Blue Jays hit 4 homers to beat White Sox

[July 09, 2012]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Colby Rasmus hit one of four Blue Jays homers and had three RBIs to help Toronto end the Chicago White Sox's five-game winning streak with an 11-9 victory Sunday.

The first-place White Sox go to the All-Star break with a 47-38 record and a three-game lead in the AL Central. Chicago manager Robin Ventura was ejected in the top of the ninth after charging to the plate to heatedly argue a ball and strike call with home plate umpire D.J. Reyburn.

Jason Frasor (1-1), the third of five Blue Jays' relievers, was credited with the win and Casey Janssen pitched the final 1 2-3 innings for his 12th save in 13 chances. He gave up two ninth-inning singles before striking out Alejandro De Aza to end it.

Rasmus and Edwin Encarnacion had two-run homers in the first off Dylan Axelrod and Kelly Johnson and Jeff Mathis also connected for Toronto on a windy day at U.S. Cellular Field. Alex Rios hit a three-run homer for the White Sox.

The Blue Jays, finishing 43-43 at the break, took advantage of nine walks from five Chicago pitchers. After the White Sox had cut the lead to 8-7, Toronto tacked on three runs in the sixth, one on a disputed ground rule double by Jose Bautista that was touched by a fan.

Axelrod (0-2) was working on just three days rest. It would have been Chris Sale's turn in the rotation, but the White Sox decided to skip their ace lefty's last start before the break and he is expected to throw an inning in Tuesday night's All-Star game

Axelford gave up six hits, including three homers, and seven runs in his three innings before Mathis greeted reliever Brian Omogrosso with a solo homer in the fourth, making it 8-3.

Adam Dunn's RBI fielder's choice grounder and an RBI double by Rios -- right after an error on Vizquel at third -- finished starter Brett Cecil after 4 1-3 innings and cut Toronto's lead to 8-5. Alexei Ramirez then hit reliever Jesse Chavez's first pitch for a two-run triple, slicing the lead to 8-7.

But Rajai Davis walked in the sixth, stole second and third and scored on Leyson Septimo's wild pitch to put Toronto up by two. After another walk to Rasmus, Bautista hit a ball past third that was ruled fair and a fan reached out and touched it, making it a ground rule double. But umpires allowed Rasmus to score from first on the play, despite an argument from Ventura. After another walk, Adam Lind doubled home the Blue Jays' 11th run.

Cecil gave up six hits and seven runs, six of them earned. Reliever Luis Perez departed in the seventh after giving up hits to the first two batters and walked off the mound with a trainer. Frasor came on and gave up a sacrifice fly and intentional walk before retiring the side with two strikeouts.

NOTES: Rios tied a career high with his four RBIs. .... Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie sat out with a tight back, a condition that forced him to leave Saturday's game. .. Kevin Youkilis had an RBI double in the sixth, giving him 14 RBIs in his first 13 games with Chicago. ... White Sox RHP Jake Peavy was named as a late injury replacement to the All-Star team for the Angels' C.J. Wilson. Peavy had lost out in the Final Vote balloting earlier in the week to Texas' Yu Darvish.

[Associated Press; By RICK GANO]

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