Final

Series: Game 3 of 3

Chicago won 2-1

Game 1: Monday, September 2
Chicago 5Final
Toronto 3
Game 2: Tuesday, September 3
Chicago 5Final
Toronto 4
Game 3: Wednesday, September 4
Chicago 2Final
Toronto 6

White Sox 2

(68-71, 29-42 away)

Blue Jays 6

(61-78, 34-38 home)

7:05 PM ET, September 4, 2002

Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario 

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CWS 000001100 2 - -
TOR 10100013 - 6 - -

W: P. Walker (8-4)

L: D. Wright (10-12)

Walker puts an end to Sox's seven-game streak

TORONTO (AP) -- Pete Walker is determined to be more than a stop-gap measure in Toronto's rotation.

Walker
Walker

Walker pitched seven effective innings as the rebuilding Toronto Blue Jays ended Chicago's seven-game winning streak with a 6-2 victory on Wednesday night.

"They've talked about me bridging the gap and I guess that's what I'm here for, but I don't see it that way,'' the 33-year old Walker said. "I want to pitch well and help this team. I want to stick around for a while.''

Walker (8-4) allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings. The journeyman right-hander, who benefited from three double plays, walked five and struck out one in his first career appearance against the White Sox.

Before the game, general manager J.P. Ricciardi said the Blue Jays need more inexpensive veteran pitchers like Walker who can bridge the gap until the Blue Jays are able to contend in two or three years.

Walker, claimed off waivers from the New York Mets, has the second most wins on the team.

"To Pete's credit he's taken advantage of an opportunity,'' Toronto manager Carlos Tosca said. "He's a real valuable guy to us because he can both start and pitch out of the bullpen.''

Cliff Politte pitched the eighth and Kelvim Escobar worked the ninth.

Before the game, the Blue Jays announced starter Chris Carpenter will miss 9-to-12 months after having surgery on his right shoulder. Jose Valentin hit his third homer in two days for the White Sox, who went 5-1 on their six-game trip to Detroit and Toronto.

"This is different team than earlier in the year. We are playing a lot better baseball than before,'' Valentin said.

With the score tied at 2, Ken Huckaby led off the Toronto seventh with a single off Dan Wright (10-12) and Jayson Werth walked. Pinch-runner Dewayne Wise advanced to third on Shannon Stewart's grounder before Eric Hinske drove in the go-ahead run with a force play.

Dave Berg's RBI single and Werth's two-run double off Matt Ginter gave Toronto a 6-2 lead in the eighth.

Toronto's Vernon Wells homered in the first, his 18th.

"It was a fastball down the middle. It was a mistake,'' Wright said.

Werth and Stewart hit consecutive singles in the third before Wells reached on first baseman Paul Konerko's error. Carlos Delgado followed with a sacrifice fly, giving Toronto a 2-0 lead.

Valentin, who homered twice on Tuesday, hit his 22nd homer in the sixth, cutting the lead to 2-1.

Harris' two-out RBI single in the seventh tied it.

Wright, who won his previous two starts, allowed three runs -- two earned -- on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Game notes


Walker has won three of his last four starts. He allowed eight runs on nine hits in his last start. ... Aaron Rowand led off the game with a single, but Valentin hit into a double play. Walker walked Frank Thomas leading off the fourth, but Magglio Ordonez then grounded into a double play. Walker walked Carlos Lee to lead off the fifth, but Joe Crede hit into a twin killing. .... The White Sox have played 17 of their last 18 games in less than three hours, including seven in a row. ... The seven-game streak was a season-high for the White Sox. ... Ordonez is in a 0-for-20 slump.

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

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