Athletics 2, Blue Jays 1
Trevor Cahill out-dueled Ricky Romero as the Oakland Athletics avoided a sweep with a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday in the finale of a three-game series.
Conor Jackson drove in the winning run and Coco Crisp stole two bases for the A’s.
Oakland took the lead with a small-ball rally in the eighth that started when Andy LaRoche reached Romero for a leadoff double and moved up on a sacrifice. The Blue Jays decided 93 pitches was enough for Romero and brought Jason Frasor in to pitch to Crisp.
Frasor (1-1) struck him out but the third strike got away from catcher J.P. Arencibia, allowing Crisp to reach and the tying run to cross on the wild pitch.
Crisp stole second and third before coming in on Jackson’s single to left.
The Blue Jays got to Cahill in the sixth when Arencibia led off with a double and scored on Jayson Nix’s single to shallow right. Cahill (1-0) went eight innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out seven and not issuing a walk.
Brian Fuentes worked the ninth to earn his first save.