Athletics 6, Blue Jays 4
TORONTO -- Alberto Callaspo snapped a 3-3 tie with a two-run double with two out in a three-run eighth inning as the Oakland Athletics defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 6-4 on Sunday.
Pinch-hitter Chris Young added an RBI single in the eighth against left-hander Darren Oliver (3-3) before a crowd of 45,312 at Rogers Centre.
Ryan Cook (4-2) pitched 1 1/3 innings to get the win.
Brandon Moss hit a two-run homer in the sixth for the A's who have won just three of their past 10 games. Eric Sogard had his career-best 14-game hit streak end with an 0-for-5 outing.
The Blue Jays left the bases loaded in the ninth and stranded 15 runners for the game. The A's left 10 on base.
Grant Balfour pitched the ninth for his 30th save of the season despite giving up a run on a walk to Edwin Encarnacion and a two-out double to Brett Lawrie. After Lawrie reached third on a wild pitch, pinch hitter J.P. Arencibia walked and Rajai Davis walked to load the bases, but Jose Reyes ended the game on a grounder to second.
Josh Reddick, who did not hit a homer on Sunday after hitting five in the first two games of the four-game series, started the eighth-inning rally with a one-out infield single to second. Oliver walked Josh Donaldson.
Callaspo, acquired July 30 in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels, hit a drive to the wall in left field. Emilio Bonifacio had a chance at the ball but failed to make the catch as two runs scored. Stephen Vogt and Young single to finish the rally.
A's right-hander A.J. Griffin allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and six walks (one intentional) in 5 2/3 innings. Blue Jays' right-hander R.A. Dickey allowed three runs, two walks and six hits including a home run in seven innings.
The Blue Jays had two walks and a single and Oakland committed two errors in the second inning but the result was only one run. The Blue Jays left the bases loaded.
Adam Lind reached first base on an error by Moss on a grounder to first to open the inning. Colby Rasmus walked. Lawrie forced him at second with a grounder to second but shortstop Sogard was charged with an error on the throw to first. Lind scored.
The A's took a 3-1 lead in the sixth. Yoenis Cespedes led off with a double down the left-field line, took third on a wild pitch and scored on Donaldson's single. Moss followed with his 18th home run of the season, a drive to center. It was the 19th home run Dickey has allowed this season at Rogers Centre against seven given up on the road.
The Blue Jays tied the game in their half of the sixth. Josh Thole walked and with one out Bonifacio singled. Thole scored on a single by Jose Reyes on a drive that handcuffed Moss and bounced into right field.
Maicer Izturis hit a sacrifice fly to center for a 3-3 tie.
NOTES: Oakland entered Sunday in second place in the American League West, one game behind the Texas Rangers. It was the first time since July 1 that the A's have not had at least s share of first. ... Reyes singled in the first inning on Sunday to extend his hit streak to nine games, the third time this season he has had a hit streak of at least seven games. ... The Blue Jays wore red uniform tops for Canada Baseball Day. ... The series finale is Monday afternoon with Toronto RHP Josh Johnson (2-8, 6.21 ERA) facing Oakland RHP Dan Straily (6-6, 4.41 ERA).
