| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
TORONTO (AP) -- David Wells doesn't want to think about winning
the Cy Young Award. He just wants to keep the Toronto Blue Jays in
contention.
Wells became the first 17-game winner in the major leagues this
season and Tony Batista hit his AL-leading 33rd home run Saturday
as the Blue Jays beat the Texas Rangers 8-5.
|  | | David Wells (17-4) is one win from matching his career high for wins. He was 18-4 with the Yankees two seasons ago. |
"Winning the Cy Young Award means nothing to me at this
point," Wells said. "I don't want to give it any thought."
The Blue Jays closed within 4½ games of the first-place New York
Yankees in the AL East.
"Every win is crucial now," Wells said. "Hopefully, we'll get
some help from some other teams."
Wells (17-4) allowed just one run before Rusty Greer's three-run
double with two outs in the seventh.
He allowed eight hits in seven innings, struck out five and
walked one, improving to 2-2 in five starts since the All-Star
break. Wells needs one more win to match his career high, set with
the Yankees in 1998.
"He mixed it up a lot, and that's why he's one of the best
pitchers in the game," the Rangers' Royce Clayton said.
Billy Koch allowed an RBI single to Rafael Palmeiro in the
ninth, then ended the game by striking out Gabe Kapler with two on
for his 27th save in 31 chances.
Koch, who has converted 16 straight save opportunities, is
sporting a mohawk hairstyle.
"It's a streak for a streak," he said.
Toronto has won three straight at home following five
consecutive losses on the road.
Rookie Doug Davis (4-3), making his first start since May 17,
gave up six runs and nine hits in five innings.
Consecutive RBI singles by Carlos Delgado, Batista and Jose Cruz
Jr. put Toronto ahead 3-0 in the first
After Chad Curtis hit an RBI single in the third, the Blue Jays
made it 6-1 in the fifth on Delgado's RBI single and Batista's
homer. Alex Gonzlez had an RBI double in the sixth.
Greer's double cut the Rangers' deficit to 7-4, but Craig
Grebeck hit an RBI double in the eighth.
Game notes
Wells has walked just 25 batters this season. ... Howard
Starkman, the Blue Jays head of public relations, scored the game
because the official scorer didn't show up. Doug Hobbs was caught
in traffic caused by a Caribbean festival. ... Kapler extended his
hitting streak to 19 games with a double in the sixth.
| |
ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Texas Clubhouse
Toronto Clubhouse
RECAPS
Kansas City 7
Boston 5
Toronto 8
Texas 5
Cleveland 6
Anaheim 3
Tampa Bay 5
Baltimore 4
Seattle 6
NY Yankees 5
Detroit 4
Minnesota 3
Chi. White Sox 4
Oakland 3
St. Louis 5
Atlanta 0
Colorado 7
Philadelphia 6
Chicago Cubs 6
San Diego 3
Pittsburgh 7
San Francisco 2
Florida 10
Cincinnati 5
Montreal 10
Houston 9
NY Mets 6
Arizona 2
Milwaukee 4
Los Angeles 2
|
