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Blue Jays solve Volquez, rout Reds

Jun 27, 2008 - 3:47 AM TORONTO (Ticker) -- The National League has been trying to figure out Edinson Volquez all season. However, it didn't near that long for the Toronto Blue Jays to make him look human.

Scott Rolen homered and finished with three RBI Thursday, powering the Toronto Blue Jays to a 7-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

Jesse Litsch (8-4) turned in one of the best starts of his young career, yielding just one run and three hits over eight frames for the win, striking out six.

"Every game you get jacked (about facing one of the best pitchers in the majors); our hitters came out and they came out swinging it...that's why they are there," Litsch said.

Volquez (10-3), who is 8-2 with a 1.44 ERA in 13 starts against the NL this season, has baffled the league's hitters all season, leading to his major league-leading 110 strikeouts. Through three interleague turns, the righthander appeared to be doing the same to the American League, going 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA.

Toronto didn't seem to be the likely choice to be the team to end his reign of dominance after entering Thursday with the AL's third-lowest scoring offense.

However, the team has shown signs of life lately on offense as this contest marked the third time over the last four games in which it scored at least seven runs.

"I hope (the hitters felt more relaxed)," said Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston, who improved to 3-3 in his second stint as the team's skipper. "The last few days we have swung the bat better."

However, the Blue Jays wasted little time figuring out the Reds' phenom, starting in the second inning when Rolen reached down to hammer a low changeup several rows deep into the stands in left-center for a two-run home run - his sixth of the season.

Volquez, who did not allow more than three runs in any of his first 17 appearances - 16 starts - with the Reds, saw Toronto surpass that mark courtesy of its three-run third.

"The only thing I can say is it's a bad day," Volquez said. "I knew it was going to happen some day. All I can do is get ready for my next start."

After the Blue Jays loaded the bases without a hit, Vernon Wells plated a run with a groundout. Three batters later, Lyle Overbay roped a two-run single to right, increasing Toronto's lead to 5-0.

Following a scoreless fourth, the Blue Jays completed Volquez's night with a two-run fifth, capped off by Rolen's two-out RBI double.

In all, Volquez surrendered seven runs - five earned - and six hits with three walks over a season-low 4 1/3 innings. He did not strike out a batter for the first time in 33 major league starts.

"Amen to a great game on their side, and Edinson wasn't quite Edinson today," manager Dusty Baker said.

Brandon Phillips drove in the only run of the game for the Reds, who fell to 15-27 on the road.