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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
TORONTO (AP) -- Carlos Delgado has a chance to become the first
player in 33 years to win a Triple Crown.
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| Delgado |
Delgado had his fifth two-homer game of the season, hitting a
go-ahead drive in the eighth inning as the Toronto Blue Jays won
their third straight, 9-8 over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday
night.
Delgado, who tied Chicago's Frank Thomas for the AL lead with 38
homers, hit a leadoff drive in a five-run seventh that tied the
score at 8, then added a go-ahead shot in the eighth off Andy
Larkin (0-2).
With a .366 average, Delgado is second in the AL to Boston's
Nomar Garciaparra. Delgado's 115 RBI are third behind Thomas and
Seattle's Edgar Martinez.
"It would be great," Delgado said. "If at the end that
happens, that would be great, but we're trying to win some ball
games here."
Boston's Carl Yastrzemski was the last player to win a Triple
Crown, accomplishing the feat in 1967.
"It would be an awesome feat," Kansas City's Johnny Damon
said. "If he's not MVP, there is something wrong with the voting.
We were even trying to pitch around him all series, and he was
still able to do what he can do."
Delgado has 22 multihomer games, including five this season.
Alex Gonzalez tied a career high with five RBI, including a
game-tying two-run double in the seventh. Gonzalez went 3-for-5,
including a two-run homer in the first.
"It was my day," Gonzalez said. "I'll remember this game."
Kelvim Escobar (9-13) won for the second straight night,
allowing one hit in one inning. Billy Koch pitched a perfect ninth
for his 30th save in 34 chances.
After the game, Toronto manager Jim Fregosi said Escobar would
set up Koch for the rest of the season.
Toronto rallied in the seventh as Delgado homered and Jose Cruz
Jr. hit a two-run drive.
"Carlos has been spectacular," Fregosi said.
Toronto starter Esteban Loaiza, acquired from Texas on July 19,
gave up seven runs and seven hits in just 3 1/3 innings.
Gonzalez hit a two-run homer in the first, but Kansas City tied it in the second on consecutive RBI doubles by Todd Dunwoody and Greg
Zaun. Damon homered in the third.
Kansas City scored five runs in the fourth on Zaun's RBI double,
and consecutive run-scoring singles by Jeff Reboulet, Damon and Rey
Sanchez.
Game notes
After Delgado hit his 37th homer, Tony Batista narrowly
missed his 37th one batter later when he doubled off the wall in
left-center. ... ... Damon is batting .438 (77-for-176) in 40 games
since the All-Star break. ... Damon scored twice, raising his
career-high runs total to 109. ... Kansas City starter Blake Stein
hasn't lost in five starts since Aug. 2. He gave up three runs and
six hits in six innings. ... Delgado has five home runs in the last
eight games.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Kansas City Clubhouse
Toronto Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 3
Anaheim 1
Cleveland 7
Oakland 5
Detroit 6
Seattle 5
NY Yankees 10
Texas 9
Toronto 9
Kansas City 8
Chi. White Sox 8
Baltimore 4
Minnesota 8
Tampa Bay 2
Atlanta 5
Colorado 2
San Francisco 5
Florida 0
Philadelphia 4
Cincinnati 3
Chicago Cubs 15
Houston 5
St. Louis 5
Pittsburgh 2
Milwaukee 8
Arizona 5
Los Angeles 5
Montreal 1
NY Mets 4
San Diego 1
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