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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
TORONTO (AP) – A career-high hitting streak has Jose Cruz Jr.
thinking he can be consistent.
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| Cruz |
Cruz extended his hitting streak to 19 games with a three-run homer and the Blue Jays won their third straight, 12-4 over the Anaheim Angels on Friday night.
"The streak is a good thing for me personally because I'm
showing to myself that I can be consistent," said Cruz, who has
spent four inconsistent seasons with Toronto. "It doesn't mean
much in the grand scheme of things because winning is most
important, but to me personally it shows that I can be consistent."
Cruz, recently moved to the fifth spot in the order behind Carlos Delgado, has the longest hitting streak in the AL this season.
"We all recognize Cruz has that type of talent and ability.
It's just a matter of him learning the league more, and learning
more about himself as a hitter," Toronto manager Buck Martinez
said. "I'm glad he continued his hitting streak. He's really
swinging the bat well."
Cruz's sixth homer, off reliever Lou Pote, gave Toronto a 10-2 lead in the seventh. The fifth-year outfielder is hitting 356. with 18 RBI.
"I'm not letting prior at-bats affect me as much," said Cruz,
who went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts before homering. "If I have
three strikeouts I don't really put too much into that. I just go
up for my next at-bat like it's a brand new day."
Brad Fullmer went 4-for-4 for the Blue Jays, who have won 10 of
13 home games this season.
Pote allowed seven runs, six hits and three walks in 2 1/3 innings.
Tony Batista homered and had three RBI for the Blue Jays, who
have hit the second most homers in the AL with 34.
Fullmer tied his career high with four hits, and Raul Mondesi equaled his career-high with four runs scored.
Toronto walked a season-high nine times.
"They are all good hitters, but now they're starting to
recognize the value of being patient," Martinez said. "That's
going to lead to better batting averages, and more run
production."
Blue Jays starter Esteban Loaiza pitched seven strong innings
for his fourth win. Loaiza (4-0) allowed three runs -- two earned --
and nine hits. He struck out five and walked two.
Pinch-hitter Shawn Wooten hit a two-run homer for the Angels
Anaheim starter Jarrod Washburn (0-3) gave up five runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.
"I'm 0-3 and I've been stinking up the field," Washburn said.
"Tonight was the worst one so far. In my last game, I thought I
made one bad pitch. Today I made a game-full of bad pitches."
After Washburn walked two of the first three batters he faced, Toronto took a 2-0 lead in the first on run-scoring singles by Delgado and Batista.
The Blue Jays added three runs in the fourth on Mondesi's RBI
double, Cruz's run-scoring grounder and Fullmer's sacrifice fly.
Fullmer added an RBI single in the sixth, and Fletcher hit an
RBI grounder, giving Toronto a 7-1 lead.
Game notes
Batista has six homers. ... Loaiza hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his six starts. ... Loaiza struck out the side
in the first. He was perfect until Adam Kennedy singled with one out in the third. ... Kennedy returned to the lineup after being benched in the previous two. ... The attendance was just 16,174.
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RECAPS
Boston 9
Kansas City 2
Texas 11
Cleveland 9
Detroit 4
Tampa Bay 2
NY Yankees 3
Oakland 2
Toronto 12
Anaheim 4
Seattle 8
Chi. White Sox 3
Minnesota 6
Baltimore 3
Florida 9
Houston 8
Montreal 6
Milwaukee 1
St. Louis 9
NY Mets 0
Cincinnati 12
Colorado 9
Atlanta 9
Arizona 0
Pittsburgh 3
San Diego 0
Chicago Cubs 7
San Francisco 3
Los Angeles 4
Philadelphia 3
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