Blue Jays 14, Reds 0
The Associated Press
Tuesday, June 24, 2008; 10:39 PM
TORONTO -- Scott Rolen hit one of Toronto's three homers, A.J. Burnett pitched eight strong innings and the Toronto Blue Jays routed the Cincinnati Reds, 14-1, on Tuesday night.
Alex Rios and Gregg Zaun also connected for the Blue Jays, who battered Bronson Arroyo for 10 runs in an inning-plus. Rios and Marco Scutaro each had four hits as Toronto set season highs for runs and hits (22).
The Blue Jays have won consecutive games after a season-high seven-game losing streak that cost manager John Gibbons and three coaches their jobs.
The struggling Reds have lost seven of nine and 11 of 16.
Burnett (7-7) allowed one run and four hits. He struck out seven and walked three.
This one was out of reach early as Toronto batted around in the first and second to build an 11-0 lead. The Blue Jays sent 11 hitters to the plate and scored six runs in the first, then piled on with a five-run second while sending up 10 batters.
It was the first time the Blue Jays batted around in consecutive innings since Sept. 30, 2005, against Kansas City. The last time Toronto batted around in the opening two innings was May 26, 1997, during Cito Gaston's initial stint as manager. Gaston replaced Gibbons before Friday's game at Pittsburgh.
Arroyo (4-7) allowed a career-high 10 earned runs and 11 hits in the shortest start of his career. The right-hander's ERA rose from 5.55 to 6.52, and he is winless in five June starts.
Arroyo was in trouble immediately, giving up two hits and a walk to the first three batters before Vernon Wells struck out. Matt Stairs brought home the first run with a sacrifice fly before Rolen hit a three-run drive to center, his fifth. Lyle Overbay followed with a double and scored on Zaun's homer to right, his fifth.
Rios led off the second with a homer to left, his fourth of the year and first since May 1. Wells singled before Stairs and Rolen chased Arroyo with back-to-back doubles, making it 9-0. Gary Majewski came on and gave up an RBI single to Adam Lind and a run-scoring grounder to Joe Inglett.
Rios finished 4-for-6 and scored three runs.
Overbay was the lone Toronto starter not to drive in a run, while Lind was the only one who didn't score.
Cincinnati's lone run came in the second when Brandon Phillips singled, stole second and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jay Bruce.
Adam Dunn, held out of the starting lineup Sunday because of a 6-for-54 slump, batted second and went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk.
Playing in his hometown for the first time, Reds first baseman Joey Votto went 0-for-3, ending a career-high seven-game hitting streak.
Notes: Cincinnati 3B Edwin Encarnacion, who left Sunday's game at Yankee Stadium with back spasms, sat out again Tuesday. Jeff Keppinger started at third for the Reds. ... Toronto RHP Shaun Marcum (sore elbow) has been cleared to begin a throwing program after visiting Dr. James Andrews and could return by the All-Star break. LHP John Parrish, 10-1 at Triple-A Syracuse, will likely be called up Saturday to start in Marcum's place.