LAKELAND, Fla. -- Joel Zumaya remembers a game from 2006, against Oakland, when Frank Thomas stood at the plate waiting to unload his mass and muscle against one of the Tigers right-hander's triple-digit-touching fastballs.

Oakland Athletics Bobby Crosby, left, celebrates with teammate Kurt Suzuki after hitting a single to score the winning run against the Minnesota Twins in the bottom of the ninth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008, in Oakland, Calif. Oakland won 3-2. " align="left" border="0">

Frank Thomas got a chuckle out of the realization his Oakland Athletics had finally strung consecutive wins together. It had been too long ago to remember the last time. "That's what we were laughing about: two in a row, whoo!" the Big Hurt said. "Three out of four, whoo!" Pinch-hitter Kurt Suzuki doubled in the winning run with one out in the ninth inning and the A's beat the Minnesota Twins 3-2 on...

Toronto Blue Jays' Frank Thomas reacts to striking out swinging to end the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in this file photo from Toronto, Thursday, April 10, 2008. The Blue Jays released slumping designated hitter Thomas on Sunday, April 20, 2008. " align="left" border="0">

Slumping designated hitter Frank Thomas was released Sunday by the Blue Jays, who cut the 19-year veteran one day after he became angry for being taken out of the lineup. General manager J.P. Ricciardi said he and Thomas came to "a mutual agreement" after meeting in the clubhouse early Sunday. "Our best opportunity is to put other guys in the lineup at this point," Ricciardi said.

TORONTO—Frank Catalanotto scored the go-ahead run on A.J. Burnett’s wild pitch in the 14th inning and the Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-5 Wednesday night, snapping a five-game losing streak.

With the bullpen depleted, Burnett (1-1) relieved in the 14th. Burnett, who started in Texas on Sunday, became TorontoÂ’s ninth pitcher of the game, tying a team record.

Gerald Laird greeted Burnett with a single and went to third on CatalanottoÂ’s one-out double just inside the first-base line.

With the infield in, Laird tried to score on Michael YoungÂ’s grounder and was thrown out at the plate. Catalanotto moved up to third on the play and scored one pitch later when Burnett threw a pitch through catcher Gregg ZaunÂ’s legs.

Josh Hamilton followed with an RBI double. Hamilton finished 4-for-7 and drove in two runs—for the first time in seven games, he did not score.

Catalanotto also homered and Jason Botts hit a solo homer and two-run double for the Rangers. Milton Bradley drew five walks, two of them intentional, and extended his hitting streak to 11 games for Texas while going 2-for-3.

Dustin Nippert (1-1) worked one inning for the win and C.J. Wilson closed it out for his fourth save.

Few fans from the announced crowd of 15,686 remained when the final pitch was thrown at midnight, four hours and 53 minutes after the game began.

Toronto rookie Jesse Carlson struck out three straight to escape a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the 11th.

The Blue Jays put runners at first and third with one out in the 10th, but Joe Inglett grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Trailing 5-2, Toronto tied it with three runs in the eighth against reliever Joaquin Benoit. Frank Thomas walked, pinch-hitter Matt Stairs singled and Lyle Overbay walked before Benoit issued a bases-loaded walk to Marco Scutaro.

Wes Littleton came on to face pinch-hitter Inglett, who grounded to first baseman Ben Broussard, who had replaced Botts for defensive purposes in the seventh. Broussard tried to get a force at second, but threw wildly into left field, allowing two runs to score and tying it at 5.

Texas has made eight errors in its past six games and leads the AL with 17 errors this season. Rangers third baseman Hank Blalock left in the 10th with a sore lower back and was replaced by Adam Melhuse.

Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler was held out of the starting lineup for the first time this season, but pinch-hit for Ramon Vazquez in the sixth.

Rangers left-hander Kason Gabbard gave up two runs on seven hits in six innings. Toronto righty Jesse Litsch allowed four runs on nine hits in five-plus innings. He walked none and struck out five.

Toronto Blue Jays batter Frank Thomas on the first pitch during the fifth inning of their American League baseball game in Toronto, Ontario, Sunday, April 6 2008. " align="left" border="0">

The Boston Red Sox headed home at last in an unusual position -- last place. Frank Thomas hit his 11th career grand slam, Vernon Wells added a two-run homer and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Red Sox 7-4 Sunday to complete a three-game sweep of the World Series champions. Boston failed to get a boost from Josh Beckett's first start of the season and went 3-4 on its opening three-nation trip, a...

Baltimore Orioles' Miguel Tejada tosses his bat after striking out to end the sixth inning of their American League baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto Saturday, Sept. 15, 2007. " align="left" border="0">

Stacked with right-handed sluggers, the Toronto Blue Jays have feasted on left-handed pitching this season. Saturday was no different. Frank Thomas hit his 509th career home run, one of a club-record seven consecutive hits to begin the game against left-hander Kurt Birkins, and the Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-3.

