{allcanada} JAYS' BATS CLUTCH AS THEY TAKE GAME 2 OF SERIES FROM A'S

TORONTO -- In a series against a likely American League playoff team, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons knows what the Oakland Athletics do well.

"One thing they do is they make you throw strikes," he said. "They make you pay if you don't throw strikes."

The Blue Jays beat the A's 5-4 Saturday afternoon at Rogers Centre by doing a lot of that themselves against a pitcher making his first career major-league start.

With Mark Buehrle pitching efficiently enough to stay out of trouble, Toronto's hitters took advantage of some key opportunities against Oakland starter Sonny Gray. They didn't knock him around the park but didn't have to.

After Maicer Izturis drew a walk in the first inning, Jose Bautista launched his 27th home run of the season over the centre-field wall to give Buehrle a lead to work with. Even after the A's tied the score in the same way -- with a walk by Chris Young and a homer by Josh Reddick -- the Blue Jays found creative ways to put runs on the board.

In the second, Brett Lawrie struck out but reached base on a passed ball. After Rajai Davis walked and J.P. Arencibia flew out to right, Lawrie scored on a fielder's choice.

An inning later, Bautista scored the Blue Jays' fourth run after a throwing error on A's third baseman Josh Donaldson and a single by Colby Rasmus. Jose Reyes added a solo homer in the seventh for an insurance run that proved vital.

An offensive explosion wasn't necessary because of Buehrle and the bullpen. Buehrle was solid if not spectacular, giving up three earned runs on seven hits and striking out five in 5 1/3 innings.

When Buehrle got into a jam in the sixth, Gibbons turned to all-star lefty reliever Brett Cecil. Protecting a one-run lead, Cecil hit a batter but escaped unscathed.

As Gibbons kept spinning the bullpen wheel, it kept working out for the Blue Jays. Aaron Loup for two outs, Sergio Santos for one and Darren Oliver for three got Toronto to its reliable closer, Casey Janssen.

Janssen gave up a leadoff homer to Reddick and got into a jam with no outs in the ninth before settling down to pick up his 21st save of the season.

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