Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Marc Rzepczynski was nearly unhittable over seven innings, as the Toronto Blue Jays blanked the Angels, 3-0, in the opener of a three-game series.
Summoned from Triple-A Las Vegas to make Friday's start, Rzepczynski (1-1) scattered two hits to record his first win since beating these same Angels last August 21. The left-hander collected six strikeouts and did not issue a walk, but did hit consecutive batters in the third inning. He lowered his earned run average from 7.15 to 4.42.
Rzepczynski started in place of Brandon Morrow, who had his turn in the rotation skipped to give him extra rest after his last outing. Morrow set career highs with 17 strikeouts and 137 pitches Sunday, when he came within one out of a no-hitter in a 1-0 win over Tampa Bay.
Scott Downs worked around a two-out single by Los Angeles' Bobby Abreu in the eighth and Kevin Gregg tossed a flawless ninth to complete the three-hit shutout and earn his 26th save. The Blue Jays have won five of seven.
The Angels' Scott Kazmir (8-10) absorbed the loss after he allowed two runs on four hits and three walks in six innings. The Angels had a three-game win streak snapped.
Toronto got on the board in the second, which Adam Lind led off with a triple. Lyle Overbay drew a one-out walk, and Lind came home on a Edwin Encarnacion single.
Vernon Wells walked to begin the fourth, took second on a wild pitch by Kazmir, moved to third on a Lind single and scored on Aaron Hill's sacrifice fly.
Fred Lewis made it a 3-0 game in the seventh against Angels reliever Francisco Rodriguez, stroking a two-out double to plate Encarnacion.
Kazmir has lost five of his last six decisions...The Blue Jays began a nine- game road trip...Toronto optioned pitcher Brad Mills to Las Vegas to clear a roster spot for Rzepczynski...The Angels have still won five of seven season meetings with Toronto.