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A's, Jays continue set at Rogers Centre

Apr 6, 2011 - 4:28 PM (Sports Network) - The Toronto Blue Jays aim to continue a strong opening to their 2011 campaign Wednesday in the middle test of a three- game series with the Oakland Athletics from Rogers Centre.

Toronto improved to 3-1 on the young season in Tuesday's opener as Yunel Escobar provided a game-winning two-run homer off Grant Balfour in the bottom of the 10th inning for a dramatic 7-6 win.

Josh Willingham had homered in the top half of the frame to put Oakland on top but Balfour gave up a leadoff single to Rajai Davis and Escobar followed with his first longball of the year.

Aaron Hill collected a pair of RBI and Adam Lind added two hits and drove in one to help offset a lackluster start from Jo-Jo Reyes, who was touched for five runs on nine hits in just 3 1/3 innings. Jason Frasor (1-0) earned the win despite allowing Willingham's go-ahead blast, going on to strike out the side in his only inning of work.

The Blue Jays won without the help of star slugger Jose Bautista, who is expected to miss the remainder of the series while tending to a family matter.

Right-hander Jesse Litsch will toe the rubber in Wednesday's matchup hoping to continue Toronto's success and just stay healthy. The 26-year-old has been limited to just 11 starts over the last two seasons after becoming a mainstay in the Jays' rotation in 2007. His last full season yielded a 13-9 mark and 3.58 earned-run average over 28 starts (29 games) in 2008.

Litsch has made three career starts versus Oakland, going 1-1 with a miniscule 0.90 ERA in that time with just two earned runs over 20.0 innings.

Oakland found itself back in the loss column Tuesday, falling to 1-3 after salvaging the finale of a three-game home set with Seattle. The Athletics outhit the Blue Jays, 13-9, but committed three errors. The miscues left starter Brandon McCarthy with a rather skewed line despite a solid eight- inning outing. The former Rangers' right-hander was charged with five runs, just two of those earned, on seven hits with a walk and two strikeouts.

Heading to the hill tonight for the A's will be Dallas Braden, who experienced a rather tumultuous 2010. The left-hander posted a solid 3.50 ERA in 30 starts last season, but ended the year just 11-14 due mostly to a lack of run support.

However, the 27-year-old reached one of baseball's pinnacle achievements with a perfect game on May 9 against Tampa Bay but never really captured that same form after, going 7-12 the rest of the way. Braden will also be looking to put a lackluster spring behind him, having posted a 5.24 ERA and 0-3 mark in six starts spanning 22 1/3 innings.

He faced Toronto once last year, besting the Jays in a 6-2 win August 17 in Oakland with seven strong innings of two-run (one earned), three-hit ball. Over four career starts (five games) versus the Blue Jays, Braden stands at 2-2.

Toronto took four of seven matchups from the A's in 2010.