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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
TORONTO (AP) -- A year after elbow surgery, Chris Carpenter is
still recovering.
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| Carpenter |
Carpenter, who had surgery last September, won his first start
in more than two months and the Toronto Blue Jays won their third
straight, 6-2 over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.
"There's no question I feel better right now than two months
ago," Carpenter said. "But some of my pitches don't come as
easily as they use to."
Carpenter (10-11), who hadn't won as a starter since July 6 at
Cleveland, allowed two runs -- one earned -- on six hits in seven
innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked three in his
fourth start after five consecutive relief appearances.
"I think the rest that he got in the bullpen did him well,"
Toronto manager Jim Fregosi said. "Coming off arm surgery I don't
think he was at full strength at the start of the season. It
usually takes a year to fully recover."
Despite loading the bases in the third inning, Carpenter
recovered by retiring Bobby Higginson, Juan Gonzalez and Tony
Clark.
"That was huge," Carpenter said. "It turned the game
around."
The Tigers, who lost their fifth straight, are batting just .222
(26-for-117) with the bases loaded this season.
Clark said Carpenter pitched good enough to win, but that he's
lost velocity since the surgery.
"It might make him better," Clark said. "That kind of thing
makes some pitchers pitch more."
Kelvim Escobar pitched two innings for his first save.
Brad Fullmer gave Toronto a 6-2 lead in the eighth with his 31st
homer, a two-run shot. Fullmer homered in each game of the
three-game sweep.
After Clark reached second on two errors by third baseman Tony
Batista in the second, Deivi Cruz hit an RBI grounder.
Alex Gonzalez made it 3-1 with a two-run double off Detroit
starter Steve Sparks (6-4) in the third.
"It was very tough hitting that knuckleball, because it was
bouncing around everywhere," Gonzalez said. "Fortunately he threw
me a fastball that I could drive."
Sparks gave up five runs -- three earned -- on six hits in 7 2/3
innings.
"I don't think I was taking the spin off my knuckleball
consistently," Sparks said.
After Fullmer singled in the second, advanced to second on a
wild pitch and moved to third on catcher Javier Cardona's throwing
error, Batista hit an RBI double.
After Cruz hit an RBI double in the sixth, Toronto's Dave
Martinez scored the Blue Jays' fourth run on right-fielder Juan Gonzalez's fielding error.
Game notes
Cruz doubled twice. His 44 doubles are the most for
Detroit since George Kell had 56 in 1950. ... The Blue Jays
committed four errors, while the Tigers had three. ... Carpenter
had lost his previous four decisions as a starter. ... Actor Burt
Reynolds was in attendance, which was 21,666. ... The Blue
Jays have won 19 of their last 24 games against the Tigers.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Detroit Clubhouse
Toronto Clubhouse
With injuries still lingering, Tigers send Jefferies home
RECAPS
NY Yankees 6
Boston 2
Chi. White Sox 0
Cleveland 0
Toronto 6
Detroit 2
Kansas City 13
Texas 8
Oakland 11
Tampa Bay 0
Seattle 8
Minnesota 1
Anaheim 2
Baltimore 1
Montreal 4
Atlanta 0
NY Mets 3
Philadelphia 0
Cincinnati 6
Pittsburgh 4
Milwaukee 4
St. Louis 3
Houston 7
Chicago Cubs 6
Los Angeles 12
Colorado 1
Florida 4
Arizona 3
San Francisco 10
San Diego 2
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