhat uncharacteristic of the Red Sox,” Blue Jays manager John Farrell said. “Reddick was down 0-2, they’ve got the hole open and a dead pull hitter … somewhat of a fitting ending to a otherwise crazy game.”

The rare plays didn’t end there. In the third, Canadian third baseman Brett Lawrie and Jose Bautista executed a double steal with Lawrie taking second and Bautista stealing home to give Toronto a 5-3 lead. It was first time a player with 40 or more home runs has stolen home since Adam Dunn did it in 2004.

Canadian content

The Blue Jays had two Canadian-born position players in the same starting lineup, with Adam Loewen of Surrey, B.C., a pitcher turned right-fielder, joining Lawrie, a native of Langley, B.C.

Both figured in the Blue Jays five-run eighth inning that was capped by a bases-clearing double by Encarnacion, who matched his career high with five RBIs.

Loewen started in right field for the Blue Jays with Bautista being used as designated hitter.

“It’s been very overwhelming,” Loewen said. “It didn’t really sink in until the first inning when I was standing in the outfield. I grew up watching the Blue Jays and wanting to play for the Blue Jays. I think any Canadian kid back at home dreams the same thing. For it to actually finally come true it’s an unbelievable feeling.”

Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield stood to win the 200th game of his career but Boston’s bullpen disappointed the veteran. Reliever Daniel Bard (2-6) coughed up two runs with bases-loaded walks in the eighth inning and Matt Albers surrendered Encarnacion’s tie-breaking double.

It was Wakefield’s seventh attempt to reach 200 after winning No. 199 on July 24 against Seattle.

“When I got in the clubhouse (Wakefield) was the first guy to come up, shake my hand, and pat me on the back,” Bard said. “He knows how hard I’m trying. To be that close to getting out of it with the lead intact makes it even tougher. We’re trying for him.”

Ellsbury makes it a dozen

Jacoby Ellsbury had four hits including a three-run homer to extend his hit streak to 12 games and David Ortiz and Adrian Gonzalez also homered for the Red Sox.

Gonzalez hit his 24th of the season in the ninth against Francisco who picked up his 13th save despite giving up two runs. Shawn Camp (4-3) got the win.

Wakefield allowed three hits including J.P. Arencibia’s two-run homer in the second inning. The knuckleballer allowed three walks and five runs — four earned — in five innings. He also hit two batters and made two wild pitches.

Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow lasted 4 1-3 innings and allowed eight runs and eight hits that included the homers by Ellsbury and Ortiz. Morrow also hit two batters but the Blue Jays’ comeback took him off the hook for his fourth consecutive loss.

Loewen, 27, is one of the Blue Jays’ September call-ups from triple-A Las Vegas. He last played in the majors as a pitcher with the Baltimore Orioles from 2006 to 2008.

“I was a lot less nervous than I’d thought I’d be,” Loewen said. “I felt comfortable out there and once I got into the flow of the game I just relaxed and played the way I was capable of playing.”

Loewen figured into the big eighth inning with his first major-league hit coming off Bard. The single moved Lawrie, a native of Langley, B.C., to third with none out.

“I was glad I could contribute something to help us win,” Loewen said. “Brett made it happen by getting to first base and kind of opened up a hole that let me swing it in there. Everybody played their part tonight.”

Red Sox reliever gets into trouble

Bard hit Lawrie with a pitch to open the inning with the Red Sox leading 8-6. He walked Arencibia to load the bases with none out. Chris Woodward ran for Arencibia.

After striking out Dewayne Wise and Yunel Escobar, Bard walked Thames to force in a run after getting ahead in the count 0-2.

Bautista walked to tie the game and deprive Wakefield of his 200th win. Albers took over and gave up Encarnacion’s double to put Toronto ahead 11-8.

The Red Sox (85-56) scored three in the first inning on three singles and two hit batsmen. After Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia singled to open the game, Gonzalez was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Kevin Youkilis was hit by a pitch with one out to score one run and former Blue Jay Marco Scutaro hit a two-out single to score two runs. Scutaro had four hits and four RBIs in Boston’s 14-0 win on Tuesday.

The Blue Jays (71-72) scored an unearned run in the first on two walks, a passed ball and Encarnacion’s sacrifice fly.

Lawrie’s single and Arencibia’s 21st homer tied the game 3-3 in the second. Arencibia set a club record for homers by a catcher. John Buck hit 20 in 2010 for the previous mark.

But the Red Sox came back with four in the fourth, three on Ellsbury’s homer. It came after Carl Crawford doubled, Scutaro walked and Josh Reddick doubled.

Ortiz hit a long homer deep into the second deck to extend Boston’s lead to 8-5. Carlos Villanueva replaced Morrow after a single by Youkilis.

The Blue Jays cut a run off the lead on Escobar’s leadoff double and Encarnacion’s two-out single.

TORONTO (AP) — Brett Lawrie homered in the 11th inning to lift the Toronto Blue Jays to a 1-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Monday.

Lawrie homered to center off Dan Wheeler (2-2) with two outs in the 11th, his eighth homer since being called up from Triple-A Las Vegas on Aug. 4.

Shawn Camp (3-3) pitched one scoreless inning for the win as the Blue Jays snapped a three-game losing streak.

