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Athletics look to end season-long skid vs. Blue Jays

Aug 6, 2008 - 10:15 AM Oakland (53-59) at Toronto (57-56) 7:07 p.m. EDT

TORONTO (Ticker) -- The Oakland Athletics will look to end a season-long eight game losing streak when Gio Gonzalez makes his major league debut on Wednesday against the Toronto Blue Jays.

A 22-year-old lefthander, Gonzalez was 8-7 with a 4.24 ERA with Class AAA Sacramento, where he struck out 128 batters and walked 61 in 123 innings. He pitched eight shutout innings Friday in a victory over Nashville.

Gonzalez, who was selected in the first round of the 2004 draft by the Chicago White Sox, joined the A's as a part of the Nick Swisher trade during the offseason.

Right-hander Justin Duchscherer, who is 0-2 with a 5.21 ERA in his past three starts, was scheduled to make the start, but will get an extra day of rest and start Thursday.

Toronto counters with Shaun Marcum (5-5, 3.57), who has struggled since his return from the disabled list on July 22. The righthander is 0-2 in three starts, posting a 10.14 ERA, including his shortest outing of the season last time out. Marcum lasted 4 1/3 innings, giving up six runs on seven hits and a walk in a 9-8 loss at Texas. He has also served up five home runs in those three trips to the mound.

The righthander, who is winless in his last seven starts overall, last won on May 26 against the Kansas City Royals.

In his second start of the year, Marcum pitched seven strong innings against Oakland, allowing one run on six hits and one walk, striking out eight. He did not figure in the decision in the 3-2 loss on April 10.