Rockies 0 - 2 Blue Jays
Final
  for this game

Izturis helps Blue Jays overcome Rockies

Jun 18, 2013 - 6:01 AM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Maicer Izturis hit a two-run single in the eighth inning to lift the Toronto Blue Jays to a 2-0 win over the Colorado Rockies in the opener of a three-game set at Rogers Centre.

Izturis finished 2-for-3 and also made a spectacular diving play in the fifth inning to potentially save a run for Toronto.

Josh Johnson worked 7 1/3 shutout innings, scattering five hits and striking out 10 for the Blue Jays, who have won six straight games.

Brett Cecil (3-0) recorded the final two outs of the eighth to earn the win and Casey Janssen notched his 15th save of the season.

"We had great pitching today and we played great defense. That is was kept us in the ball game and gave us a chance to win it late," said Blue Jays outfielder Rajai Davis.

Jorge De La Rosa carried a no-hitter over 5 1/3 innings. He allowed just one hit, walked three and struck out four over seven frames.

Matt Belisle (4-4) was pegged with the loss for Colorado, which has dropped four of its last six games.

Toronto finally broke through in the eighth inning. Davis led off with a single and stole second base. After Colby Rasmus walked, J.P. Arencibia hit a soft grounder to the pitcher, allowing Davis and Rasmus to move into scoring position. Izturis, who broke up De La Rosa's no-hit bid with a single in the sixth, dropped a soft line drive into left field to plate both runners.

"I made a poor pitch to Davis, and poor execution when I got to Izturis. I just had trouble commanding the ball," said Belisle.

Colorado, which went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, wasted several opportunities to get on the board throughout the contest.

In the fifth, Nolan Arenado smoked a two-out double to center field. Jonathan Herrera followed with a sharply hit grounder up the middle. Izturis made a diving stab behind the second base bag, turned and fired a strike to first to catch Herrera by a step.

In the top of the eighth inning the Rockies put runners on second and third with Carlos Gonzalez coming to the plate.

With the infield drawn in, Gonzalez ripped a line drive to the right side of the infield. Blue Jays first baseman Adam Lind made a spectacular catch to rob Gonzalez of an RBI base hit. Cecil then walked Michael Cuddyer to load the bases before getting Todd Helton to ground out to end the threat.

Game Notes

Johnson has struckout 10 batters or more in seven games ... With the win, Toronto (33-36) moved within three games of .500 for the first time since it was 7-10 on April 19 ... Cuddyer has hit safely in 15 straight games for the second time in his career.






Related News