Just when David Purcey, Rod Barajas and Alex Rios showed signs of getting themselves right, B.J. Ryan once again went wrong for the Toronto Blue Jays .
At least Kevin Millar made sure it didn't cost them. Millar ripped an RBI single in the bottom of the 11th for an 8-7 victory over the Texas Rangers, rescuing the night yesterday after Ryan coughed up a three-run lead in the ninth inning.
Vernon Wells opened the 11th by working C.J. Wilson (0-2) for a walk and was sacrificed to second by Travis Snider before Scott Rolen was walked intentionally. Darren O'Day, picked up on waivers earlier in the day and wearing Kason Gabbard's jersey because his wasn't ready, then served up Millar's liner to the gap.
Wells scored easily, to the delight of the thinned out remains from a crowd of 13,090.
Jason Frasor (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win.
The exciting finish came after Ryan was handed a 7-4 lead in the ninth, one he promptly gave up on an Aaron Hill throwing error that allowed Chris Davis, who was hit by a pitch, to score, a Josh Hamilton run-scoring groundout and a Michael Young solo shot to centre.
Despite Ryan's second blown save of the season, the Blue Jays (11-5) can still go for their fifth straight series win in today's rubber match with the Rangers (6-8).
The Blue Jays were up 7-3 through seven and in total control as Purcey threw 5 1-3 innings of three-run ball, Barajas blasted a pair of two-run homers and Rios added four hits and a pair of RBIs.
Purcey had struggled with his command in his two previous outings, walking a combined 10 batters in 8 1-3 innings. Manager Cito Gaston had been imploring him to throw strikes and he implied before that game that the sophomore lefty was beginning to run out of rope.
"I don't want this kid to get damaged here,'' said Gaston.
"Where he loses all confidence in if he can throw a strike or not.''
No worries there, as Purcey walked two and struck out six while allowing seven hits against a good offensive team.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia burned him for a two-run single in third that tied the game 2-2 and he surrendered a Young RBI double in the fifth.
The Blue Jays offence, stuck in neutral a bit the past four games, picked it up in this one, taking control of the game in the fourth.
