Jays Take Third Straight From Twins
Posted August 12, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Okay, Blue Jays. Now you’re playing ball.
Toronto continued its torrid stretch Saturday, taking their third straight on the road from the Minnesota Twins 4-0.
Just when things looked bleakest for the club, the Blue Birds have rattled off four straight wins thanks to pitching that’s really getting the job done.
Scott Downs (6-1) got the start for the Jays and was lights out on the hill allowing just four hits over five innings.
Brian Tallet, Brandon League and Scott Schoeneweis took it from there, combining for four innings of scoreless relief.
The Twins did their part by grounding into five double plays, tying a club record.
Despite having perhaps the best name in Major League Baseball, Twins starter Boof Bonser (2-4) couldn’t quite get the job done, though he wasn’t horrible by any stretch.
Bonser lasted 5 2/3 innings, giving up three runs and seven hits while striking out five.
At the dish, the big bop came from Reed Johnson who for the second straight night crushed a two-run home run, his ninth of the season.
Lyle Overbay and Aaron Hill added RBI singles, though they’d be for insurance purposes only.
Although Hill did get to spoil a streak being enjoyed by Twins reliever Pat Neshek, who hadn’t allowed a hit in 27 batters before the Blue Jays second baseman got on board in the seventh.
With the win, the Jays move closer to leapfrogging the Twins in the American League Wild Card race, though the other two teams ahead of them – the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox – also won Saturday keeping Toronto 6.5 games back of the fourth and final playoff spot.
Looking ahead to Sunday, the Jays will chase the rare four-game road sweep behind the arm of Shaun Marcum (1-1), who squares off against veteran Twins hurler Brad Radke (11-8).
