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  Saturday, Aug. 26 8:05pm ET
Hamilton continues rotator-cuff comeback
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Joey Hamilton could provide a big boost for Toronto Blue Jays down the stretch.

Hamilton, coming back from shoulder surgery, won for the first time in more than a year to lead Toronto to a 9-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night.

Joey Hamilton
Blue Jays starter Joey Hamilton throws against the Texas Rangers in the third inning Saturday. Hamilton won his first game in more than a year, allowing two runs in six innings.

"He battled tough," Toronto manager Jim Fregosi said. "I thought he threw the ball well. Down the stretch we're going to need everybody to step up. We've lost some key players, but we have some guys who can come in and pick up the slack."

Hamilton (1-0) is one of those guys. The Blue Jays, 12th in the AL in ERA, need a lift from Hamilton, who allowed two runs and four hits over six innings in his second start since undergoing rotator cuff surgery last Sept. 9.

"I was pleased with the outcome," Hamilton said. "It's nice to be able to contribute. Hopefully I'll be able to get four or five more starts the rest of the way."

Hamilton, who struck out three and walked one, had a six-inning no-decision in a 5-1 loss to Minnesota in his previous start. His last victory was on Aug. 25, 1999, 7-2 at Anaheim.

"I don't feel as good as I did after my last start, but it was nice to keep us in the game," Hamilton said.

The Blue Jays have won four of five to remain in the thick of the AL wild-card race. Shannon Stewart matched his career high with four hits, and Carlos Delgado had two hits, two walks and a sacrifice fly for Toronto.

Jose Cruz Jr. had a two-run homer in Toronto's four-run ninth inning. The Blue Jays got a first-inning solo homer from Alex Gonzalez. Toronto struggled offensively on Friday night in a 1-0 11-inning loss to Texas before the Blue Jays broke out for 17 hits on Saturday night.

"It's hard to hold this offense down for two days in a row," Hamilton said. "We let our offense take over the later parts of games. That's what happened again tonight." Toronto is leading the league with a team batting average of .312 in August.

Hamilton got off to a shaky start, allowing first-inning singles to Frank Catalanotto and Luis Alicea. Rusty Greer followed with a sacrifice fly, but Hamilton retired the next two hitters on fly balls.

The Blue Jays took a 4-1 lead with a three-run second off rookie Brian Sikorski (1-2), helped by third baseman Mike Lamb's error. Stewart had an RBI single, Dave Martinez hit a sacrifice fly and Delgado had a run-scoring double.

Sikorski allowed five runs (four earned) and 10 hits over 5 2-3 innings in his third major league start. He struck out two and walked four.

"Sikorski probably didn't throw as poorly as it may have looked," Rangers manager Johnny Oates said. "He didn't look crisp and barely got out of trouble. It was a sluggish night for both ball clubs."

Catalanotto's leadoff homer in the sixth reduced Toronto's lead to 5-2. Bill Haselman was credited with an RBI in the seventh to make it 5-3 when Gabe Kapler scored from third as Haselman reached on Gonzalez's throwing error.

Pedro Borbon pitched two innings for his first save of the season.

Game notes
The Rangers hit into an odd double play in the third. Luis Alicea flied to center with Royce Clayton running on the play. Clayton rounded second as the catch was made and headed back to first, but he missed retouching second base and was called out on appeal. ... Martinez stretched his hitting streak to 16 games. ... Blue Jays pitching coach Dave Stewart had to be restrained by bench coach Lee Elia and catcher Alberto Castillo in the dugout before the top of the eighth. Stewart was arguing with reliever John Frascatore over Frascatore's pitch selection in the bottom of the seventh.
 


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