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July 27, 2012

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Blue Jays embarrassed as A's romp to a big 16-0 win

AFTER coming out on the losing end of six consecutive starts, Blue Jays left-hander Ricky Romero isn't just feeling anger. There is also embarrassment.

Coco Crisp hit two home runs and Yoenis Cespedes had two RBI doubles, leading A.J. Griffin and the Oakland Athletics over Romero and the Blue Jays 16-0 for their season-high seventh straight win.

"It's kind of tough to look my teammates in the eye right now," Romero said. "Tonight was just pathetic on my side, a horrible performance."

Romero (8-7) lasted only 1 1-3 innings in the shortest start of his career.

"Obviously for Ricky, a tough outing," Blue Jays manager John Farrell said. "We've got to work to get him right, there's no question about it."

It was the most-lopsided shutout loss ever for Toronto. Things got so out of hand that the Blue Jays used catcher Jeff Mathis to pitch the ninth inning, and he gave up two runs on an RBI double by Brandon Hicks and an RBI single by Brandon Moss.

Mathis came into the game in the second after Toronto lost catcher J.P. Arencibia to a broken right hand after he was hit by Brandon Inge's foul tip. Arencibia, who stayed in the game until the half-inning ended, is expected to miss six weeks.

"My hand was pretty bruised up and the umpire asked me if I wanted to call anybody out and I said 'No,'" Arencibia said. "If I had to throw a ball we probably would have been in big trouble but thankfully I didn't have to."

Season-high

Romero, who came in 4-0 with a 1.70 ERA in six career starts against the Athletics, matched a season-high by allowing eight runs, four hits and six walks. Farrell said the Blue Jays have not discussed skipping Romero in the rotation, but would not rule out such a move. "We've got to continue to work with him," Farrell said. "This isn't like flipping on a switch, this is going to take some time."

Romero is the first Toronto pitcher to lose six straight starts since Josh Towers lost seven in a row in 2006.

With 14 hits, Oakland raised its team batting to .230, lifting the A's into a tie with Seattle for 13th in the AL. The A's have scored 385 runs this season, the fewest in the AL, but they currently own in the second wildcard berth. "My guess is after today we're probably not last in the league in hitting anymore," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "We're moving up."

Chris Carter homered and drove in three runs. He drew a bases-loaded walk from Romero during an eight-run second inning as Oakland improved to 16-2 in July.

"We're still riding this wave of good offense and swinging the bats well," outfielder Josh Reddick said.

The A's posted their fifth 16-0 shutout in franchise history and their first since a lopsided win over San Francisco on June 26, 2005.





 

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