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 The three-game sweep of the Athletics (51-65) allowed the Blue Jays
(64-52) to equal the club record for most wins in a row, most
recently accomplished June 2-14.
The Blue Jays entered Thursday with a half-game lead over the
second-place New York Yankees in the American League East.
Right-hander Jesse Chavez started for the Athletics in place of
right-hander Sonny Gray, who leads the American League with a 2.06
ERA.
Chavez (6-12) allowed all four runs in the second inning. Catcher
Dioner Navarro, first baseman Justin Smoak and center fielder Kevin
Pillar hit successive one-out singles to produce one run.
Goins, who played shortstop with Troy Tulowitzki getting the day
off, hit his fourth homer of the season to score three more for a
4-0 lead.
Chavez allowed six hits and no walks, while striking out nine, in
six innings before left-hander Drew Pomeranz took over in the
seventh.
Buehrle (13-5) allowed seven hits and two walks and struck out two
for his fourth win in a row.
The left-hander did not retire a batter in the eighth. Shortstop
Marcus Semien led off with a single. Pillar made a diving attempt on
a hit by center fielder Billy Burns, but it went for a run-scoring
triple.
Right-hander Aaron Sanchez replaced Buehrle and retired first
baseman Mark Canha on a grounder to second as Burns scored from
third to trim the deficit to 4-2.
Smoak made a superb grab on a grounder by second baseman Brett
Lawrie for the second out, and third baseman Danny Valencia struck
out to end the inning.
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Right-hander Roberto Osuna pitched the ninth inning for his 12th
save of the season. After designated hitter Billy Butler flied out
to the wall in right field for the second out, right fielder Josh
Reddick doubled to right. But left fielder Coco Crisp lined out to
right to end the game.
NOTES: Oakland RHP Sonny Gray (back spasms) was scratched from his
scheduled start after the condition developed Wednesday night. RHP
Jesse Chavez, who was scheduled to start Friday in Baltimore, took
the start Thursday. Manager Bob Melvin was not certain when Gray
might return or who might start Friday. ... Toronto DH/1B Edwin
Encarnacion (sore left middle finger) missed his fourth straight
game but was available to pinch hit. He could return Friday for the
opener of a three-game series against the New York Yankees. ... The
Blue Jays will start LHP David Price (11-4, 2.35 ERA) on Friday at
Rogers Centre against Yankees RHP Ivan Nova (4-4, 3.52). ... The
Athletics open a four-game series at Baltimore on Friday and will be
facing Orioles RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (9-7, 3.79 ERA). ... The announced
attendance of 46,902 was the seventh sellout at Rogers Centre this
season.
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