Boston lost for the fifth time in seven games.

Red Sox starter Josh Beckett left in the fourth inning with a sprained right ankle. Manager Terry Francona and trainer Mike Reinold came to the mound after the right-hander threw a ball to Lawrie. After a brief discussion, Beckett walked off the field without assistance and was replaced by right-hander Alfredo Aceves.

An All-Star for the third time this season, Beckett came in having won his past three starts. He allowed three hits in 3 2-3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts and one walk.

Blue Jays right-hander Henderson Alvarez pitched six scoreless innings, extending his shutout streak to 14 innings. Alvarez allowed four hits, walked one and struck out four.

Alvarez retired the first eight batters in order before Marco Scutaro singled in the third. Jacoby Ellsbury doubled him to third but Dustin Pedroia grounded out to end the threat.

The Red Sox put runners at first and second with two outs in the fourth but Josh Reddick struck out looking.

Scutaro hit a one-out double in the fifth but was caught in a rundown after Alvarez grabbed Ellsbury’s grounder to the mound. Ellsbury tried to advance to second but was thrown out, completing the 1-5-6 double play.

Carlos Villanueva replaced Alvarez and walked Kevin Youkilis to begin the seventh. After Carl Crawford flied out, Reddick singled to right and both runners advanced on Jason Varitek’s grounder. Scutaro ended the inning by grounding out to shortstop.

Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-out double off Casey Janssen in the eighth and David Ortiz was intentionally walked to bring up Youkilis, who struck out looking.

Toronto put a runner at third base three times in the first four innings. Edwin Encarnacion struck out to end the first, Jose Molina grounded out and Dewayne Wise struck out in the second and, after Aceves walked Lawrie in the fourth, Molina ended the inning by flying out to right.

Aceves left after walking Mike McCoy and hitting Eric Thames with one out in the eighth. Daniel Bard came on and got Jose Bautista to fly out, then struck out Adam Lind.

Jonathan Papelbon struck out Lind on three pitches to leave the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th.

NOTES: Boston recalled C Ryan Lavarnway and RHP Kyle Weiland and purchased the contract of INF Nate Spears, all from Triple-A Pawtucket. … Red Sox LHP Erik Bedard (left knee) will be skipped in his next scheduled start, Friday at Tampa Bay. … Francona said RHP Bobby Jenks (back) is unlikely to pitch again this season. … Blue Jays SS Yunel Escobar (left wrist) missed his second straight game. … Toronto reinstated RHP Dustin McGowan (shoulder) off the 60-day DL. McGowan last pitched in the majors July 8, 2008. … Blue Jays manager John Farrell returned after missing 10 games with pneumonia. … Wise made a superb diving catch on Crawford’s sinking liner to center to begin the ninth.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Jo-Jo Reyes was eager to show the Toronto Blue Jays they made a mistake by cutting him loose in early August.

Instead, the left-hander put on a performance that justified their decision.

Reyes didn’t get out of the third inning, and the Baltimore Orioles managed only three hits over eight innings against rookie Henderson Alvarez in a 13-0 loss Wednesday night.

Reyes (7-11) gave up seven runs and eight hits in 2 2-3 innings, matching his shortest start of the season. He yielded two homers, three singles and a double in a six-run third that sent Baltimore on its way to its worst shutout loss since an identical defeat against the White Sox on July 4, 2006.

“The way I left the ball up today, no matter what team was out there I was going to get hit hard,” said Reyes, who was claimed off waivers from Toronto on Aug. 2. “Anytime you leave the ball up in this league you’re going to get hit, and today showed it.”

Asked if Reyes’ poor outing could be attributed to being too eager to face the Jays, Orioles manager Buck Showalter replied, “He’s had some outings where he’s pitched very similar to the way he pitched tonight and it wasn’t against Toronto, so I’m not going to put a whole lot of credence in that.”

Reyes wasn’t the only Orioles pitcher to struggle. Brad Bergesen gave up a homer to Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista hit his 39th of the season off Troy Patton.

“We made a lot of bad pitches. When you give up 20 hits … ” Showalter said.

The 21-year-old Alvarez (1-2) faced the minimum 21 batters through seven innings. Ryan Adams lined a clean single to center in the third and was immediately wiped out by a double play. Matt Angle reached on an error in the seventh before Jake Fox bounced into a double play.

In the eighth, Vladimir Guerrero and Robert Andino singled before Alvarez worked out of trouble.

The right-hander struck out five and walked none. He recorded only two outs on fly balls.

“He just had a really good sink to his ball tonight,” said Adam Jones, who went 0 for 4. “He really wasn’t throwing too many off-speed pitches. He just had a lot of sink and was hitting some spots, and it was tough to square up.”

At 21 years and 135 days, Alvarez is the youngest Toronto pitcher to earn a victory since Kelvim Escobar in 1997 and the youngest starter to win since Phil Huffman in 1979.

“He had composure, aggressiveness,” said Toronto bench coach Don Wakamatsu, subbing for ailing manager John Farrell. “He pitched a phenomenal game and I think it breathes a little life into the offense.”

The Blue Jays’ 20 hits tied a season high. Encarnacion went 4 for 5 with a homer and two doubles, and Yunel Escobar and Eric Thames also had four hits apiece. Bautista and Kelly Johnson each contributed three RBIs.

