Athletics 6 - 4 Blue Jays
Final
  for this game

Reddick tries to power A's against Blue Jays

Aug 11, 2013 - 11:52 AM (Sports Network) - Oakland right fielder Josh Reddick came into this series in Toronto in an 0-for-20 slump, but he's sure been on a power surge this weekend.

Reddick has hit five home runs thus far in this four-game set - three on Friday in a 14-6 A's win and two more yesterday in a 5-4 loss for Oakland. Reddick is only the second player in Athletics history to hit five homers in two games, joining Mark McGwire, who did it in both 1987 and 1995.

Sunday, Reddick gets his chance to face knuckleball specialist R.A. Dickey for the first time in his career as the A's and Blue Jays play the third contest of a four-game set.

Dickey snapped a five-game winless stretch (0-3) by throwing 7 2/3 strong innings in a 3-1 win at Seattle Monday. The right-hander allowed eight hits and a run.

Dickey is 1-4 with a 5.05 ERA in 13 games (9 starts) against the A's.

A.J. Griffin counters for the Athletics. The righty had gone 5-1 over an eight-start span until a 4-0 loss a week ago against Texas. He's 2-0 in three career games versus the Blue Jays.

Griffin and Dickey have given up a combined 53 homers this year. Griffin leads the majors with 28 allowed.

Jose Reyes' solo homer in the seventh inning was the difference in yesterday's contest. Reyes finished with two RBI, while Jose Bautista also went deep and drove in a pair of runs for the Blue Jays, winners in four of their last six efforts.

Reyes has driven in a run in five straight games.

Mark Buehrle (8-7) worked 5 1/3 innings for the win, allowing seven hits and three runs with five strikeouts and two walks. Casey Janssen made things interesting in the ninth, but held on for his 21st save.

"I kind of feel like I stole a win today," Buehrle said.

Despite Reddick's power, the Athletics suffered their fourth defeat in five contests and are a game behind Texas for the lead in the AL West.

The A's went 1-for-10 with men in scoring position and left nine on base.

"It was a better step in the right direction as opposed to how we've been doing the last week," said Oakland manager Bob Melvin, who remains a victory shy of 700 for his career.

Recalled from Triple-A Sacramento prior to the game for his first MLB start, Sonny Gray (0-1) lasted six full frames and gave up four runs -- two earned -- on four hits.

Oakland's Eric Sogard enters today with a career-high 14-game hitting streak.

Toronto has won five of the last seven meetings going back to 2012.






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