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Blue Jays take on struggling Athletics

Aug 5, 2008 - 1:21 PM Oakland (53-58) at Toronto (56-56), 7:07 pm EDT

TORONTO (Ticker) -- The Toronto Blue Jays look to hand the Oakland Athletics their eighth straight loss on Tuesday when the teams continue a four-game series.

By dealing Rich Harden to the Chicago Cubs prior the All-Star break, the Athletics appear to have turned their attention to next season and beyond as a rebuilding club. They are 2-16 over the last 18 games and have completely fallen out contention after playing well in the first half of the season.

Roy Halladay worked eight outstanding innings, leading the Blue Jays to a 6-1 victory in Monday's series opener.

Trying to follow Halladay's lead is rookie Scott Richmond (0-1, 5.06 ERA), who will make his second career start. The righthander pitched 5 1/3 innings Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays, allowing three runs and seven hits in a 3-2 loss.

He was recalled from Class AAA Syracuse on July 28 when righthander Brian Tallet was placed on the 15-day disabled list and hopes to provide stability in a brittle rotation, which is without Dustin McGowan for the rest of the campaign.

Oakland will counter with Greg Smith (5-10, 4.04), who is 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA in two starts against Toronto this season.

Smith has lost his last three starts and four straight decisions, but tossed seven innings Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals, allowing five runs and four hits.