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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
TORONTO (AP) -- Not since winning the World Series in 1993 have
the Blue Jays been in first place this late in the season.
|  | | Red Sox pitcher John Wasdin watches in frustration as Raul Mondesi rounds the bases. |
Toronto moved into first place in the AL East as Frank Castillo
won his third straight start to beat the Boston Red Sox 5-4 Friday
night.
"I know it's early, but any time you can be in first place it's
always fun," Castillo said.
Raul Mondesi hit a go-ahead, two-run homer for the Blue Jays,
and Brad Fullmer and Jose Cruz Jr. also connected.
Toronto, which moved a half-game ahead of Boston and a game
ahead of the New York Yankees, overcame a two-run deficit to extend
its winning streak to three. The Blue Jays had not led this season
since April 5, when they were 2-0.
"The first couple of innings were tough because I wasn't
locating my fastball," Castillo said. "I started locating later,
and I got ahead of guys."
Castillo (4-5) allowed four runs and six hits in 7 1-3 innings,
retiring 15 straight before consecutive doubles by Darren Lewis and
Jeff Frye with one out in the eighth pulled Boston to 5-3.
Pedro Borbon relieved Castillo, and Trot Nixon followed with a
grounder to shortstop Alex Gonzalez, who got Frye in a rundown for
the second out.
Billy Koch relieved and walked Nomar Garciaparra, before Carl
Everett hit an RBI double down the right field line to cut
Toronto's lead to 5-4.
Koch then walked Brian Daubach, loading the bases, and then
threw what could have been a wild pitch, but the ball hit off the
toe of umpire Dale Scott, keeping Garciaparra from scoring the
tying run. "That was a great kick save," Koch said.
Jason Varitek popped up to shallow left field. "Those kind of breaks seem to find a team that's going well,"
Boston's Trot Nixon said. "We didn't have any luck."
Koch finished for his 16th save. "The eighth inning wasn't the prettiest, but the Blue Jays are
in first place now," he said.
John Wasdin (0-3), making his first start since 1998, gave up
five runs and seven hits in four innings.
Solo homers by Nixon in the first and Everett in the second put
Boston ahead, but Toronto tied it in the second on Fullmer's homer
and Homer Bush's RBI single.
Mondesi's 17th homer gave Toronto a 4-2 lead in the third, and
Cruz added his 16th in the fourth. The Blue Jays, who have homered
in a club record 21 straight games.
Game notes
Castillo has pitched at least six innings in eight of his
last 10 tarts and has allowed just five earned runs in his last 21
1-3 innings. ... Castillo is 3-0 with a 2.53 ERA in his last three
starts. ... Carlos Delgado extended his hitting streak to 17 games.
... Garciaparra, who injured his right shoulder in a collision with
Carl Everett on Thursday night, was at designated hitter and went
0-for-3 with a walk. It was Latin night at SkyDome. A salsa band
performed, and the PA announcer spoke Spanish throughout the game.
... Nixon left in the eighth with a leg injury. He thought he'd be
able to play Saturday.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Boston Clubhouse
Toronto Clubhouse
Report: Blue Jays make offer to Cubs for Sosa
Red Sox urged to find cheaper Fenway site
RECAPS
Detroit 7
Cleveland 6
Toronto 5
Boston 4
Chi. White Sox 4
NY Yankees 3
Tampa Bay 7
Texas 4
Anaheim 8
Minnesota 3
Oakland 10
Kansas City 6
Seattle 8
Baltimore 3
Florida 6
Chicago Cubs 1
Philadelphia 13
Montreal 6
NY Mets 12
Pittsburgh 2
San Diego 10
Cincinnati 7
Atlanta 3
Milwaukee 2
San Francisco 10
Houston 3
St. Louis 9
Los Angeles 6
Arizona 2
Colorado 0
AUDIO/VIDEO
 With a lot of effort and a little luck, Jim Fregosi's Blue Jays came on top.
wav: 132 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Trot Nixon and the Red Sox remain optimistic after losing the division lead.
wav: 65 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
The Jays' Billy Koch talks about the wild pitch and kick save by umpire Dale Scott.
wav: 56 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Carlos Delgado praises the Blue Jays' pitching staff for keeping them in the game.
wav: 96 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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