Arlington, TX (Best E Casino) - Scott Rolen and Rod Barajas each had two-run doubles in the sixth inning, as the
Toronto Blue Jays edged the
Texas Rangers, 6-4, in the middle installment of a three-game set.
Alex Rios finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored for Toronto, which snapped a three-game skid.
A.J. Burnett (13-9) allowed four runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings to win his third consecutive start and establish a career-high for wins in a single season. The right-hander had previously won 12 games in 2002 and 2005 as a member of the Florida Marlins. Scott Downs tossed 2 1/3 innings of no-hit ball in relief.
Frank Catalanotto drove in two runs for the Rangers, who have lost two of their last three games. Josh Hamilton, Gerald Laird and David Murphy each had two hits, with Laird knocking in a run.
Scott Feldman (4-4) gave up four runs -- three earned -- on five hits over 5 1/3 innings to record his first loss since June 13 against the New York Mets.
Trailing 3-2, the Blue Jays forged ahead with four runs in the top of the sixth to take a 6-3 lead. Marco Scutaro led off with a single, but was thrown out trying to take third on a Rios base hit. After Lyle Overbay drew a walk, Jamey Wright was called on from the bullpen to spell Feldman.
A groundout by Adam Lind moved both runners into scoring position. Wright then intentionally walked Matt Stairs to load the bases and Barajas and Rolen smacked consecutive two-run doubles.
The Rangers got a run back in their half of the sixth on Laird's RBI single.
Downs retired the Rangers in order in the eighth and B.J. Ryan tossed a scoreless ninth to nail down his 21st save.
Overbay's RBI groundout in the first staked the Blue Jays to an early lead. Texas evened the score in the second as Hamilton ripped a lead-off double, advanced to third on a Marlon Byrd groundout and scored on Barajas' botched pickoff attempt. Toronto, though, reclaimed in the lead in the third on Rios' two-out, RBI single.
The Rangers pulled ahead in the bottom of the fifth. Murphy began the frame with a single followed by a double by Laird and a walk to Chris Davis to load the bases. Burnett then fanned Travis Metcalf and got Ian Kinsler to pop out, but Catalanotto delivered with a two-run double to left. On the play, Davis was cut down at the plate to end in the inning.
Game Notes
Texas left five men on base, while the Blue Jays stranded four...Lind went 0- for-4 to snap a 10-game hitting streak...Toronto's David Purcey (1-1) and Texas' Luis Mendoza (2-4) are scheduled to start the rubber match on Sunday.