Toronto used doubles by Encarnacion and rookie Brett Lawrie to go up 1-0 in the second. That only served as a precursor for the offensive fireworks to follow.

In the third, Thames doubled in a run and scored on a single by Adam Lind. After Encarnacion singled, Johnson hit his first homer since being traded to Toronto from Arizona on Aug. 23. Jose Molina capped the uprising with a solo shot.

Toronto made it 11-0 in the fourth. After Thames doubled in a run and Bautista hit a run-scoring grounder, Encarnacion homered.

Bautista connected in the sixth.

Baltimore rookie Zach Phillips made his major league debut in the eighth and worked out of a bases-loaded jam.

NOTES: Farrell, who is recovering from pneumonia, will not join the team in New York for the series that starts Friday. … The Orioles traded LH reliever Mike Gonzalez to Texas for a player to be named. … RHP Jon Rauch (appendicitis) will come off the 15-day DL and join the team Thursday, Wakamatsu said. … Baltimore’s J.J. Hardy had his 13-game hitting streak end. He went 0 for 2 before leaving for a pinch hitter in the seventh. Teammate Mark Reynolds’ 10-game streak ended with an 0-for-3, three-strikeout performance. … Luis Perez (3-2) will start for the Blue Jays on Thursday afternoon in the deciding game of the three-game series. He will face Tommy Hunter (3-2), who’s 2-0 over his last three starts.

TORONTO — In the afternoon, they said farewell to two longtime teammates. In the evening, the Toronto Blue Jays had little left to say on the field.

They managed just six hits, including Yunel Escobar’s three-run homer, in a 6-4 loss to Kansas City in Major League Baseball action at Rogers Centre. Their final run, off closer Joakim Soria, came in the ninth inning.

Earlier in the day, the Jays traded Aaron Hill, their everyday second baseman, and super-sub John McDonald to Arizona for second baseman Kelly Johnson.

Asked whether the departure of two respected players might have affected his team’s performance, manager John Farrell acknowledged that the trade was the focus of many pre-game conversations in the clubhouse, but he said starter Brandon Morrow’s control problems led to the Jays’ downfall.

“Tonight’s performance wasn’t the result of a trade,” he said. “It was missed location, for the most part.”

Morrow was sensational in his previous start, with 12 strikeouts over six innings in Seattle. Against the Royals, he breezed through the first inning, then started leaving pitches up in the strike zone and took a beating before leaving with two outs in the fifth.

Morrow (9-8) allowed 11 hits and six runs, including homers by Eric Hosmer and Billy Butler. Farrell took him out after he surrendered a single, double, triple and homer in Kansas City’s three-run fifth.

Royals starter Bruce Chen allowed four hits over 7 2/3 innings, baffling the Jays with off-speed pitches.

Chen, a 34-year-old veteran who came to spring training on a minor-league contract, logged a career-high nine strikeouts and earned his ninth win, tops among Royals starters. He left after issuing his only walk with two outs in the eighth.

Chen took a one-hitter into the sixth before Jose Molina and Mike McCoy singled and Escobar hit his 11th homer.

McCoy was filling in at second base. Johnson is not expected to arrive in Toronto until close to game time Wednesday night and is unlikely to start until Thursday.

Toronto right-hander Joel Carreno, just up from double-A, made his major-league debut in the sixth inning. He worked 3 1/3 shutout innings, allowing four hits. Relying heavily on his highly touted slider, he also logged his first two strikeouts in the eighth inning.

“That’s a big jump from double-A to here,” Carreno said. “That’s a dream for me and for my family. They’re going to be very proud of me.”

Before the game, Farrell said outfielder Travis Snider, who was expected to rejoin the club from triple-A Las Vegas soon, has been battling a right wrist injury and was scheduled to see a specialist Tuesday afternoon.

Snider was in an 0-for-17 slump and had not started the previous two games for Las Vegas. Farrell said he tried to play through the injury for four games.

The injury developed through “usage,” not from a specific incident, Farrell said. He hadn’t received the results of Snider’s examination.

In 61 games over two stints with Las Vegas, Snider is batting .324. But he is hitting .216 over his past 10 games.

Farrell said the Jays had planned to recall Snider in September when rosters expand.

They might need an outfielder before then. Centre-fielder Colby Rasmus had to leave for a pinch-hitter in the ninth after jamming his wrist twice, on a catch against the wall and on an attempt to make a diving catch.

After Tuesday’s two-for-one trade, the Jays opted to call up Brian Jeroloman, giving them three catchers. For the time being, McCoy will serve as an all-purpose reserve. He can play the outfield as well as three infield positions.

National Post

© Copyright (c) National Post

AP Photo/George Nikitin

Toronto Blue Jays Henderson Alarez throws to the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, August 20, 2011 in Oakland, Calif.

