Cespedes hits 3-run single, A's win 6th straight

TORONTO (AP) - Yoenis Cespedes hit a three-run single and the streaking Oakland Athletics beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-2 Tuesday night for their season-best sixth win in a row.

Derek Norris hit a two-run homer and Travis Blackley won his third straight decision as the A's improved to 15-2 in July. Oakland (52-44) is eight games over .500 for the first time since July 12, 2008.

Travis Snider and J.P. Arencibia each hit solo homers and Brett Lawrie had three hits for the Blue Jays, whose three-game winning streak came to an end.

Blackley (3-2) allowed one run and five hits in seven innings. The left-hander, who has not lost since June 10 at Arizona, walked one and struck out a career-best eight.

Evan Scribner worked the eighth and Jim Miller gave up Arencibia's 16th homer in the ninth.

Brett Cecil (2-3) allowed two runs and five hits in six innings and has won just once in his past six starts.

The Athletics put the game away with a five-run outburst in the seventh, doing all their damage with two outs. Brandon Hicks doubled and Jemile Weeks chased reliever Chad Beck with an RBI triple. J.A. Happ came on immediately gave up an RBI double to Coco Crisp, then walked Jonny Gomes.

After a double steal, Josh Reddick walked to load the bases for Cespedes, who had struck out in his previous three at-bats. On Happ's 3-2 pitch, Cespedes lined a bases-clearing single to center.

Oakland opened the scoring in the second when Brandon Inge reached on a two-out single and Norris hit Cecil's next pitch into the second deck in left, his third homer of the season.

The Blue Jays answered in the third on a leadoff homer by Snider, his second. Snider also connected in Sunday's 15-7 victory at Boston.

NOTES: Blue Jays OF Jose Bautista (left wrist) is "making good strides" in his return from the injury, manager John Farrell said, and could be swinging a bat and hitting off the tee soon. ... Toronto RHP Sergio Santos underwent season-ending shoulder surgery Tuesday. ... An MRI on Blue Jays RHP Jason Frasor (forearm) showed no tear, but he has been told not to throw for two weeks. ... Oakland LHP Dallas Braden (shoulder) threw a 33-pitch bullpen session Tuesday and could face live hitters when he throws next. ... Athletics RHP Brandon McCarthy (shoulder) will throw a 45-pitch simulated game at Oakland's spring training facility in Arizona on Wednesday. ... A's LHP Brett Anderson (elbow) will pitch four innings at Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday. ... Reddick threw out Lawrie trying to advance to third in the first, his 10th outfield assist.