Thu Aug 7 22:50:54 2008

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Blue Jays send Athletics to 10th consecutive defeat

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Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Scott Rolen and John McDonald drove in two runs apiece to lead the Blue Jays over the Oakland Athletics, 6-4, to secure a sweep of the four-game set in Toronto.

A.J. Burnett (14-9) gave up four runs on seven hits over six frames while fanning six and walking just two batters. B.J. Ryan tossed a scoreless ninth to notch his 22nd save of the year.

Joe Inglett went 2-for-4 and knocked in a run for Toronto, which has won four in a row and five of six overall. Brad Wilkerson added an RBI in the win.

Oakland starter Justin Duchscherer lasted five innings and yielded four runs on seven hits, fanning six and walking two in the no-decision. Jerry Blevins (1-2) was saddled with the loss as he gave up two runs while recording only one out in the sixth.

Daric Barton had a two-run home run for the Athletics, who have dropped their last 10 contests. Oakland hadn't lost 10 in a row during a single season since a 12-game skid from April 19-30, 1994. Ryan Sweeney added a solo shot in defeat.

Toronto pulled ahead with a couple runs in the sixth off Blevins. Adam Lind was beaned leading off the frame before pinch hitter Kevin Mench went down swinging.

Rolen then drew a walk and a botched pickoff attempt moved both runners in to scoring position before McDonald walked to load the bases. Joe Inglett was hit by a pitch to drive in a run and Joey Devine was summoned from the 'pen. Wilkerson offered a sac fly to center, and it was 6-4.

Ryan took the hill in the ninth to try and close it out for Toronto and got Kurt Suzuki to ground out. Sweeney, however, was hit on his right hand by a pitch and Mark Ellis followed by hitting a single up the middle to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. Former Blue Jay Frank Thomas played the role of rally-killer as he grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

The A's jumped on top, 3-0, in the second inning. Carlos Gonzalez got things going with a walk before Emil Brown popped out. Bobby Crosby then laced an RBI double to the wall in center and moved to third on Jack Hannahan's ground out. Barton cleared the bases with a two-run blast over the fence in right-center field.

The Blue Jays took the lead in the fourth frame. The bases were loaded after consecutive two-out singles from Rod Barajas, Lind and Matt Stairs. Rolen kept it going with a two-run single to center field and McDonald clubbed a two-run double down the line in left to make it 4-3.

Sweeney led off the fifth stanza with a homer to right field, knotting the contest up at four.

Game Notes

Toronto is 14-4 over its 18 most recent outings at the Rogers Centre...The Blue Jays have now won six straight against Oakland after the A's took the first four clashes between these teams this season. The Athletics swept a three-game set at the Rogers Centre from April 8-10.