Gio Gonzalez pitched eight stellar innings for his first win in more than a month, and the Oakland Athletics held on to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 on Saturday night.
Brandon Allen had two hits and scored the go-ahead run on a double play in the fourth inning while Josh Willingham homered as part of a three-run eighth for Oakland, which has won four of five at home after getting swept in a four-game series by Texas.
Eric Thames had two hits and scored the only run for Toronto, which played without slugger Jose Bautista. Bautista, who leads the majors with 35 home runs, was a late scratch with tightness in his neck.
One day after Rich Harden and Andrew Bailey combined on a three-hitter, Gonzalez (10-11) and Bailey nearly duplicated it. The duo allowed only four hits and teamed up to retire 25 of the final 27 Toronto batters.
Gonzalez, in particular, was very sharp and ended his personal five-game losing streak after getting off to a rough start.
Oakland’s All-Star left-hander allowed a one-out single to Thames in the first and hit designated hitter Adam Lind two batters later. Edwin Encarnacion then lined a single to right to drive in Thames, who beat the throw home from David De Jesus.
Colby Rasmus followed with a walk to load the bases but Gonzalez retired Brett Lawrie on a foul pop-up to first to work out of it.
Toronto, held to three hits a night earlier, didn’t get much else after that. Gonzalez gave up a leadoff single to Thames in the third then retired the next 15 straight until John McDonald’s leadoff single in the eighth.
McDonald was sacrificed to second but Gonzalez — who hadn’t won since July 17 — fanned Thames and Yunel Escobar to end the inning. Gonzalez finished with one walk and nine strikeouts.
Toronto starter Henderson Alvarez (0-1) took the loss despite a solid effort.
He allowed three consecutive hits in the bottom of the first, including Hideki Matsui’s tying RBI single, then retired eight of the next nine until the A’s scored an unearned run in the fourth.
Allen singled and took third after Toronto second baseman McDonald committed an error on Ryan Sweeney’s grounder. Allen then scored the go-ahead run when David De Jesus hit into a 4-6-3 double play.
Alvarez, who made his major league debut against Oakland on Aug. 10, kept it close and got some help from Toronto’s defense.
In addition to making the relay to first on the double play, Escobar saved a run in the sixth when he stopped Landon’s Powell’s sharp grounder up the middle and made a backhand throw to McDonald, who barely beat De Jesus to the bag at second.
Alvarez left after allowing seven hits with three strikeouts and one walk over six innings.
Oakland scored three times in the eighth to break open the close game. Willingham capped the outburst with a two-run pinch-hit home run, his 22nd homer of the season.
It was a painful night all around for the Blue Jays.
Bautista took batting practice and was in the lineup batting third before he was removed. The announcement was made less than 10 minutes before the first pitch.
Mike McCoy replaced Bautista in right field and hit in the leadoff spot.
Toronto later lost Lind, who was hit just above his right wrist by a pitch from Gonzalez. No word was given on his condition.
Notes: Less than a week after tearing his left hamstring, injured Blue Jays OF Rajai Davis has started running in Florida. Manager John Farrell continues to be hopeful that Davis can rejoin the team this season, though he acknowledged that the tear was “significant.” … SS Adeiny Hechavarria, one of Toronto’s top minor league prospects, hit safely in his first eight games with Triple-A Las Vegas and went into Saturday batting .529 with one home run and five RBIs. … RHP Guillermo Moscoso (6-6) pitches for Oakland on Sunday and will try to extend his personal winning streak to a career-best three games. His only win against Toronto came in relief on Aug. 11. … LHP Luis Perez (2-2) makes his first career start for the Blue Jays, five days after throwing 61 pitches over four innings of relief and getting the win against Seattle.

TORONTO (AP)—The Los Angeles Angels are stumbling into their showdown with
first-place Texas.

Hisanori Takahashi(notes) surrendered Edwin Encarnacion’s(notes) game-ending RBI single in
the 10th inning and the Angels lost 5-4 to the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.

“Not a good road trip,” Angels outfielder Torii Hunter(notes) said of the 2-4
swing through New York and Toronto. “We’ll just have to try and bounce back,
starting tomorrow.”

Second in the AL West, the Angels return home Monday to open a four-game
series against Texas. The Angels play the Rangers seven times in their next 12
games.

“It’s make or break here coming up,” starter Dan Haren(notes) said. “This is
probably one of the toughest stretches of our schedule.”

Sunday’s defeat was the fifth time this season the Angels have lost when
leading after eight innings.

“We feel that if we get leads on a consistent basis, we’re going to hold
them,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “Our issue has been the margins by which
we’ve been getting leads late has been very, very tight. With deep offenses,
that one-run lead in the eighth or ninth puts a lot of pressure on guys.”

Yunel Escobar(notes) walked to begin the 10th against Fernando Rodney(notes) (2-5). Mark
Teahen(notes) struck out and Jose Bautista(notes) walked before Takahashi came on to retire
Adam Lind(notes) on a popup. Encarnacion followed with a base hit up the alley in
left-center, scoring Escobar with the winning run as Encarnacion’s teammates ran
out and mobbed him at second base.

“He feels very good at the plate and is obviously seeing the ball well,”
Blue Jays manager John Farrell said of Encarnacion, who is on a season-high
13-game hitting streak. “He’s not expanding the strike zone, he’s getting good
pitches to hit, and he has done an excellent job for us.”

Jon Rauch(notes) (5-3) pitched one inning for Toronto.

The Angels had a 4-3 lead in the ninth inning but Colby Rasmus(notes) hit a one-out
double against All-Star closer Jordan Walden(notes) and rookie Brett Lawrie(notes) followed
with a double to center.

