Blue Jays 1 - 5 Athletics
Final
  for this game

A's top Blue Jays; Encarnacion exits

Jul 6, 2014 - 5:22 AM Oakland, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Josh Donaldson homered to back Scott Kazmir, as the Oakland Athletics topped the slumping Toronto Blue Jays, 5-1.

Craig Gentry and Jed Lowrie each had two hits and an RBI for Oakland, which will look to complete a four-game sweep Sunday behind newcomer Jeff Samardzija.

"I know he's excited about tomorrow, real excited," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said.

The Athletics acquired Samardzija and fellow right-hander Jason Hammel on Saturday in a trade with the Chicago Cubs.

Kazmir (10-3) helped the A's clinch the series with a solid outing. He limited Toronto to three hits -- all singles -- and struck out eight with only two walks over seven innings.

The Blue Jays not only lost the game, but first baseman Edwin Encarnacion was forced to leave the game with right quadriceps soreness. He was injured legging out a potential double-play grounder in the first that allowed Jose Reyes to score Toronto's lone run.

Mark Buehrle (10-6) suffered his fifth consecutive loss after allowing three runs on 10 hits in six innings.

Melky Cabrera was thrown out at home to end the eighth as Toronto lost for the sixth time in eight games.

Donaldson tied the game in the third with his 19th home run of the season, a two-out blast to center field.

The A's grabbed the lead with more two-out production in the fourth.

Alberto Callaspo kept the inning alive with a double and Coco Crisp singled him in after Stephen Vogt walked. A Gentry base hit then plated Vogt.

Lowrie added an RBI double in the eighth and scored on a passed ball.

Game Notes

Kazmir threw a season-high 113 pitches ... Buehrle has given up a homer in six straight starts ... The Blue Jays were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.






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