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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Frank Castillo gave the Toronto Blue Jays at
least one more day to cross their fingers and hope for the best.
Castillo allowed one hit in six innings to win his ninth
straight decision as the Toronto Blue Jays kept their faint playoff
hopes alive by beating Baltimore 4-0 Wednesday night.
|  | | Frank Castillo (10-5) struck out six and walked two to remain unbeaten since June 1. |
Shannon Stewart opened the game with his 21st homer of the
season and Tony Batista hit No. 40 later in the inning as Toronto
remained in the AL East title chase. If the Blue Jays lose once
more or the Yankees win once, Toronto will be ousted from the
playoff picture.
The Blue Jays were eliminated from the wild-card race when
Oakland beat Anaheim 9-7 Wednesday.
"Anything can happen," Stewart said. "Maybe a miracle can
happen. Right now, all we can do is go out there and play good
baseball and try to win games."
The Blue Jays have one game left in Baltimore before closing the
season with three games in Cleveland. The Yankees play Tampa Bay on
Thursday before facing the Orioles in a three-game series.
"You've got to play them. All you can do is try and win them,"
Blue Jays manager Jim Fregosi said.
Pitching for the third time since coming off the disabled list
Sept. 16, Castillo held the Orioles hitless until the fifth inning,
when a two-out popup by Brook Fordyce dropped into short center.
"I had no idea I had a no-hitter going. Honest," Castillo
said. "I didn't even think about it."
Castillo (10-5) struck out six and walked two to remain unbeaten
since June 1. The right-hander went on the DL on Aug. 14 with
spasms of the right elbow and forearm.
"He had a little arm problem, this is his second start back and
he was really getting into untested territory as far as his pitch
count," Fregosi said. "But he's really had an outstanding season
for us."
Kelvim Escobar gave up three hits in two innings and Billy Koch
worked the ninth.
The Blue Jays got all the runs they needed in a four-run first
inning against Sidney Ponson (9-13). Stewart homered on Ponson's
second pitch, and Batista followed a walk and a single with a
two-out drive into the left-field seats.
The four-run outburst matched the number of runs Ponson yielded
in his previous two starts. The right-hander allowed four runs, six
hits and two walks in 7 2/3 innings.
"He had two bad pitches the entire game and both got hit out of
the ballpark," Orioles manager Mike Hargrove said. "After that, he
settled down and threw well."
The Orioles' lone threat came in the seventh, when Albert Belle
singled and took third on a one-out double by Cal Ripken. Escobar
then struck out Melvin Mora and Fordyce.
Game notes
Stewart's drive was his 10th career leadoff homer and fifth
this season. ... Ponson has allowed a team-high 30 homers in 32
starts. ... Toronto's Carlos Delgado walked in the first inning,
breaking Fred McGriff's club record of 119 set in 1989. ...
Bautista has nine homers against the Orioles this season, matching
Frank Howard's 1968 record. ... Baltimore has been blanked eight
times, including twice in the last seven games.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Toronto Clubhouse
Baltimore Clubhouse
RECAPS
Oakland 9
Anaheim 7
Toronto 4
Baltimore 0
Cleveland 8
Minnesota 2
Tampa Bay 11
NY Yankees 1
Boston 2
Chi. White Sox 1
Kansas City 3
Detroit 0
Seattle 6
Texas 4
Florida 6
Montreal 3
Houston 10
Pittsburgh 1
NY Mets 6
Atlanta 2
Chicago Cubs 1
Philadelphia 0
Milwaukee 10
Cincinnati 6
Colorado 6
Arizona 4
San Francisco 4
Los Angeles 0
St. Louis 3
San Diego 0
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