“I missed with a couple of fastballs,” Walden said. “I should have kept
them down. One of those days, I guess.”

It was Walden’s major league-leading eighth blown save opportunity of the
season. The rookie has blown six on the road, also most in the big leagues.

Bautista hit his major league-leading 34th homer and Eric Thames(notes) also
connected for the Blue Jays, who had lost six of 10 coming in.

“Jordan is still going through his growing pains as a closer,” Scioscia
said. “He just couldn’t close out that ninth.”

Walden’s blown save spoiled a solid effort by Haren, who allowed three runs
and five hits in seven innings.

The Angels opened the scoring with a two-out rally in the first. Bobby Abreu(notes)
singled and came home when Hunter followed with a drive to left, his 15th.

Peter Bourjos(notes) tripled in the third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Alberto
Callaspo(notes) but the Blue Jays closed the gap with two runs in the fourth.

Haren set down the first 10 batters in order before Thames homered to right.
Bautista followed with a drive to center, breaking a tie with New York Yankees
outfielder Curtis Granderson(notes). It was the seventh time this season the Blue Jays
have gone back-to-back.

Bautista had gone 3 for 28 with 11 strikeouts since his most recent homer,
Aug. 4 at Tampa Bay.

The Angels made it 4-2 in the fifth on back-to-back doubles by Bobby Wilson(notes)
and Bourjos but Toronto answered in the sixth when John McDonald(notes) doubled, took
third on a fly ball and scored on a groundout by Thames.

McDonald reached on an infield single to begin the eighth against Downs and
moved to second on Escobar’s sacrifice. Rajai Davis(notes) hit for Thames and hit a
grounder to shortstop, with McDonald getting thrown out at third. Davis tore his
left hamstring while running to first, and was replaced by Mark Teahen.

Blue Jays left-hander Brett Cecil(notes) allowed four runs and five hits in seven
innings, the fifth time in six starts he has worked at least seven.

NOTES: Davis was placed on the 15-day disabled list and the Blue Jays
recalled Mike McCoy(notes) from Triple-A Las Vegas. … Angels C Jeff Mathis(notes), who was
hit on the left hand by a pitch Saturday, did not start. X-rays were negative.
… Lawrie swiped third in the ninth, his first career stolen base. … Toronto
2B Aaron Hill(notes) sat out his second straight game but general manager Alex
Anthopoulos insisted Hill has not lost his starting job. Hill is stuck in a
6-for-36 slump. McDonald made his second consecutive start in place of Hill. …
The Blue Jays signed three picks from the June draft, including third-round pick
RHP John Stilson.

“Not a good road trip,” Angels outfielder Torii Hunter said of the 2-4 swing through New York and Toronto. “We’ll just have to try and bounce back, starting tomorrow.”

Second in the AL West, the Angels return home Monday to open a four-game series against Texas. The Angels play the Rangers seven times in their next 12 games.

“It’s make or break here coming up,” starter Dan Haren said. “This is probably one of the toughest stretches of our schedule.”

Sunday’s defeat was the fifth time this season the Angels have lost when leading after eight innings.

“We feel that if we get leads on a consistent basis, we’re going to hold them,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “Our issue has been the margins by which we’ve been getting leads late has been very, very tight. With deep offenses, that one-run lead in the eighth or ninth puts a lot of pressure on guys.”

Yunel Escobar walked to begin the 10th against Fernando Rodney (2-5). Mark Teahen struck out and Jose Bautista walked before Takahashi came on to retire Adam Lind on a popup. Encarnacion followed with a base hit up the alley in left-center, scoring Escobar with the winning run as Encarnacion’s teammates ran out and mobbed him at second base.

“He feels very good at the plate and is obviously seeing the ball well,” Blue Jays manager John Farrell said of Encarnacion, who is on a season-high 13-game hitting streak. “He’s not expanding the strike zone, he’s getting good pitches to hit, and he has done an excellent job for us.”

Jon Rauch (5-3) pitched one inning for Toronto.

The Angels had a 4-3 lead in the ninth inning but Colby Rasmus hit a one-out double against All-Star closer Jordan Walden and rookie Brett Lawrie followed with a double to center.

“I missed with a couple of fastballs,” Walden said. “I should have kept them down. One of those days, I guess.”

It was Walden’s major league-leading eighth blown save opportunity of the season. The rookie has blown six on the road, also most in the big leagues.

Bautista hit his major league-leading 34th homer and Eric Thames also connected for the Blue Jays, who had lost six of 10 coming in.

“Jordan is still going through his growing pains as a closer,” Scioscia said. “He just couldn’t close out that ninth.”

Walden’s blown save spoiled a solid effort by Haren, who allowed three runs and five hits in seven innings.

The Angels opened the scoring with a two-out rally in the first. Bobby Abreu singled and came home when Hunter followed with a drive to left, his 15th.

Peter Bourjos tripled in the third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Alberto Callaspo but the Blue Jays closed the gap with two runs in the fourth.

Haren set down the first 10 batters in order before Thames homered to right. Bautista followed with a drive to center, breaking a tie with New York Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson. It was the seventh time this season the Blue Jays have gone back-to-back.

