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  Monday, Sep. 25 7:05pm ET
McGriff, Wilson strong-arm Toronto
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | 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
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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