Molitor’s Homer Lets Toronto Sweep Angels

The Toronto Blue Jays, who had lost six consecutive games before their series with the Angels, got well against California over the weekend.

They completed a three-game sweep Sunday, as Paul Molitor’s three-run homer broke a fifth-inning scoreless tie and sent Toronto to a 4-1 victory.

The Angels scored their only run on a sixth-inning home run by rookie Chad Curtis, his sixth.

The Blue Jays, who lead the American League East by two games over the New York Yankees, were swept in a three-game series at Anaheim last weekend and dropped three in a row at home to Oakland before winning Friday.

“They just don’t quit,” Toronto Manager Cito Gaston said of the Blue Jays. “I hope that reflects on me. I’ve tried to keep an even keel.”

The homer, Molitor’s 19th, matched his career high set in 1982, and gave the 37-year-old designated hitter 100 runs batted in for the first time in his 16-year career, the first 15 of them with the Milwaukee Brewers. He is the oldest player to record his first 100-RBI season.

“This is such a good team that when our backs are against the wall, we seem to become more resilient,” Molitor said. “Maybe we stayed in first undeservedly through the losing streak. But somehow we managed to stay there and then we reeled off three in a row.”

Pat Borders started the fifth with a single against Chuck Finley (14-12) and after Dick Schofield’s sacrifice moved Borders to second, Rene Gonzales robbed Rickey Henderson of a hit, leaping high to snare his liner to third.

Devon White then reached when shortstop Rod Correia’s throw pulled first baseman J.T. Snow off the bag, setting up Molitor’s three-run shot on the next pitch.