TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays staged a late seventh-inning rally to back an outstanding pitching performance from starter Brandon Morrow and edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 Wednesday.
Despite entering the contest in an ugly 0-for-11 slump, Blue Jays outfielder Rajai Davis jump-started the decisive inning with a one-out ground rule double -- his second of two on the day.
Shortstop Yunel Escobar, who spoiled what could have been a strong scoring chance in the first by trying to stretch a leadoff single into a double, promptly hit a groundball into centrefield to score Davis.
Eric Thames tied the game for the Blue Jays (40-41) with his first career major-league homer in the sixth inning.
Two runs was all Morrow would need, as the right-hander dominated through seven innings, surrendering just four hits, while striking out 10 as the Pirates fell to 40-39.
Morrow went his first 3 1/3 innings without allowing a base-runner, until rookie infielder Chase d'Arnaud singled down the third-base line.
Morrow (4-4) has posted a 2-0 record with a 1.77 ERA and 25 strikeouts over his past thee starts since surrendering nine runs in four innings to the Red Sox on June 11/
As dominant as Morrow looked out of the gate, the Pirates struck first. Ronny Cedeno singled in the fifth inning to plate former Blue Jay Lyle Overbay.
Some good defence from Jose Bautista -- making his second start at third base this season -- prevented what could have been a two-run inning, as he beautifully fielded a Matt Diaz chopper, gunning down Neil Walker at a close play at the plate.
Catcher Jose Molina flashed some leather of his own, picking-off Garrett Jones at first to end a potential two-out Pirates rally in the eighth.
As it began to look like another tough offensive night for the Jays, Thames took matters into his own hands in the bottom half of the sixth, homering on a 1-0 Paul Maholm offering.
Maholm (4-9) looked sharp in a losing cause despite only recording one strikeout. The left-hander went seven strong innings, allowing two runs on nine hits.
Blue Jays reliever Frank Francisco tossed a scoreless ninth for his ninth save of the season. Jason Frasor made his 446th appearance as a Blue Jay in eighth inning, tying him with Tom Henke for second on the franchise's all-time list.
.Notes: Left-hander Brett Cecil (1-2, 6.86 ERA) will start opposite right-hander Jeff Karstens (5-4, 2.66) on Thursday, in the finale of a three-game set against the Pirates. The start will mark Cecil's return to the Major Leagues, after being optioned to triple-A on April 21 following a string of poor starts and a noticeable dip in velocity. ... In his second rehab start with double-A New Hampshire on Tuesday, Jesee Litsch (strained right shoulder) pitched five innings, allowing one run on two hits, while striking out six. He did not factor into the decision. ... Attendance at Rogers Centre was 15,632.
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