OAKLAND, Calif. — Edwin Jackson pitched scoreless ball into the sixth for his 100th career victory and the Oakland Athletics rediscovered their offence to thump the Toronto Blue Jays 10-1 on Monday night.
Jonathan Lucroy drove in three as the A’s used their signature power to clear the fences and get back on track after being swept in a three-game weekend series at Colorado, scoring four total runs at Coors Field following a season-best six-game winning streak.
Mark Canha hit a solo homer in the second to give Jackson (2-2) the lead on the way to the right-hander’s first victory in exactly a month — since June 30 against Cleveland. Jackson struck out five, gave up three hits and walked three in 5 2/3 innings.
Stephen Piscotty homered leading off the eighth and Lucroy followed his early sacrifice fly with a two-run double in the inning. Jed Lowrie had a two-run double of his own three batters later.
Nick Martini added an RBI double while Khris Davis also hit a sacrifice fly. Davis added a run-scoring single in the six-run eighth.
Aledmys Diaz homered to start the ninth for Toronto.
Oakland stayed perfect against the Blue Jays in 2018 after sweeping a four-game series at Toronto in May.
Jackson escaped trouble in the first after walking Curtis Granderson and Russell Martin to start the game.
Blue Jays right-hander Marco Estrada (4-8) came off the disabled list from a left glute strain and allowed four runs over four innings in his first start since July 3.
Oakland’s broadcast went commercial-free in honour of the late Hall of Famer Bill King to mark one year after he received the Ford C. Frick award.
A’S TICKETS
The A’s are doing away with traditional season-ticket plans for next season in favour of a membership program that will allow fans to buy general admission tickets, reserve seats and also receive other special perks.
JAYS TRADE
The Blue Jays acquired Ken Giles and a pair of pitching prospects from Houston for Roberto Osuna.
Giles was expected to join Toronto on Tuesday in Oakland and will have a chance to close games, manager John Gibbons said.
The 27-year-old Giles is 0-2 with 12 saves and a 4.99 ERA this season, and was currently in the minors.
Giles punched himself in the face this season while heading to the dugout after giving up a three-run, ninth-inning homer to the Yankees’ Gary Sanchez on May 1.
"We’ve had a lot of guys really come into their own once they come to this team," Gibbons said. "Hopefully that happens here. It’ll be a new start for him, too, which I’m sure he needs."
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: 3B Josh Donaldson was transferred to the 60-day disabled list with left calf tightness to clear room on the 40-man roster. He is doing plyometric jumping exercises and running with sprinting work to come this week. … Rookie 2B Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (left knee/sprained ankle) had an MRI exam a day after getting hurt on an awkward slide attempt trying to stretch a single into a double at the White Sox. The results were being reviewed by the team’s medical staff and a foot and ankle specialist. … CF Kevin Pillar, who has a sternoclavicular (SC) joint sprain from a diving catch, began taking batting practice on the field. He is turning and running without restriction and could do diving and sliding work this week, the team said. … RHP Aaron Sanchez (bruised right index finger) is scheduled for a second bullpen session Tuesday.
Athletics: OF Matt Joyce suffered a setback with his strained lower back a couple of days ago while swinging the bat and was being examined Monday by specialist Dr. Robert Watkins in Southern California. … RHP Jharel Cotton, recovering from Tommy John surgery in March, was back in the clubhouse to see his teammates and is doing sock throws at this stage during his rehab.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: RHP Sam Gaviglio (2-3, 4.65 ERA) tries to win for the first time in 12 starts — going 0-3 during the stretch — since beating the Phillies on May 25.
Athletics: RHP Trevor Cahill (2-2, 3.43) makes his 200th career start. He is 1-0 with a 5.65 ERA with nine walks in three outings since coming off the DL on July 12.
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