Toronto Finds Itself on Quite a Run

The Toronto Blue Jays are producing runs at a pace not even the New York Yankees can keep up with.

Jose Cruz Jr. led off the game at Toronto with a home run that bounced off the restaurant in center field and later had a three-run shot as the Blue Jays defeated the Yankees, 8-2, on Saturday.

The Blue Jays have scored at least six runs in 10 consecutive games. That’s the longest streak in the majors since 1979, when the then-California Angels, guided by current Toronto Manager Jim Fregosi, did it in 11 consecutive games.

“There’s no comparison between that Angel team and this team,” Fregosi said. “We’ve got more power, more speed, more offense and it’s a different era.”

The Blue Jays, who have won four in a row, have hit 32 home runs in 13 games at SkyDome. They have 10 or more hits in 11 consecutive games.

And for the second consecutive game, the Blue Jays got tremendous pitching. Kelvim Escobar pitched a complete game, giving up nine hits, striking out four and walking none.

On Friday, Chris Carpenter pitched a five-hitter as Toronto ended the Yankees’ winning streak at eight games.

Baltimore 4, Oakland 3--Mike Bordick hit a two-run home run and boosted his league-leading runs batted in total to 24 as the Orioles won their sixth consecutive game with a victory over the Athletics at Oakland.

Jose Mercedes gave up two runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings, helping the Orioles win a series for the fifth time in six tries this season.

Seattle 4, Kansas City 2--Brett Tomko pitched six strong innings in his Mariner debut and Tom Lampkin had a home run and drove in three runs at Seattle to help hand the Royals their eighth consecutive loss.

Tomko, acquired in the trade that sent Ken Griffey Jr. to Cincinnati, was called up from triple-A Tacoma on Friday. His only mistake was giving up Jermaine Dye’s seventh home run of the season. Tomko limited the Royals to four hits.

Texas 8, Minnesota 3--Chad Curtis had four RBIs and Rafael Palmeiro hit a two-run home run in the first inning as the Rangers defeated the Twins at Arlington, Texas, to end a losing streak at five games.

Esteban Loaiza had 11 batters reach base in the first six innings, but had enough support to win. He gave up three runs and nine hits in 7 1/3 innings with five strikeouts and three walks.

Cleveland at Boston, ppd., rain--For the third consecutive game, the Red Sox were unable to play because of rain. The Indians and Red Sox will try to play a doubleheader today.