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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
BOSTON (AP) -- Even though the Toronto Blue Jays nearly blew a
10-run lead the previous night, Brad Fullmer had a feeling that
they wouldn't have that problem again Sunday.
"When we put five up for Frankie (Castillo), that was enough,"
Fullmer said Sunday after Castillo pitched seven innings of
three-hit ball to beat Boston 5-1. "He's really been throwing the
ball well."
|  | | Toronto's Alex Gonzalez steals second as Boston's Jeff Frye moves in to cover the base. |
The Blue Jays extended their franchise record to 17 consecutive
games with a homer, getting two from Raul Mondesi and one from
Fullmer to improve to a season-best four games over .500. The
victory moved Toronto a game behind first-place Boston in the AL
East and a half-game behind the New York Yankees, who lost 17-4
loss to the White Sox on Sunday.
One day after nearly blowing a 10-run lead in an 11-10 victory,
Toronto again took an early lead and made it hold up for Castillo
(3-5), who allowed two walks while striking out six.
"I wasn't worried until the bases were loaded in the ninth,"
Blue Jays manager Jim Fregosi said with a smile before adding,
"There's no such thing -- anywhere in the American League -- as a
safe lead."
Billy Koch relieved with two outs and the bases loaded in the
ninth and allowed an RBI single to pinch-hitter Scott Hatteberg,
then retired Jose Offerman on a grounder for his 15th save.
"I made up my mind out there that I was going to shut it
down," said Koch, who killed Boston's comeback attempt Saturday
night after the Red Sox rallied from an 11-1 deficit. "I was mad
at myself that I let a run in. But we get to leave here on a high
note."
On Friday night, the Blue Jays scored two in the first and two
in the third against Pete Schourek but lost 7-4. On Saturday, they
touched Ramon Martinez for seven runs in the first three-plus
innings.
On Sunday, Boston starter Jeff Fassero (6-3) ran into trouble
early.
Shannon Stewart and Craig Grebeck singled to lead off the game
and Mondesi followed with his first home run of the game. Carlos
Delgado singled before Fassero got his first outs on Tony Batista's
double play.
Fullmer led off the second with his 11th homer, giving Toronto a
4-0 lead. Alex Gonzalez walked and stole second and third; Fassero
was able to retire the next three batters to get out of the second,
but Hipolito Pichardo came on to start the third.
"The last three games, the guys have gone out and scored some
runs," Castillo said. "But they (the Red Sox) are scrappy and
they don't quit. Whether it's four runs or 10 runs, I'm pitching
like it's a 1-0 game."
Fassero gave up four runs, five hits and a walk, striking out
two in his second consecutive abbreviated outing. He allowed four
runs in 3 1/3 innings on June 9, then postponed a scheduled start
on Friday because of a stiff neck blamed on a too-fluffy hotel
pillow.
"Those kids that have started have put us in this particular
position, so you've got to stick with them," Red Sox manager Jimy
Williams said. "As long as they're healthy, they'll keep
pitching."
Mondesi homered again in the eighth. It was the 17th multihomer
game of his career and the second this season.
Game
notes
Delgado extended his hitting streak to 13 games with his
first-inning single. ... Castillo is 0-4 home, 3-1 on the road. ...
Jeff Frye singled in the sixth to extend his hitting streak to 12
games. ... The umpires and many players wore blue wristbands to
draw attention to the problem of prostate cancer. ... Stewart had
three singles and two steals.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Toronto Clubhouse
Boston Clubhouse
RECAPS
Toronto 5
Boston 1
Cleveland 9
Detroit 4
Chi. White Sox 17
NY Yankees 4
Tampa Bay 6
Texas 1
Anaheim 8
Baltimore 6
Oakland 21
Kansas City 3
Seattle 10
Minnesota 2
Atlanta 5
Philadelphia 3
Florida 5
Pittsburgh 4
NY Mets 7
Milwaukee 3
Montreal 4
Chicago Cubs 3
Colorado 19
Arizona 2
Houston 4
San Francisco 2
San Diego 8
Cincinnati 7
Los Angeles 6
St. Louis 3
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