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Ohka silences Rangers as Blue Jays roll

Apr 29, 2007 - 10:34 PM TORONTO (Ticker) -- Tomo Ohka solved the Texas Rangers and helped the Toronto Blue Jays avoid a sweep.

Ohka tossed a season-high seven innings to win his second straight start and Aaron Hill had three hits to lead the Blue Jays to a 7-3 victory over the Rangers.

Signed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal in the offseason, Ohka (2-2) got off to a slow start this season with the Blue Jays, posting a 7.02 ERA over his first three outings.

But the Japanese righthander tossed five solid innings to win Monday at Boston and was especially strong Sunday, yielding one run, five hits and three walks while striking out two.

"That's two real good ones in a row (for Ohka)," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "He was very good against Boston the other day and he pitched very well again for us today. He's doing a nice job for us."

Ohka ran into trouble in the second inning when Matt Kata ripped an RBI single and Gerald Laird followed with a hit to place runners at first and third with two outs. But with Toronto leading, 3-1, Ohka induced Kenny Lofton to line out, ending the threat.

Ohka retired 12 of the next 13 batters he faced to silence the powerful Rangers, who had pounded five home runs and plated a total of 14 runs in winning the first two contests of this three-game set.

With the victory, Ohka improved to 3-0 lifetime against Texas. He received more than enough support from the Blue Jays' lineup, which pounded out 12 hits while drawing five walks.

"The early lead was helpful for me," said Ohka, who recorded his 50th career win. "I was able to throw my fastball, cutter and slider for strikes.

"I don't care about 50 wins - it's nothing special. It was nice for the team to win."

The Blue Jays jumped to an early 3-0 lead against Rangers starter Brandon McCarthy (1-4), who struggled with his command.

After drawing a trio of walks, Toronto opened the scoring when Troy Glaus was plunked with the bases loaded by McCarthy. Two batters later, Hill lined a two-run single to make it 3-0.

"I just waited for a pitch that I could handle, and eventually (McCarthy) left it up," Hill said. "I was able to see the ball, get my foot down and be successful."

The Blue Jays took a 5-1 lead in the third on RBI singles by Jason Phillips and rookie Adam Lind and added two insurance runs in the seventh thanks to a solo homer from Alex Rios and a run-scoring double from John McDonald.

"It's important to jump out in front in an game," said Lind, who batted leadoff for the first time in his career. "It takes the pressure off and makes the game go a little bit easier."

The 32-year-old McDonald extended his hitting streak to 10 games and is batting .469 (15-for-32) over that stretch. Phillips had three hits for Toronto, which snapped a four-game home skid.

"When you're going good, it seems like everything falls in," McDonald said. "There's a lot of luck involved. I've had some balls fall in for me that maybe wouldn't have fallen in last year."

McCarthy, who was acquired in an offseason trade with the Chicago White Sox, lasted just three innings, yielding five runs and six hits with four walks and four strikeouts. The righthander has a 9.90 ERA over his first six appearances - five starts - with the Rangers.

"It angers me that this is three consecutive bad starts," McCarthy said. "It was just bad pitches and bad command. Three walks and a hit batsman in one inning is unacceptable by any standards."

"When you walk three guys in the first inning, that just tells you (McCarthy) wasn't spotting the ball where he wanted to," Texas first-year manager Ron Washington said. "I feel for the kid, because he's out there busting his (rear) trying to get the job done."

Ian Kinsler belted his team-leading ninth homer in the ninth inning for Texas, which fell to 4-10 on the road this season.