Toronto Blue Jays: Jesse Litsch Wins Again

Where would the Toronto Blue Jays be without their pitching?

Frank Thomas (released) is long gone, and Vernon Wells (fractured left wrist) won't be back until possibly the second half, and the Jays rank 12th out of 14 teams in the American League in runs scored and home runs.

With that kind of dubious offensive record, the Jays shouldn't be in contention.

Even Matt Stairs (stiff neck) has been out of the lineup, having missed two straight games heading into Saturday's action. Stairs leads the Jays with six homers, followed by Wells' five.

However, thanks to baseball's fifth-best pitching staff (3.61 ERA)—No. 3 in the AL—Toronto is still hanging in with a .500 record, a game ahead of the New York Yankees, who are in the basement of the East.

On Saturday afternoon, it was once again The Jesse Litsch Show, as the Jays improved to 26-25, beating the hapless Kansas City Royals 6-0 at Rogers Centre.

While it wasn't a shocker to see ace Roy Halladay throw a complete game—his fifth of the young season—in Friday night's victory, having Litsch throw his first career complete game and shutout was a pleasant surprise.

Litsch, who is now 6-1 with a 3.57 ERA, allowed seven hits and fanned three. Litsch did not walk a batter until two outs in the ninth inning, ending a streak of 38 2/3 innings without a free pass.

While the game didn't start out well for the Jays, it certainly turned around in a hurry.

After Shannon Stewart led off the bottom of the first with a single, he tried to score on Aaron Hill's double but was thrown out at home.

For a team that can't score runs consistently, such a play normally would be deflating, but Toronto loaded the bases with two outs, and Brad Wilkerson uncleared them with a grand slam.

It was Wilkerson's second homer with the Jays.

Given a 4-0 lead, Litsch took over from there, and the Jays have now won three straight.

Litsch, who leads the Jays with his sixth win, isn't the only starter on the staff to give the team quality outings.

Halladay leads the majors in complete games, and Shaun Marcum has a 2.80 ERA. Even the up-and-down A.J. Burnett has five wins already.

How long with the Jays continue to succeed without any offense?