Blue Jays-White Sox: Jesse Litsch, 12-Hit Attack Downs Chicago

The Toronto Blue Jays’ pitching staff finally allowed a run in May, but the team is still undefeated this month.

Jesse Litsch retired the first 12 batters he faced to improve to 4-1 and Vernon Wells paced a 12-hit attack with three singles, as the Blue Jays beat the Chicago White Sox 5-2 at Rogers Centre on Saturday afternoon.

And finally, a Jays starter didn't need to pitch a shutout in order to win, although Litsch did take a bid for one into the seventh inning.

With four victories already, Litsch is the leader on the Jays staff in that category, with every starter on the team capable of reaching double digits in wins as long as they stay healthy.

Litsch moves ahead of Shaun Marcum and A.J. Burnett, who each have three victories, for the team lead in wins. Not bad for the so-called fifth starter.

The second-year right-hander allowed five hits and two runs, pitching into the eighth inning for the first time this year. Litsch surrendered two solo home runs (to Jermaine Dye and Carlos Quentin), but by that time, the Jays were already in control, up 5-0. 

Toronto caught a break in the last of the sixth thanks to a huge error by Joe Crede at third base. With the Jays up 2-0, bases loaded and two outs, Crede bobbled Aaron Hill's bouncer, allowing a run to score. Wells promptly singled in two more runs to give Litsch a five-run cushion.

It was the second straight game in which a Crede miscue gave the Jays the runs that made the difference.

On Friday night, Crede's error in the first inning set up the entire offense of the game as Toronto won 2-0 behind an ailing Marcum, the Jays' second straight shutout win.

Meanwhile, the starting pitching for the Jays has been solid, especially in the last seven games. However, thanks to a weak offense, Toronto actually lost three of those contests, including back-to-back ninth-inning losses to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park earlier in the week.

Still, if Litsch and the rest of the Toronto starters continue pitching well, the Blue Jays could probably be players in the AL wild card race.

For now, Toronto is 3-0 this month. Will the Jays' success continue?

Meanwhile, two big errors for Crede as the White Sox have now lost seven of 10, and four in a row.

Will Chicago break out of its funk?