Bautista had gone 3 for 28 with 11 strikeouts since his most recent homer, Aug. 4 at Tampa Bay.

The Angels made it 4-2 in the fifth on back-to-back doubles by Bobby Wilson and Bourjos but Toronto answered in the sixth when John McDonald doubled, took third on a fly ball and scored on a groundout by Thames.

McDonald reached on an infield single to begin the eighth against Downs and moved to second on Escobar’s sacrifice. Rajai Davis hit for Thames and hit a grounder to shortstop, with McDonald getting thrown out at third. Davis tore his left hamstring while running to first, and was replaced by Mark Teahen.

Blue Jays left-hander Brett Cecil allowed four runs and five hits in seven innings, the fifth time in six starts he has worked at least seven.

NOTES: Davis was placed on the 15-day disabled list and the Blue Jays recalled Mike McCoy from Triple-A Las Vegas. … Angels C Jeff Mathis, who was hit on the left hand by a pitch Saturday, did not start. X-rays were negative. … Lawrie swiped third in the ninth, his first career stolen base. … Toronto 2B Aaron Hill sat out his second straight game but general manager Alex Anthopoulos insisted Hill has not lost his starting job. Hill is stuck in a 6-for-36 slump. McDonald made his second consecutive start in place of Hill. … The Blue Jays signed three picks from the June draft, including third-round pick RHP John Stilson.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

CBSSports.com wire reports
Aug. 14, 2011

TORONTO — Edwin Encarnacion has been doing it all for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Their hottest hitter came up with a game-winner Sunday, hitting an RBI single in the 10th inning and Toronto beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-4 in 10 innings.

Encarnacion has reached base safely in 16 of his past 28 plate appearances and is riding a season-high 13-game hitting streak. He’s hitting .409 (18 for 44) over that span.

“He feels very good at the plate and is obviously seeing the ball well,” Blue Jays manager John Farrell said. “He’s not expanding the strike zone, he’s getting good pitches to hit, and he has done an excellent job for us.”

Encarnacion, who did not speak to reporters, was batting .240 on July 6. He had a three-hit game the next night, a four-hit game the following night and hasn’t looked back since. He went 2 for 5 Sunday, boosting his average to .287.

“When you look at the total number of walks he has drawn since the All-Star break, it’s a drastic difference from the first half,” Farrell said.

Eighteen of Encarnacion’s 27 walks this season have come since the break.

Yunel Escobar walked to begin the 10th against Fernando Rodney (2-5). Mark Teahen struck out and Jose Bautista walked before Hisanori Takahashi came on to retire Adam Lind on a popup. Encarnacion followed with a base hit up the alley in left-center, scoring Escobar with the winning run as Encarnacion’s teammates ran out and mobbed him at second base.

“Not a good road trip,” Angels outfielder Torii Hunter said of a 2-4 swing through New York and Toronto. “We’ll just have to try and bounce back, starting tomorrow.”

Second in the AL West, the Angels return home Monday to open a four-game series against Texas. The Angels play the Rangers seven times in their next 12 games.

“It’s make or break here coming up,” starter Dan Haren said. “This is probably one of the toughest stretches of our schedule.”

Sunday’s defeat was the fifth time this season the Angels have lost when leading after eight innings.

“We feel that if we get leads on a consistent basis, we’re going to hold them,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “Our issue has been the margins by which we’ve been getting leads late has been very, very tight. With deep offenses, that one-run lead in the eighth or ninth puts a lot of pressure on guys.”

Jon Rauch (5-3) pitched one inning for Toronto.

Trailing 4-3 to begin the ninth against Angels closer Jordan Walden, Colby Rasmus hit a one-out double off the wall in right and scored when rookie Brett Lawrie followed with a double to center.

“I missed with a couple of fastballs,” Walden said. “I should have kept them down. One of those days, I guess.”

For Walden, the blown save was his major league-leading eighth of the season. He’s blown six on the road, also most in the big leagues.

Bautista hit his major-league leading 34th home run and Eric Thames also connected for the Blue Jays, who had lost six of 10 coming in.

“Jordan is still going through his growing pains as a closer,” Scioscia said. “He just couldn’t close out that ninth.”

Walden’s blown save spoiled a solid effort by Haren, who allowed three runs and five hits in seven innings. He walked none and struck out five.

The Angels opened the scoring with a two-out rally in the first. Bobby Abreu singled and came home when Hunter followed with a drive to left, his 15th.

Peter Bourjos tripled in the third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Alberto Callaspo but the Blue Jays closed the gap with two runs in the fourth.

Haren had set down the first 10 batters in order before Thames homered to right. Bautista followed with a drive to center, breaking a tie with Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson. It was the seventh time this season the Blue Jays have gone back to back.

Bautista had gone 3 for 28 with 11 strikeouts since his most recent homer, Aug. 4 at Tampa Bay.

The Angels made it 4-2 in the fifth on back-to-back doubles by Bobby Wilson and Bourjos but Toronto answered in the sixth when John McDonald doubled, took third on a fly ball and scored on an RBI groundout by Thames.

McDonald reached on an infield single to begin the eighth against Downs and moved to second on Yunel Escobar’s sacrifice. Rajai Davis pinch hit for Thames and hit a grounder to short, with McDonald getting thrown out at third. Davis tore his left hamstring while running to first, and was replaced by Mark Teahen.

