Athletics 2 - 3 Blue Jays
Final
  for this game

Hendriks gets the win as Blue Jays edge A's

May 24, 2014 - 5:23 AM Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - Liam Hendriks pitched 5 2/3 innings to win his Blue Jays debut, Steve Tolleson hit a two-run homer and Toronto beat the Oakland Athletics, 3-2, in the opener of a three-game series.

Hendriks (1-0), who was called up from Triple-A Buffalo, allowed one run on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts. The right-hander, who was claimed off waivers from the Orioles during spring training, went 5-0 with a 1.48 ERA in nine games at Buffalo.

"I was given opportunities in Minnesota and I didn't capitalize on them," said Hendriks, who played for the Twins from 2011-2013. "Now I've got a different mindset coming into the season of just getting ready, getting aggressive and getting after guys early.

"I think it's paid dividends so far and hopefully I can continue this trend and stay up here all year."

Jose Reyes knocked in the other run for the Blue Jays, who have won four in a row.

Brandon Moss went 2-for-4 with a solo homer for the Athletics, who entered Friday's game with a major league-best 18-7 road record this season. Alberto Callaspo drove in a run.

Oakland starter Scott Kazmir (5-2) gave up three runs on five hits over seven innings. The left-hander was ejected in the second inning of his last outing against Cleveland for arguing balls and strikes.

The Blue Jays jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Brett Lawrie reached base on a fielder's choice and crossed the plate on Tolleson's blast to left.

Toronto tacked on another run in the third. Kevin Pillar led off with a double to left, advanced to third on Kazmir's throwing error on a pickoff attempt and raced home on Reyes' groundout.

Moss' solo homer in the fourth made it a 3-1 contest.

Oakland scored another run in the eighth. With Steve Delabar on the mound, Jed Lowrie walked. Josh Donaldson popped out before Brett Cecil took over on the mound. Moss singled and pinch-hitter Callaspo hit an RBI single two batters later. But Derek Norris struck out swinging to keep it a one-run game.

Casey Janssen stranded a runner on third in the ninth to pick up his sixth save of the season.

"We put some good swings on balls," said Lowrie, "and didn't get the results we were hoping for."

Game Notes

The A's went 4-3 against Toronto in 2013 ... The Athletics have lost two in a row since a five-game winning streak ... Bench coach Chip Hale managed Oakland while Bob Melvin attended his daughter's college graduation in New York City ... To make room on the roster for Hendriks, the Blue Jays designated pitcher Esmil Rogers for assignment ... The A's went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine.






Related News