Jays, Marcum get back on track, beat White Sox 6-4

[September 12, 2008]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Shaun Marcum pitched effectively for 7 1-3 innings and the Toronto Blue Jays broke a scoreless tie with six runs in the eighth Thursday night in beating the Chicago White Sox 6-4 for their 11th win in 12 games.

Chicago, which has dropped four of five, remained one game ahead of the Twins in the AL Central. Minnesota lost to Kansas City 3-2.

Toronto moved 6 1/2 games behind idle Boston in the AL wild-card chase.

Marcum (9-6) took a three-hit shutout into the eighth in his second straight strong start since returning from the minors. He allowed five hits and two runs.

Jim Thome hit his 538th homer off reliever Scott Downs in the bottom of the eighth as Chicago rallied for four runs to pull to 6-4.

Toronto closer B.J. Ryan made his way through a shaky ninth for his 29th save in 33 opportunities by striking out the side. He hit leadoff hitter A.J. Pierzynski and two strikeouts later, Juan Uribe's grounder went through third baseman Scott Rolen's legs for an error, putting runners at the corners. But Ryan fanned Orlando Cabrera to end the game.

One night after their 10-game winning streak was snapped, the Blue Jays drove White Sox starter Gavin Floyd (15-7) out in the eighth and roughed up the White Sox's bullpen, collecting seven hits in the inning. Five of their runs scored after two were outs.

After Floyd had allowed just three hits in seven shutout innings, Travis Snider hit a leadoff double in the eighth, Joe Inglett sacrificed and Marco Scutaro delivered his third hit of the night, an RBI single for a 1-0 lead. Alex Rios and Vernon Wells followed with singles to load the bases and finish Floyd.

Lefty Matt Thornton relieved and struck out Adam Lind, but Lyle Overbay hit a two-out, two-run single up the middle and the Blue Jays were up three. Ehren Wasserman replaced Thornton and quickly gave up an RBI double to Rod Barajas and a two-run single to Rolen.

The White Sox sent Marcum out in the eighth when Uribe and Cabrera singled with one out. Downs relieved and after pinch-hitter Brian Anderson flied out to the warning track in right, Jermaine Dye hit a two-run double and Thome followed with his 31st homer to make it 6-4.

Toronto loaded the bases again in the ninth before Boone Logan struck out Lind.

Floyd, who was 5-0 in his previous eight starts, gave up only two hits in the first six innings and they were both to Scutaro, who doubled in the first and singled in the sixth.

Notes: Toronto manager Cito Gaston said the Blue Jays will pitch starters A.J. Burnett, Jesse Litsch and Roy Halladay on short rest during this weekend's four-game series in Boston. Burnett will start the first game of Saturday's doubleheader and Litsch will pitch the second game. Halladay will pitch the series-finale on Sunday. ... Not only will Javier Vazquez pitch on three days rest for Chicago on Saturday against Detroit, Mark Buehrle is slated to do the same against the Royals on Sept. 19 ... Ken Griffey Jr. has managed just one homer in 28 games (92 at-bats) since joining the White Sox and remains tied with Sammy Sosa for fifth all-time with 609.

[Associated Press; By RICK GANO]

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