Blue Jays left-hander Brett Cecil allowed four runs and five hits in seven innings, the fifth time in six starts he has worked at least seven. He walked none and struck out three.

Notes

• Encarnacion extended his hitting streak to a season-high 13 games with a leadoff single in the seventh.
• Angels C Jeff Mathis, who was hit on the left hand by a pitch Saturday, did not start. X-rays were negative.
• Toronto 2B Aaron Hill sat out his second straight game but GM Alex Anthopoulos insisted Hill has not lost his starting job. Hill is stuck in a 6 for 36 slump. McDonald made his second consecutive start in place of Hill.
• econd in the Al West, the Angels return home Monday to open a four-game series against first-place Texas. The Angels play Texas seven times in their next 12 games.
• The Blue Jays signed three picks from the June draft, including third-round pick RHP John Stilson.

The Los Angeles Angels are stumbling into their showdown with first-place Texas.

Hisanori Takahashi surrendered Edwin Encarnacion’s game-ending RBI single in the 10th inning and the Angels lost 5-4 to the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.

“Not a good road trip,” Angels outfielder Torii Hunter said of the 2-4 swing through New York and Toronto. “We’ll just have to try and bounce back, starting tomorrow.”

Second in the AL West, the Angels return home Monday to open a four-game series against Texas. The Angels play the Rangers seven times in their next 12 games.

“It’s make or break here coming up,” starter Dan Haren said. “This is probably one of the toughest stretches of our schedule.”

Sunday’s defeat was the fifth time this season the Angels have lost when leading after eight innings.

“We feel that if we get leads on a consistent basis, we’re going to hold them,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “Our issue has been the margins by which we’ve been getting leads late has been very, very tight. With deep offenses, that one-run lead in the eighth or ninth puts a lot of pressure on guys.”

Yunel Escobar walked to begin the 10th against Fernando Rodney (2-5). Mark Teahen struck out and Jose Bautista walked before Takahashi came on to strike out Adam Lind. Encarnacion followed with a base hit up the alley in left-center, scoring Escobar with the winning run as Encarnacion’s teammates ran out and mobbed him at second base.

“He feels very good at the plate and is obviously seeing the ball well,” Blue Jays manager John Farrell said of Encarnacion, who is on a season-high 13-game hitting streak. “He’s not expanding the strike zone, he’s getting good pitches to hit, and he has done an excellent job for us.”

Jon Rauch (5-3) pitched one inning for Toronto.

The Angels had a 4-3 lead in the ninth inning but Colby Rasmus hit a one-out double against All-Star closer Jordan Walden and rookie Brett Lawrie followed with a double to center.

“I missed with a couple of fastballs,” Walden said. “I should have kept them down. One of those days, I guess.”

It was Walden’s major league-leading eighth blown save opportunity of the season. The rookie has blown six on the road, also most in the big leagues.

Bautista hit his major league-leading 34th homer and Eric Thames also connected for the Blue Jays, who had lost six of 10 coming in.

“Jordan is still going through his growing pains as a closer,” Scioscia said. “He just couldn’t close out that ninth.”

Walden’s blown save spoiled a solid effort by Haren, who allowed three runs and five hits in seven innings.

The Angels opened the scoring with a two-out rally in the first. Bobby Abreu singled and came home when Hunter followed with a drive to left, his 15th.

Peter Bourjos tripled in the third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Alberto Callaspo but the Blue Jays closed the gap with two runs in the fourth.

Haren set down the first 10 batters in order before Thames homered to right. Bautista followed with a drive to center, breaking a tie with New York Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson. It was the seventh time this season the Blue Jays have gone back-to-back.

Bautista had gone 3 for 28 with 11 strikeouts since his most recent homer, Aug. 4 at Tampa Bay.

The Angels made it 4-2 in the fifth on back-to-back doubles by Bobby Wilson and Bourjos but Toronto answered in the sixth when John McDonald doubled, took third on a fly ball and scored on a groundout by Thames.

McDonald reached on an infield single to begin the eighth against Downs and moved to second on Escobar’s sacrifice. Rajai Davis hit for Thames and hit a grounder to shortstop, with McDonald getting thrown out at third. Davis tore his left hamstring while running to first, and was replaced by Mark Teahen.

Blue Jays left-hander Brett Cecil allowed four runs and five hits in seven innings, the fifth time in six starts he has worked at least seven.

NOTES: Davis was placed on the 15-day disabled list and the Blue Jays recalled Mike McCoy from Triple-A Las Vegas. … Angels C Jeff Mathis, who was hit on the left hand by a pitch Saturday, did not start. X-rays were negative. … Lawrie swiped third in the ninth, his first career stolen base. … Toronto 2B Aaron Hill sat out his second straight game but general manager Alex Anthopoulos insisted Hill has not lost his starting job. Hill is stuck in a 6-for-36 slump. McDonald made his second consecutive start in place of Hill. … The Blue Jays signed three picks from the June draft, including third-round pick RHP John Stilson.

TORONTO – The night was supposed to be a celebration of Brett Lawrie’s homecoming as a major-league player with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Instead, another B.C. native stole the show.

Victoria’s Rich Harden struck out eight over seven innings and the Oakland Athletics beat the Blue Jays 4-1 on Tuesday.

