2
TORONTO — The way the Toronto Blue Jays have pitched lately, they haven't needed very much offence to find themselves in the win column.
Just imagine then, what might happen if the offence continues to show signs of life, the way it did Saturday afternoon in a 5-2 victory over the slumping Chicago White Sox.
"People are going to have to watch out for us," said Jesse Litsch, who allowed just two runs on five hits in 7 1-3 strong innings. "We started out slow in the month of April but that happens, it's what you finish, really. ...
"We're coming together a lot better now. We're going to make a statement, hopefully, and go from here."
Blue Jays starter Jesse Litsch throws against the Chicago White Sox in Toronto on Saturday. The Jays won 5-2. (REUTERS/Mike Cassese)
Internet Links
Litsch (4-1) extended an unbelievable run of pitching in which the Blue Jays (14-17) — now winners of three straight to calm the waters after a 4-11 run — have allowed just nine runs in the past seven games. They posted shutouts in their previous two contests and ran a scoreless streak to 24 innings before Jermaine Dye ripped a two-out solo shot in the seventh.
By that point, Dye's blast was too little too late as the Blue Jays already had things well in hand before a crowd of 27,778. Vernon Wells led the attack with three hits and three RBIs against the White Sox (14-14), now losers of a season-high four straight and seven of 10.
"We knew coming out of spring training we had a chance to be a pretty good team," said Wells. "Our pitching has done their part and our offence is starting to turn around slowly but surely. When we start playing as a team completely, it's going to be a good one."
One of the best signs for the Jays came in the sixth, when they tacked on some rare add-on runs, three of them in fact, to pump up a 2-0 lead.
After squandering chances to score in the fourth and fifth, the Blue Jays put it away thanks in part to Joe Crede. With the bases loaded and two down, Aaron Hill hit a chopper to third that Crede booted, allowing Rod Barajas to come in and make it 3-0.
Wells followed by lashing a ball up the middle to bring home two more.
"You catch a break you need to capitalize on it," said manager John Gibbons.
For the second straight game the Blue Jays took an early lead with a big two-out hit in the first inning, this time a run-scoring single from Wells off John Danks (2-3). Marco Scutaro then made it 2-0 when he drove a 2-1 Danks offering off the facing of the second deck in left to lead off the third.
That was plenty for Litsch, who didn't allow a hit until Paul Konerko's single in the fifth and was in total control until tiring in the eighth. It was a second straight strong effort from the sophomore since he was bombed for five runs in 3 1-3 innings against Tampa Bay.
"My sinker has been big, just being able to throw it for strikes is definitely something I'm going to need to do," said Litsch. "I've been doing the past two starts and that's where I need to be right now."
Dye's homer, which ended an 0-for-15 run, also stopped the Blue Jays from chasing down the club record of 28 scoreless innings, set June 4-7 in 1985.
Carlos Quentin homered to open the eighth and Litsch was done after surrendering a one-out single to Pablo Ozuna. Scott Downs retired Nick Swisher and Orlando Cabrera to end the eighth and B.J. Ryan closed things out in the ninth for his fourth save.
The only other White Sox threat came in the sixth, after Crede opened the inning with a double off the top of the wall in left-centre. Ozuna sacrificed him over and Swisher followed with a line drive right into the glove of Lyle Overbay at first. Cabrera grounded out to end the threat.
Notes: Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin took some batting practice off Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi before the game. ... Blue Jays manager John Gibbons says he won't use a set plan for the bullpen in games when B.J. Ryan isn't available to pitch. Instead, he'll piece things together based on matchups. Ryan still can't pitch on consecutive days as he recovers from Tommy John surgery last May. ... The White Sox have also had a miserable time brining home runners of late, batting .109 (5-for-46) in their previous six games.
