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Romero shuts out A's

Aug 19, 2011 - 6:03 AM Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Ricky Romero tossed his second shutout of the year, and Colby Rasmus belted a two-run homer and scored three times as the Blue Jays earned a 7-0 win over the Athletics in the opener of a four-game series.

Romero (12-9) allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out six in his fifth straight victory. He retired the last 15 batters he faced.

"He's a good pitcher. Just look at his numbers," Athletics manager Bob Melvin said about Romero. "He has subtle movement on all his pitches."

J.P. Arencibia added a two-run single as Toronto won for the fifth time in six tries.

Trevor Cahill (9-12) gave up seven runs on nine hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings for the A's, losers in five of their last seven games.

Colby Rasmus hit a two-out double in the second and crossed the plate when Brett Lawrie followed with a base hit into left, giving the Blue Jays a one- run advantage.

Jose Bautista led off the fourth with a double. Two batters later, Edwin Encarnacion singled to left, scoring Bautista. Rasmus then sent a ball into the right-field bleachers to increase Toronto's lead to 3-0.

Eric Thames worked a one-out walk in the fifth, moved to second on first baseman Brandon Allen's fielding error on a Bautista grounder and scored on Adam Lind's base hit to right.

Arencibia added a two-run single in the sixth to give the Jays a seven-run cushion.

Oakland's best chances to get to Romero came early, as the A's put a man on third in the second and loaded the bases in the third. But each time Romero would quell the threat. Oakland went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and stranded six men on base.

"Everything feels good right now. I'm attacking the zone and am being consistent with my pitches. I feel in control," a confident Romero said.

Game Notes

Toronto now leads the season series 4-3...Oakland fell to 2-5 on a 10-game homestand...The A?s have now committed 11 errors in the last nine games.