Harden (3-2) struck out Lawrie, of Langley, B.C., for the second time in the game with two on and two out in the seventh inning to cap his first career victory over Toronto in nine career starts.

In doing so he held Lawrie, who received a standing ovation when he went to bat in the second inning and had the crowd chanting his name in seventh, hitless in three at-bats.

“He has a couple of different change-ups that he throws and I was just trying to see (the ball) as long as I could,” Lawrie said. “It took a couple of at-bats to see them and he made some good pitches, and I tip my hat to him.”

Harden, 30, is now 1-3 with a 5.11 earned-run average against Toronto. The only run Harden allowed in his seven innings of five-hit pitching was on Edwin Encarnacion’s 10th homer to lead off the second.

“I was aware of my past performances here,” Harden said. “It felt good to get this one out of the way.”

Josh Willingham hit his 18th homer with a runner on in the sixth and Kurt Suzuki hit his 10th, a solo shot, in the seventh to send Brett Cecil (4-5) to his first defeat since July 5. Cecil, who had won his previous three decisions, allowed four hits and three runs in seven innings.

“With the exception of the change-up that stayed up and away to Willingham and the breaking ball that Suzuki got, I really felt that he threw the ball well,” Blue Jays manager John Farrell said.

The A’s added a run in the ninth on a single by Ryan Sweeney against Shawn Camp who took over from Luis Perez.

The 21-year-old Lawrie was 5-for-11 in his first three major-league games in Baltimore after being called up Friday from triple-A Las Vegas.

“I was a little more calm here,” he said. “I think my first game I was jacked up for it and I think as I got out there (Tuesday), there was a lot of reassurance, a lot of people behind me.”

He said the standing ovation was “pretty cool.”

“It kind of pumped me up and got my heart going a little bit,” Lawrie said.

Harden said he understood Lawrie’s excitement.

“That would be pretty exciting for him to be playing at home here in Canada, a big, big deal,” harden said. “I remember the first time I came up here and started here, it’s definitely a cool feeling.”

Grant Balfour took over in the eighth for Oakland and held the 3-1 lead despite allowing a one-out double to Eric Thames, his second hit in 34 at-bats.

With the lead 4-1, Andrew Bailey picked up his 14th save despite walking Encarnacion to lead off the ninth.

Encarnacion led off the second with a homer of the season on a 2-1 pitch, a high drive that just cleared the left-field fence and landed in the Blue Jays bullpen.

Harden, who did not pitch until July 1 because of a strained right shoulder, has allowed a home run in each of his seven starts this season. Encarnacion’s was the eighth he homer has allowed overall.

Harden walked J.P. Arencibia with two out in the second to bring up Lawrie who was batting ninth.

Lawrie struck out on three pitches.

The A’s did not have a base runner until Scott Sizemore walked with two out in the third. It was followed by a single by Jemile Weeks. Sizemore drew a futile throw going to third on the hit that allowed Weeks to take second. But Cecil struck out Cliff Pennington to end the inning.

The Blue Jays’ defence took over in the fifth after Ryan Sweeney worked the A’s second walk of the game against Cecil.

First, shortstop Yunel Escobar leaped high to snare Sizemore’s line drive. Next, Lawrie made a diving grab of Weeks’ grounder down the third-base line and got the out to end the inning with first baseman Adam Lind making a fine catch.

Cecil wasn’t surprised by Lawrie’s athleticism.

“When I was down in triple-A he was making plays like that almost on a daily basis,” Cecil said. “I thought it was going to be a lot closer play but he jumped up a lot quicker than I thought. And a great job by Lind on the other end to pick it up. I honestly thought he had no chance.”

Lawrie’s second at-bat against Harden was a fly out to centre.

Willingham put the A’s into a 2-1 lead with one out in the sixth with his homer on an 0-1 pitch, scoring Pennington who led off with a single. Suzuki’s 10th homer of the season led off the seventh and bumped Oakland’s lead to 3-1.

Encarnacion led off the home seventh with a walk and to third on a single to right by Colby Rasmus. But Aaron Hill popped out and Arencibia and Lawrie struck out.

“I thought (Lawrie) handled himself well tonight,” Farrell said. “He made a heck of a diving play to the line and even though he didn’t have anything to show for it from the line score I thought he made an outstanding adjustment from his first at-bat to the second one against Harden.

“He put up a couple of tough at-bats, the last one to end the threat in the seventh. But you have to tip your hat to the way Harden threw the baseball.”

The A’s added a run in the ninth. After Perez hit David DeJesus with a pitch, Camp came in and allowed a bunt single to Suzuki and a run-scoring single to Sweeney.

Notes: Attendance at Rogers Centre was 20,521. …Henderson Alvarez, 21, was called up from double-A New Hampshire and will start Wednesday in his major-league debut against Gio Gonzalez (9-9, 3.10 earned-run average). Alvarez was 8-5 with an ERA of 2.86 in 15 games, 14 starts, with New Hampshire. “His slider has come along. It’s given him a defined third pitch in addition to his fastball and a change-up,” Farrell said before Tuesday’s game….Left-hander Wil Ledezma was assigned outright to triple-A Las Vegas to make room for Alvarez.