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Burnett dominates Red Sox again
2008-05-02
The Toronto Blue Jays finally got some hitting to back their outstanding pitching. Muzi.com News 10068302-0 (muzi.com)Sure, three runs is still pretty meager. But A.J. Burnett doesn't seem to need much help when he's going against the Boston Red Sox. Muzi.com News 10068302-1 (muzi.com) The veteran right-hander pitched into the eighth inning, combining with relievers Jesse Carlson and B.J. Ryan on a four-hitter to beat Boston 3-0 Thursday night. The win came after the Red Sox won the first two games of the series in their last at-bat. Muzi.com News 10068302-2 (muzi.com) "You saw six starting pitchers all throw the ball extremely well," Red Sox catcher Kevin Cash said. "We were happy to come out of the series with two wins." Muzi.com News 10068302-3 (muzi.com) Some fine pitching gave Blue Jays manager John Gibbons a reason to be pleased, too. Muzi.com News 10068302-4 (muzi.com) Roy Halladay threw his fourth straight complete game to open the series, but Jon Lester and Jonathan Papelbon held the Blue Jays to just two hits in a 1-0 loss. The next night, Dustin McGowan gave up one run over 7 1-3 innings in a 2-1 loss. Muzi.com News 10068302-5 (muzi.com) Then came Burnett's gem. Muzi.com News 10068302-6 (muzi.com) "I think as the game went on, he got stronger and stronger," Gibbons said. "We only came out with one win in the series, but we pitched so good." Muzi.com News 10068302-7 (muzi.com) Burnett (3-2) improved to 4-0 against Boston while allowing just one run in 16 innings over two starts at Fenway Park. Burnett struck out five and walked five in 7 2-3 innings. Muzi.com News 10068302-8 (muzi.com) In other AL games, it was: Cleveland 3, Seattle 2 in 11 innings; Oakland 15, Los Angeles 8; Detroit 8, New York 4; Tampa Bay 4, Baltimore 2; and Texas 2, Kansas City 1. Muzi.com News 10068302-9 (muzi.com) Scott Rolen's two-out RBI single off Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield (2-1) gave Toronto a 1-0 lead in the third inning and ended a 17-inning shutout streak by Boston starters. Muzi.com News 10068302-10 (muzi.com) After wasting a bases-loaded opportunity in the fourth, the Blue Jays missed another chance to break the game open in the fifth. Muzi.com News 10068302-11 (muzi.com) With Rolen and David Eckstein on first and second, Matt Stairs singled off the wall and the ball bounced directly into the glove of Coco Crisp, whose quick relay caught Eckstein in a rundown between third and home. Vernon Wells followed with a sacrifice fly to salvage a run. Muzi.com News 10068302-12 (muzi.com) Boston threatened in the fourth when David Ortiz singled and Manny Ramirez walked to start the inning, but Mike Lowell flied to left and Aaron Hill made a diving grab of a line drive up the middle off the bat of Brandon Moss, doubling Ortiz off second base. Muzi.com News 10068302-13 (muzi.com) "We saw some good pitching," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said, "and we didn't have much to show for it." Muzi.com News 10068302-14 (muzi.com) Alex Rios capped the scoring with his third homer of the season for Toronto -- more than enough runs for Burnett. Muzi.com News 10068302-15 (muzi.com) "My fastball was going everywhere tonight, which is a good thing," Burnett said. "Just a good 'W' for us to get back on track." Muzi.com News 10068302-16 (muzi.com) Wakefield lost for the first time in seven starts after giving up three runs and six hits in seven innings. The knuckleballer walked four and didn't record a strikeout. Muzi.com News 10068302-17 (muzi.com) "I didn't have the command I would like to have," Wakefield said. "You've got to tip your cap to A.J., though, because he did a great job for them." Muzi.com News 10068302-18 (muzi.com) Gibbons was ejected in the bottom of the ninth after Crisp appeared to fly out to end the game. The manager was upset that second base umpire Bruce Dreckman called a balk on Ryan, giving Crisp another chance. He singled two pitches later, but Jed Lowrie struck out to end it. Muzi.com News 10068302-19 (muzi.com) Indians 3, Mariners 2, 11 innings Muzi.com News 10068302-20 (muzi.com) At Cleveland, Asdrubal Cabrera won it with a bases-loaded single in the 11th inning. Muzi.com News 10068302-21 (muzi.com) Jhonny Peralta drew a one-out walk off Mark Lowe (1-2) to start the rally. Travis Hafner then doubled to left and Jamey Carroll was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Sean Green struck out Franklin Gutierrez, but Cabrera lined an 0-1 pitch to center. Muzi.com News 10068302-22 (muzi.com) The Mariners took a 2-1 lead in the 10th when Richie Sexson hit the first pitch from Masa Kobayashi (2-0) for his 300th career homer. Cleveland tied it in the bottom half on a bases-loaded walk to Grady Sizemore by Seattle closer J.J. Putz. Muzi.com News 10068302-23 (muzi.com) Athletics 15, Angels 8 Muzi.com News 10068302-24 (muzi.com) Jack Cust went 4-for-4 with a go-ahead homer that triggered an eight-run fifth inning, Emil Brown had four hits and visiting Oakland gained a split of the four-game series. Muzi.com News 10068302-25 (muzi.com) Justin Duchscherer (2-1) allowed six runs -- only one earned -- and six hits over five innings with six strikeouts. The A's had 20 hits, and Frank Thomas, Bobby Crosby, Daric Barton, Ryan Sweeney and Kurt Suzuki each had two RBIs. Cust scored three runs. Muzi.com News 10068302-26 (muzi.com) Thomas and Crosby each hit two-run singles during a 49-pitch meltdown by Angels relievers Dustin Moseley (1-3), Darren O'Day and Chris Bootcheck in the fifth. Muzi.com News 10068302-27 (muzi.com) Tigers 8, Yankees 4 Muzi.com News 10068302-28 (muzi.com) Miguel Cabrera homered, tripled and drove in three runs, leading Detroit to its first three-game sweep at New York since 1966. Muzi.com News 10068302-29 (muzi.com) Nate Robertson (1-3) picked up the win, getting some help from Magglio Ordonez's three hits. Muzi.com News 10068302-30 (muzi.com) Bobby Abreu hit a three-run homer for the banged-up Yankees, who have lost six of eight. Jonathan Albaladejo (0-1) took the loss. Muzi.com News 10068302-31 (muzi.com) Rays 4, Orioles 2 Muzi.com News 10068302-32 (muzi.com) Matt Garza allowed three hits in six innings, Carl Crawford snapped a tie with a two-run single in the seventh and visiting Tampa Bay won its third straight series. Muzi.com News 10068302-33 (muzi.com) The Rays are four games over .500 (16-12) for only the third time in their 11-year history. Muzi.com News 10068302-34 (muzi.com) Garza (1-0) allowed two runs, walked two and struck out three. Dan Wheeler retired all six batters he faced and Troy Percival worked a perfect ninth for his sixth save. Muzi.com News 10068302-35 (muzi.com) Brian Burres (3-2) pitched six-plus innings, giving up six hits and three earned runs. Muzi.com News 10068302-36 (muzi.com) Rangers 2, Royals 1 Muzi.com News 10068302-37 (muzi.com) Sidney Ponson got his first victory in a year and host Texas finished off a successful homestand with Ron Washington still its manager. Muzi.com News 10068302-38 (muzi.com) Ian Kinsler hit a leadoff homer in the first and Ramon Vazquez hit a tiebreaking drive in the sixth off Zack Greinke (3-1), who was dominant again in a losing effort. Muzi.com News 10068302-39 (muzi.com)
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