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Surkamp Struggles As Athletics Lose 6-3 To Blue Jays

TORONTO (CBS/AP) -- Eric Surkamp turned in another shaky start for the Oakland A's on Sunday.

Whether he gets the chance to make another is undecided.

Jose Bautista hit a two-run homer off Surkamp, Ezequiel Carrera added a solo shot and the Blue Jays beat the Athletics 6-3.

"The middle of that order is probably the best in baseball," Surkamp (0-2) said of the Blue Jays. "Just a tough lineup when you're not on top of your game."

Surkamp allowed a season-worst six runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. The left-hander is winless in four starts.

Manager Bob Melvin would not guarantee the safety of Surkamp's spot in the rotation.

"We look at things after every series," Melvin said. "We'll put our heads together and see what we think going into the next one."

Chris Coghlan, Khris Davis and Josh Reddick each hit solo home runs for the Athletics, who lost their second in a row after winning the previous six.

Josh Donaldson scored twice for Toronto. The Blue Jays, the highest-scoring team in the majors last year, have posted at least five runs for a season-best three games in a row.

Recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to make a spot start as Toronto gave its rotation an extra day of rest, right-hander Drew Hutchison (1-0) allowed two runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings.

"I felt I was a little off to be honest," Hutchison said. "I wasn't real sharp, but I made some big pitches when I needed to."

Although Hutchison is expected to be sent back to Buffalo this week, he made an impression on the Athletics.

"He threw me some nasty changeups, I can tell you that," Oakland catcher Stephen Vogt said. "He looked good, he kept the ball down."

Last year, the Blue Jays averaged a whopping 7.9 runs per game in Hutchison's 28 starts.

"He brings out the best in the offense," manager John Gibbons said. "We always score, so he's also a good luck charm."

Jesse Chavez and Brett Cecil each got two outs, Drew Storen worked the eighth and Roberto Osuna finished for his sixth save.

Davis led off the second with a homer to center to put Oakland up 1-0, but Surkamp couldn't hold the lead for long.

Carrera tied it with a leadoff drive in the third and Toronto scored three more runs in the bat-around inning. Justin Smoak, Kevin Pillar and Darwin Barney all drove in runs with two-out singles.

Bautista snapped a 0-for-11 slump when he connected off Surkamp in the fourth for his fourth home run.

Hutchison left to a standing ovation one out after Reddick's solo drive in the sixth.

BORDER BLUES

Oakland has lost eight of its past nine games in Toronto.

DONALDSON'S HARDWARE HAUL

On the day he was honored with his own bobblehead doll, Donaldson was presented in a pregame ceremony with his Silver Slugger award and Player's Choice Awards for 2015 Player of the Year and AL Outstanding Player. Donaldson's mother, Lisa French, threw her son the ceremonial first pitch.

TRAINER'S ROOM

A's: 2B Jed Lowrie (calf) was held out of the starting lineup for the first time this season. Tyler Ladendorf started for Oakland.

UP NEXT

A's: RHP Kendall Graveman (1-1, 2.04) will face Tigers RHP Jordan Zimmermann (3-0, 0.00) on Monday as Oakland begins a three-game series at Detroit. Graveman snapped a career-worst six-game losing streak by beating the Yankees last Wednesday.

© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

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