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Athletics-Blue Jays Preview

Apr 29, 2010 - 5:18 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Oakland (12-9) at Toronto (10-11), 7:07 p.m. EDT

Justin Duchscherer is putting a slew of injuries behind him in impressive fashion. His teammates are providing some help, too.

The right-hander looks to win a third consecutive decision Thursday night when the Oakland Athletics open a four-game road set against the struggling Toronto Blue Jays.

Duchscherer (2-0, 1.82 ERA) missed all of 2009 recovering from right elbow surgery after hip and various arm injuries hampered him over the previous five years.

He appears to be fully recovered while emerging as the A's ace, ranking among the AL leaders in ERA as each of his four starts have resulted in Oakland (12-10) victories.

Duchscherer has also put together a stretch of 19 consecutive innings over three starts without allowing an earned run.

The A's defense helped him continue that run Friday, converting five double plays - one shy of the team record - in a 10-0 win over Cleveland. Duchscherer labored at times while giving up five hits with a season-high four walks in six innings.

"That's comforting for a pitcher when you know you can put the ball in play and the defense can play like that behind you," Duchscherer said. "You never expect double plays. What you do expect is if the ball's hit to (the defense) they're going to make plays. They consistently show that."

Duchscherer is 1-0 with a 3.09 ERA in 11 games - one start - against the Blue Jays (10-12). However, he hasn't faced them since that lone start on Aug. 7, 2008, when he allowed four runs in five innings while not getting a decision in a 6-4 loss at Toronto.

That defeat for the A's is part of a 1-6 stretch at Rogers Centre, while they've dropped 12 of 15 overall to the Blue Jays.

Oakland could use another strong effort from Duchscherer after falling 10-3 to red-hot Tampa Bay on Wednesday, getting swept in the two-game set.

The A's could also benefit from better production at the plate. They stranded 18 in the two losses to the Rays, including an 0-for-13 performance with runners in scoring position Wednesday, prompting manager Bob Geren to call a team meeting.

"I just said a couple things. I didn't like what I saw. I've liked what we've seen for about 20 games," Geren said. "We're going to move on."

The Blue Jays are trying to halt a season-high five-game slide after mustering only two hits in a 2-0 loss to Boston on Wednesday. Toronto's bats have produced a .210 average during the losing streak while getting shut out twice.

Ricky Romero (1-1, 1.80) knows all too well how his team's offense is struggling, receiving seven total runs of support in four outings.

The left-hander battled a sore throat and a cold as well as the Rays in Saturday's 9-3 loss. Despite the illness, he allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings.

"He was at 105 pitches, and cold or no cold, he was coming out after that inning," manager Cito Gaston told the team's official website. "We're not going to jeopardize the future of our young pitchers for just one game, especially in the early part of the season."

Romero has been superb in winning both of his starts against Oakland, yielding two runs and 12 hits with 11 strikeouts in 14 innings.