A pre-game batting session helped John Buck smash three home runs in Toronto’s 6-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday, ending the Blue Jays five-game losing skid.
The Toronto catcher rallied his team out of a 3-0 hole with a solo homer in the third inning and a three-run blast in the fourth that gave the Blue Jays a 5-3 lead.
Entering the game with just one home run this season, Buck added another solo shot in the sixth to complete a spectacular performance that included five RBIs.
“I was concentrating on getting my foot down early, getting my hands ready,” Buck told reporters. “That [pre-game practice] session really helped. It helped me realize how really early I needed to get ready. Hopefully I can use that reminder.”
Oakland (12-11) starting pitcher Justin Duchscherer took his first loss of the year after allowing four runs in three-and-a-third innings, before leaving the game with a strained hip.
“I threw a few pitches that didn’t feel very good,” Duchscherer said after the A’s lost their third straight. “It’s hard to explain unless you feel it. It feels like a real sharp jolt.”
Duchscherer missed all of last season with various injuries, but has started the year well and had gone three straight starts without allowing an earned run.
The Blue Jays (11-12) had a solid starting effort from Ricky Romero, who allowed three runs and struck out six batters in six innings.
Kevin Kouzmanoff opened the scoring for the A’s with an RBI single in the first inning and Jake Fox hit a two-RBI double in the third.
In addition to Buck’s burst, Toronto outfielder Travis Snider had two hits, including a solo homer in the third inning.
Yankees 4, Orioles 0
In Baltimore, Maryland, A.J. Burnett pitched eight innings of three-hit ball and Robinson Cano homered twice as the New York Yankees beat Brian Matusz and the Orioles.
Marcus Thames had three hits and an RBI for the Yankees, who took two of three from Baltimore to finish a three-city road trip with a 5-4 record.
Burnett (3-0) struck out four and walked one to improve to 10-2 against the Orioles. He allowed only two runners past first base and only one reached third.
Burnett has been pitching in the majors since 1999 and this is the first time he’s 3-0.
Matusz (2-1) allowed three runs and nine hits in six innings. The left-hander had won six straight decisions since Aug. 15, including at Yankee Stadium in September.
Thursday’s other results:
• Tigers 3, Twins 0
• White Sox 7, Rangers 5
• Rays 11, Royals 1
AP, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
The San Diego Padres tied a team record with seven straight singles during a five-run fifth inning, setting up a 9-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League on Thursday.
The West Division-leading Padres got all their 13 hits from singles, winning their seventh straight home game and for the 11th time in 13 games overall.
San Diego starter Wade LeBlanc (2-0) got a career-high three hits and was also impressive from the mound, striking out six and walking none in six-and-a-third scoreless innings.
After struggling early against Milwaukee starter Doug Davis (0-3), including taking four straight called third strikes, the Padres broke through with four runs on four hits in the fourth inning. The first four Padres batters reached base and scored.
Pirates 2, Dodgers 0
In Los Angeles, Pittsburgh pushed Los Angeles to a fifth straight loss.
Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw (1-1) walked his first two batters of the game and both scored when Ryan Doumit’s sinking liner got past Dodgers center-fielder Matt Kemp as he tried to backhand it on the short hop.
Pittsburgh starter Brian Burres (1-1) pitched five-and-a-third scoreless innings to lift the Pirates to a third straight win.
Thursday’s other results:
• Cardinals 10, Braves 4
• Diamondbacks 13, Cubs 5
• Reds 4, Astros 2
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