(Best E Casino) - The Oakland Athletics try and avoid their eighth straight loss this evening when they continue a four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Oakland had won seven straight in Toronto until Monday, as Matt Stairs finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and starter Roy Halladay hurled eight solid innings to lift Toronto to a 6-1 win. Marco Scutaro, Lyle Overbay, Adam Lind and Brad Wilkerson drove in a run each for the Blue Jays, who have won two of three overall.

Halladay (13-8) allowed four hits and one run while fanning eight, winning for the fifth time in seven starts.

Bobby Crosby's homer was the lone offense for the Athletics, who have dropped 10 of 11. Oakland has also managed just 13 runs during their seven-game slide.

Sean Gallagher (1-1) took the loss, as he was charged with four hits and five runs -- four earned -- over three innings. He struck out four, but walked four and hit two batters.

Heading to the hill for the A's tonight will be lefty Greg Smith, who is 5-10 with a 4.04 ERA. Smith lost his third straight start and fourth consecutive decision on Tuesday against Kansas City, as he allowed five runs and four hits in seven innings.

Smith has faced the Jays twice this season, going 1-0 against them, surrendering two runs in 12 2/3 frames.

Getting the call for the Jays tonight will be righty Scott Richmond, who will be making the second start of his major league career. Richmond lost his big league debut on Wednesday against Tampa Bay, as he allowed three runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 frames.

Oakland is 4-3 against the Blue Jays this season and 15-11 in the series since the start of the 2006 campaign.