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Burnett wins third straight as Blue Jays down Rangers

Aug 3, 2008 - 5:17 AM By Jay Miller PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- A.J. Burnett won his third straight start as the Toronto Blue Jays downed the Texas Rangers, 6-4, in searing heat on Saturday.

Burnett (13-9) allowed four runs and six hits over 5 2/3 innings, walking two and striking out four to set a career high for wins.

"I'm just focused on my next one," Burnett said. "It's good to get a career high, but there's more to come. It's great to have a career high, but with my ability and what I had to offer, that's (a low number)."

Burnett did so working under sultry conditions as the game-time temperature of 102 degrees that marked the hottest start in the majors this season.

"I played in Miami for six years, I try not to let it affect me," Burnett said.

It was Burnett's first career win in five starts against the Rangers.

The Blue Jays provided their righthander with early support when they jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning off Rangers starter Scott Feldman (4-4).

After hitting Marco Scutaro with a pitch, Feldman committed the Rangers' major league-leading 100th error of the season when he sailed a pickoff throw into center field, allowing Scutaro to advance from first to third.

Scutaro later scored on a groundout by Lyle Overbay to give the Jays a 1-0 advantage.

Josh Hamilton, the major league leader in RBI, continued to be the catalyst for the Texas offense by leading off the second with a double into the gap in right -center. He came in to score the tying run when Toronto catcher Rod Barajas' attempted pickoff throw to third base sailed into left field.

Toronto reclaimed the lead at 2-1 in the third on a single and stolen base by second baseman Joe Inglett and an RBI single by Alex Rios.

Burnett appeared poised to get out of a bases-loaded jam unscathed in the fifth before Frank Catalanotto drilled a 3-2 pitch to the left field corner for a double that plated two runs.

But Rangers rookie Chris Davis was thrown out at home by Jays left fielder Adam Lind to hold the Rangers' lead at 3-2.

With two on and one out in the sixth, Jamey Wright came on in relief of Feldman, but failed to preserve the lead. Barajas drilled a two-out, bases-loaded double down the left field to score Rios and Overbay.

Scott Rolen followed that with a two-run double to the gap in right-center to score Matt Stairs and Barajas and give the Jays a 6-3 advantage.

"That changed the game right there," said Barajas, who played with the Rangers from 2004-06. "You can never put too much emphasis on two-out hits. Those will win you ballgames."

Texas added a run in the sixth on an RBI single by Gerald Laird. With two on and two out, lefthander Scott Downs came on in relief of Burnett and squelched the Rangers' rally.

"When I took him out, he was a little over 100 pitches," Toronto manager Cito Gaston said. "Whether you see it or not, that's a lot of pitches in this heat."

Josh Rupe pitched three innings of scoreless relief for the Rangers, but Texas' offense was unable to mount a comeback on Downs, who countered with two scoreless innings.

Downs has not allowed a run since July 5 -- a streak of 12 2/3 innings.

"Their bullpen did an excellent job," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "They came in and shut us down. Give them a lot of credit."

B.J. Ryan, after blowing his third save on Friday, tossed a scoreless ninth for his 21st save.

"That's a perfect scenario (after a blown save)," Ryan said. "You jump right back in the middle of it and make better pitches than you did the night before. You just want get back out there, make some pitches and finish out the game."