Angels Beat Jays 7-3

With the losses mounting and the season winding down, Toronto Blue Jays players are auditioning for jobs next season.

Scott Richmond did himself a favour, albeit in a losing effort Saturday.

The North Vancouver, B.C., native gave up four earned runs over seven innings and struck out 10 as the Los Angeles Angels beat Toronto 7-3.

“He pitched a good game for us,” Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said of Richmond, who was making his first start since Aug. 11th.

The loss before a crowd of 23,235 was the sixth in the past seven games for the Blue Jays. The rubber match against the American League West leaders is Sunday.

“You’ve got to go out there and execute when you get your chances,” said Richmond (6-7). “That’s what I plan on doing every time I go.”

Richmond added he doesn’t view his remaining starts as an audition.

“That might be the case behind the (manager’s) doors but in my mind I’m just trying to execute pitches and go out there and take advantage.”

Richmond got in trouble in the third when doubles by Erick Aybar, Chone Figgins and Maicer Izturis surrounded a walk to Matthews to give the Angels with a 3-0 lead.

Adam Lind’s three-run homer in the bottom of the inning – his 25th home run of the season – provided all the Blue Jays offence against Ervin Santana (7-6), who allowed seven hits over six innings to earn the victory.

Lind’s homer came after one-out singles by Marco Scutaro and Aaron Hill.

Vladimir Guerrero led off the sixth with his 11th home run of the season for the Angels and they didn’t look back.

“I saw a lot of breaking balls, a lot of sliders, in and out of the zone,” said Guerrero.

“I just had to tell myself ‘I have got to go look for it.’ Fortunately I got one that I could hit.”

Toronto reliever Brian Tallet gave up three runs in the eighth, two on Juan Rivera’s 20th homer of the season, which followed Guerrero’s leadoff single.

Aybar then scored all the way from first on a Gary Matthews Jr. triple for a 7-3 lead.

Before the game Gaston said that there are no guarantees of places in the rotation for next season for rookies Brett Cecil, Marc Rzepczynski or Richmond.

The Canadian has been bumped from starts because of off-days in the schedule and is looking forward to getting back to pitching every fifth day or so.

“I’m anxious for it,” he said. “I’m looking forward to my next one.

“It’s just things happened, I’ve been bumped a couple of times. It’s no big deal and when you get the opportunity just take advantage of it.”

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