Right-hander Jesse Litsch is making it look easy.
Backed by a 17-hit, 12-run outburst, Litsch cruised to his seventh win of the season Thursday against Oakland. Fresh off his first career shutout in his last start, Litsch blanked the A's over seven innings. Litsch, 7-1 on the season, became the first Jays pitcher to win seven of his first 10 starts to open a season since Roy Halladay accomplished the feat in 2005.
Litsch, the No. 5 starter in the rotation, has now allowed three runs or fewer in 23 of 29 career starts and 21 of his last 26 starts.
"I just went out there and threw strikes again today," said Litsch, who is far from suffering through a sophomore jinx.
In his previous start against the Royals, Litsch set a club record for consecutive innings without walking a batter -- 38 -- the streak ending when he walked a batter with two outs in the ninth inning. He did not walk a batter in his previous five starts. On the season, Litsch has walked a total of nine batters in 59 1/3 innings.
Litsch's lone loss this season occurred April 22 against Tampa Bay when he allowed five runs in 3 1/3 innings.
JAYS 12, ATHLETICS 0: The Jays set season highs for runs (12) and hits (17) as they won the rubber match in the three-game series. Rod Barajas had a big day at the plate, as he banged out three doubles and knocked in three runs.
