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OAKLAND, Calif.(AP)
Aaron Hill
and the
Toronto Blue Jays
got off to fast start against
Vin Mazzaro
and
Ricky Romero
took over from there.
Hill hit a two-run homer and Toronto roughed up Mazzaro in a 7-2 victory over the
Oakland Athletics
on Sunday.
The
Blue Jays
scored five runs off Mazzaro before making an out.
Adam Lind
doubled after Hill's 26th homer, and
Lyle Overbay
and
Vernon Wells
each walked to load the bases.
Alex Rios
then hit a three-run double.
Romero (10-4) gave up two runs in seven innings, joining Tampa Bay's
Jeff Niemann
as the only rookies with double-digit victories. The left-hander lowered his ERA to 3.53 with his 12th quality start in 17
outings.
''He gives us an opportunity to win every single time,''
Blue Jays
catcher
Rod Barajas
said. ''For a young guy he has composure on the mound. When he does give up runs, he gets his focus back where it needs to
be. He goes out and makes quality pitches. He's a competitor and he gives you his best effort every time.''
Romero struck out five and walked one, improving to 7-1 with a 3.36 ERA in his last nine starts.
''You could see when he started struggling he just started throwing fastballs 93, 94, 95 mph,'' Toronto manager
Cito Gaston
said. ''I think when you see that it shows you he has a lot of confidence. Sometimes guys get out there and get upset and
can't throw strikes, no matter how hard you can throw.''
Mazzaro (2-8), one of four rookies in the A's rotation, has lost eight consecutive decisions since winning his first two career
starts. He gave up seven runs and 10 hits in five innings and has allowed at least six runs in four consecutive starts, the
first A's starter to do that since
Dave Stewart
in 1991.
''It's been challenging,'' Mazzaro said. ''They came out swinging. And I was leaving the ball over the plate. For one thing
you can't miss your spots. They are going to hurt you if you miss your spots. If you are going to do that, you want to miss
better. If you want to go in, you want to go in hard. And that's the thing I have to work on a lot. That's what I'm learning
now.''
Mark Ellis
and
Kurt Suzuki
had RBI singles for Oakland.
Rajai Davis
finished with two hits.
Hill went deep for the second straight day and also singled in the second. He is batting .353 with six homers and 16 RBIs
during a 12-game hitting streak.
''He's done a great job through hard work,'' Gaston said. ''Like I keep telling you guys, I believe he's going to get a lot
better.''
NOTES:
Blue Jays
SS
Marco Scutaro
was out of the lineup because of a bruised right heel. ... RHP
Jason Frasor
will handle the closing duties while LHP
Scott Downs
is on the disabled list. Downs was placed on the DL on Sunday after aggravating an injury to his left big toe on Saturday
night. ... RHP
Josh Roenicke
, acquired from the Reds in the
Scott Rolen
deal, made his Toronto debut with a scoreless inning. Barajas was particularly impressed with his slider. ... A's manager
Bob Geren
said he had no update on the status of RHP
Justin Duchscherer
, who was scratched from Friday's scheduled rehab appearance for what the team called a ''non-baseball issue.'' The two-time
All-Star has missed the entire season rehabbing from elbow and back injuries.
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