Blue Jays 1 - 4 Athletics
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A's open set with Blue Jays

Aug 2, 2012 - 2:28 PM

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(Sports Network) - Bartolo Colon tries to follow up a terrific effort in his last start when the Oakland Athletics open a four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays at the Coliseum.

Colon was brilliant on Saturday in Baltimore, as he scattered seven hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings to win for the first time in six starts and improve to 7-8 to go along with a 3.78 ERA.

"I've played with different teams that went to the playoffs and everything," Colon said through an interpreter after his last start. "But right now, the way that this team plays, the way that I see everybody, this team is the most fun I'm having."

Colon has faced the Blue Jays 23 times and is 9-5 with a 4.35 ERA.

The big veteran will be trying to get the A's back into the win column following a series loss to Tampa Bay that saw them lose the final two games of the three-game set, including a 4-1 setback on Wednesday.

Jarrod Parker (7-5) absorbed the loss after giving up three runs on eight hits and three walks over six frames.

"I'm not real happy with it," said Parker of his outing. "They took advantage and moved guys over and played baseball."

Brandon Inge provided the Oakland offense with a leadoff blast in the fifth as the A's lost for the third time in their last four games.

Despite the losses to Tampa, Oakland has won 12 of its last 16 home games, and 20 of its last 28.

Toronto, meanwhile, has hit the skids and comes into tonight's opener riding a four-game losing streak following a three-game sweep at the hands of the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.

The Blue Jays lost a season-high five straight May 22-27.

Getting the call for the Blue Jays tonight will be righty Henderson Alvarez, who has won his last two starts and is 7-7 on the year with a 4.43 ERA. Alvarez beat the Detroit Tigers on Saturday, holding them to a run and five hits in seven innings

Alvarez is 0-1 in two starts versus the A's with a 3.09 ERA.

The A's took two of three games from the Blue Jays in Toronto last week. They split a two-game series in Oakland in May.






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