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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
TORONTO (AP) -- If this was Jim Fregosi's last game as a manager
in Toronto, he won't want to remember it.
|  | | Paul Wilson threw seven scoreless innings on Monday in a 5-1 victory over Toronto. |
Fred McGriff hit a three-run homer and Paul Wilson pitched seven
scoreless innings as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays defeated the Blue
Jays 5-1 Monday night.
With new owner Ted Rogers taking over, Fregosi could be let go
after two seasons. Fregosi, whose contract is up after this season,
hasn't spoken to general manager Gord Ash about next year, and Ash
and incoming president Paul Godfrey haven't made any public
statements in support of him.
"Whether I manage six more games or 500 more here, it's the
same to me," Fregosi said. "You can't feel sorry for yourself in
this business."
The Blue Jays, who have six games remaining, began the day 3 1/2 games behind Oakland in the wild-card race.
Just 20,715 fans showed up for Toronto's last home game of the
season. The Blue Jays attracted 1,819,886 fans -- 343,578 fewer than
last year -- for the team's lowest total since 1982.
"Even though we would like more support, the fans here have
been very gracious," Fregosi said.
One day after rookie Travis Harper pitched a two-hitter against
the Blue Jays, Wilson held them to three hits for his first AL
victory. Toronto lost three of four to the lowly Devil Rays, who
improved to just 5-17 in September.
"We've hit the ball so well all year, and to end up with two
games like this, where we don't score, is disappointing," Fregosi
said.
The Blue Jays scored their lone run in the eighth on Todd
Greene's homer off Esteban Yan. The shot gave Toronto 134 homers at
the SkyDome, a new AL record for home runs at home.
"This game was not reflective of the way we swung the bats all
year," catcher Darrin Fletcher said.
Fletcher said he would like Fregosi to return.
"I don't know about his situation," Fletcher said. "I think
he appreciates my talent, and it would be foolish of me to say that
I don't want him back because he's a guy that just by putting me in
the lineup, I know he's in my corner."
Wilson (1-4) won in his sixth start since being acquired from
the New York Mets in July.
The 27-year-old right-hander allowed two doubles to Carlos
Delgado, and a single to Jose Cruz Jr. He struck out five and
walked two.
"We've been struggling this month, and all year, so we take
pride in taking three of four from them," Wilson said. "It's not
great to be the spoiler, but if you have to be, oh well."
Roberto Hernandez relieved with two on and no outs in the ninth
and got his 31st save.
McGriff hit his 415th career homer, tying him with Cal Ripken
for 28th on the all-time list.
Steve Cox's RBI grounder gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead in the first.
After Toronto starter Esteban Loaiza (10-12) allowed singles to
Gerald Williams and Cox in the sixth, McGriff homered.
Loaiza gave up four runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Game notes
Tampa Bay's rookies were forced to wear Hooter girl outfits
and cheerleader outfits on their trip home.. ... Delgado hit his
55th and 56th doubles, breaking the club record of 54 set by John
Olerud in 1994. ... Toronto shortstop Alex Gonzalez robbed Toby
Hall of a hit with a diving catch in the fifth inning. ... Toronto
LHP Pedro Borbon will undergo elbow surgery on Oct. 5 to remove
bone chips. ... RHP Chris Carpenter, struck in the face by a line
drive two weeks ago, threw on the side Monday and could be
available to pitch Thursday. Blue Jays teammate RHP Joey Hamilton,
who missed his last start with shoulder pain, threw on the side on
Sunday and said he felt fine. Hamilton might be available to pitch
later this week. .. OF Raul Mondesi is day-to-day with a sprained
ankle.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Tampa Bay Clubhouse
Toronto Clubhouse
RECAPS
Cleveland 9
Chi. White Sox 2
Detroit 15
NY Yankees 4
Tampa Bay 5
Toronto 1
Oakland 7
Anaheim 5
Atlanta 6
Montreal 0
Chicago Cubs 4
Philadelphia 3
Arizona 6
Colorado 4
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