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Monday, Apr. 17 7:05pm ET
Escobar helps Jays' staff stop bleeding | |||||
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RECAP
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GAME LOG
TORONTO (AP) -- Kelvim Escobar brought a dose of reality to the Toronto pitching staff. Escobar pitched eight strong innings as Toronto recovered from its worst pitching weekend ever to beat the Anaheim Angels 7-1 on Monday night.
"It's unreal when you give up 47 runs in three games," Escobar said. "I couldn't sleep last night." Blue Jays general manager Gord Ash was quoted in the papers as saying some pitchers would be sent to Triple-A if they didn't pitch better, and manager Jim Fregosi held a "heated" pitchers-only meeting before the game. Escobar didn't attend, but he got the message anyway. "I read the paper, and everybody feels bad about what happened this past weekend," Escobar said. "I just tried to forget about it." The 24-year-old settled down after escaping a first-inning based-loaded jam on Garret Anderson's double-play grounder. He allowed eight hits and two walks. "I gained confidence as the game went on," said Escobar, who took something off his fastball. "I was throwing 91 and 92 so I could just get the ball over the plate. I tried to get ahead all the time." Brad Fullmer hit a grand slam and Raul Mondesi hit a solo homer for the Blue Jays, who snapped a three-game skid. Fregosi said Escobar gave the team what it needed. "He gave us a big lift," Fregosi said. "He was aggressive, his mechanics were better and I thought he stayed within himself much better." Mondesi, who went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, homered off Mark Petkovsek in the eighth inning to give Toronto a 3-1 lead. After Petkovsek loaded the bases, Lou Pote relieved and gave up Fullmer's second career grand slam. Anaheim starter Ramon Ortiz (1-1) balked in a run with the bases loaded in the fifth inning. A base running mistake cost Anaheim a chance to take the lead in the sixth inning. After Mo Vaughn led off with a double, Anderson hit what looked to be an RBI single, but Vaughn missed the bag at third. After the ball was thrown back into the infield, Escobar threw to third baseman Tony Batista for the out. Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia ran from the dugout to argue with third base umpire Rick Reed, but Reed pointed to the dirt where Vaughn's foot prints were. Scioscia immediately jogged back to his seat. "I'm disgusted, just disgusted with myself," Vaughn said. "It was a stupid play and it changed the complexion of the game." Toronto took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth on consecutive doubles by Mondesi and Carlos Delgado. Ortiz, pitching with a slight tear in his pitching shoulder, allowed two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings. Anaheim took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Orlando Palmeiro's sacrifice fly.
Game notes | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Anaheim Clubhouse Toronto Clubhouse RECAPS Oakland 1 Boston 0
Toronto 7
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