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GAME LOG
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Joey Hamilton could provide a big boost
for Toronto Blue Jays down the stretch.
Hamilton, coming back from shoulder surgery, won for the first
time in more than a year to lead Toronto to a 9-3 victory over the
Texas Rangers on Saturday night.
|  | | Blue Jays starter Joey Hamilton throws against the Texas Rangers in the third inning Saturday. Hamilton won his first game in more than a year, allowing two runs in six innings. |
"He battled tough," Toronto manager Jim Fregosi said. "I
thought he threw the ball well. Down the stretch we're going to
need everybody to step up. We've lost some key players, but we have
some guys who can come in and pick up the slack."
Hamilton (1-0) is one of those guys. The Blue Jays, 12th in the
AL in ERA, need a lift from Hamilton, who allowed two runs and four
hits over six innings in his second start since undergoing rotator
cuff surgery last Sept. 9.
"I was pleased with the outcome," Hamilton said. "It's nice
to be able to contribute. Hopefully I'll be able to get four or
five more starts the rest of the way."
Hamilton, who struck out three and walked one, had a six-inning
no-decision in a 5-1 loss to Minnesota in his previous start. His
last victory was on Aug. 25, 1999, 7-2 at Anaheim.
"I don't feel as good as I did after my last start, but it was
nice to keep us in the game," Hamilton said.
The Blue Jays have won four of five to remain in the thick of
the AL wild-card race. Shannon Stewart matched his career high with four hits, and
Carlos Delgado had two hits, two walks and a sacrifice fly for
Toronto.
Jose Cruz Jr. had a two-run homer in Toronto's four-run ninth
inning. The Blue Jays got a first-inning solo homer from Alex
Gonzalez. Toronto struggled offensively on Friday night in a 1-0 11-inning
loss to Texas before the Blue Jays broke out for 17 hits on
Saturday night.
"It's hard to hold this offense down for two days in a row,"
Hamilton said. "We let our offense take over the later parts of
games. That's what happened again tonight." Toronto is leading the league with a team batting average of
.312 in August.
Hamilton got off to a shaky start, allowing first-inning singles
to Frank Catalanotto and Luis Alicea. Rusty Greer followed with a
sacrifice fly, but Hamilton retired the next two hitters on fly balls.
The Blue Jays took a 4-1 lead with a three-run second off rookie
Brian Sikorski (1-2), helped by third baseman Mike Lamb's error.
Stewart had an RBI single, Dave Martinez hit a sacrifice fly and
Delgado had a run-scoring double.
Sikorski allowed five runs (four earned) and 10 hits over 5
2-3 innings in his third major league start. He struck out two and
walked four.
"Sikorski probably didn't throw as poorly as it may have
looked," Rangers manager Johnny Oates said. "He didn't look crisp
and barely got out of trouble. It was a sluggish night for both
ball clubs."
Catalanotto's leadoff homer in the sixth reduced Toronto's lead
to 5-2. Bill Haselman was credited with an RBI in the seventh to
make it 5-3 when Gabe Kapler scored from third as Haselman reached
on Gonzalez's throwing error.
Pedro Borbon pitched two innings for his first save of the
season.
Game notes
The Rangers hit into an odd double play in the third. Luis
Alicea flied to center with Royce Clayton running on the play.
Clayton rounded second as the catch was made and headed back to
first, but he missed retouching second base and was called out on
appeal. ... Martinez stretched his hitting streak to 16 games. ...
Blue Jays pitching coach Dave Stewart had to be restrained by bench
coach Lee Elia and catcher Alberto Castillo in the dugout before
the top of the eighth. Stewart was arguing with reliever John
Frascatore over Frascatore's pitch selection in the bottom of the
seventh.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Toronto Clubhouse
Texas Clubhouse
RECAPS
Tampa Bay 4
Baltimore 1
Baltimore 2
Tampa Bay 0
(2nd game)
NY Yankees 10
Oakland 6
Detroit 8
Minnesota 2
Toronto 9
Texas 3
Boston 5
Kansas City 3
Seattle 11
Chi. White Sox 5
Cleveland 9
Anaheim 5
Chicago Cubs 6
Los Angeles 4
Colorado 11
Pittsburgh 4
Philadelphia 5
San Francisco 2
Cincinnati 3
Florida 2
Montreal 5
Houston 4
St. Louis 6
Atlanta 3
Arizona 5
NY Mets 1
Milwaukee 6
San Diego 5
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