New York Yankees manager Joe Torre sits in the dugout during the ninth inning of American League baseball action against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007. The Yankees lost 2-1. " align="left" border="0">

Just before heading to Boston, the New York Yankees and their star sluggers were finally stopped by the Blue Jays. A.J. Burnett pitched eight outstanding innings, Frank Thomas singled home the winning run in the ninth and Toronto beat the Yankees 2-1 on Thursday night to snap New York's seven-game winning streak.

Toronto Blue Jays' Vernon Wells scores past Los Angeles Angels catcher Jeff Mathis on a double to left by Frank Thomas during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 25, 2007. Toronto won 9-2. " align="left" border="0">

Gregg Zaun wanted to make sure his 1,000th major league game was something special -- especially with his parents making the drive down the freeway from his hometown of Glendale. The Blue Jays' 36-year-old catcher had two RBIs, scored a run with a headfirst slide and choked off another with a textbook leg block, leading Toronto to a 9-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday night.

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop John McDonald, left, makes the throw to first after making the out on Texas Rangers Gerald Laird during second inning AL action in Toronto Saturday, Aug. 4, 2007. " align="left" border="0">

Frank Thomas is targeting a big finish, both for himself and for the Toronto Blue Jays. Thomas hit two home runs to pass Eddie Murray for 20th place on the all-time home run list, and the Blue Jays beat the Texas Rangers 9-5 on Saturday. "I really want to stay focussed and finish strong because I'm disappointed in my season so far," said Thomas, who is batting .255 with 18 homers and 60 RBIs.

TORONTO -- Adrian Beltre hit a two-run homer, Miguel Batista earned his 10th victory and the Seattle Mariners beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 on Friday night.

The win, coupled with the Los Angeles Angels'loss to Minnesota, moved Seattle to one game behind in the American League West.

Raul Ibanez and Jose Guillen hit consecutive run-scoring singles in the fifth for Seattle.

Batista (10-7) won for the third time in four starts, allowing two runs and five hits over 5 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out six.

J.J. Putz pitched the ninth inning to record his 29th save, extending his streak of scoreless innings to 22. He also has converted 31 chances in a row dating to last season. Both are the longest active streaks in the major leagues.

Batista walked the bases loaded on 12 pitches in the second, but got Gregg Zaun to hit into a double play. That scored Frank Thomas, but Batista escaped further damage when John McDonald struck out.

Zaun threw out Jason Ellison on an attempted steal of second in the eighth, ending a streak of 27 consecutive stolen bases against Toronto, the longest run in the majors.

'Achievement' spot needed?

Frank Thomas became the 21st player to hit 500 home runs with his three-run shot in the first inning, but Torii Hunter homered twice and Jason Bartlett also connected for Minnesota, which rallied from a 5-1 deficit to gain the win for Carlos Silva (6-8). Jason Frasor (1-3) was the loser. Thomas also had an RBI double and tied his season high with four RBI in the game, then was ejected in the ninth inning by plate umpire Mark Wegner after being called out on strikes for the second time in the game. A fan in the fifth row, wearing a jersey of Twins player Jason Bartlett, caught Thomas'home run ball in his glove. He was quickly escorted away by security.

TWINS 8, BLUE JAYS 5

Toronto Blue Jays' pitcher A. J. Burnett, returning from the disabled list, throws in fifth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Thursday, June 28, 2007, in Minneapolis. The Twins won 8-5, with Burnett taking the loss. " align="left" border="0">

Thankfully for Frank Thomas, his family had to catch an early flight Thursday. That meant his wife, three children and father-in-law got to see Thomas hit his 500th home run. And they were gone when Thomas got ejected. "They had to leave for the airport at 1:45. My daughter said, 'Dad, you've got to do it in the first couple of at-bats,"' he said.

Chad Cordero, right, celebrates with catcher Brian Schneider after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-2, during interleague action on Sunday, June 17, 2007, in Toronto, Canada. " align="left" border="0">

It's taken just six starts for Micah Bowie to double his career win total. Bowie won his fourth straight decision and the Washington Nationals beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 on Sunday, overcoming Frank Thomas' record 244th homer as a designated hitter. "I'm just thankful on Father's Day to pick up a win, go home and see the family tonight," Bowie said.

San Francisco Giants' Dave Roberts catches a fly ball hit by Toronto Blue Jays' Aaron Hill in the ninth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Monday, June 11, 2007. The Giants won 4-3. " align="left" border="0">

Barry Bonds sat playfully with Frank Thomas on the field before the game and promised Matt Morris he would hit a home run for the pitcher. Bonds made good on his word, too, ending his latest home run drought and showing he might be finding his stroke again. Bonds hit his 747th homer and moved within eight of Hank Aaron's career record with a two-run shot during the Giants' 4-3 win over Toronto on...

Boston Red Sox' David Ortiz walks back to the dugout after grounding out against the Toronto Blue Jays in the ninth inning of their baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston Monday, April 23, 2007. The Blue Jays beat the Red Sox, 7-3. " align="left" border="0">

Homers ended the Boston's five-game winning streak, one day after the Red Sox tied a major league record by hitting four in a row. Frank Thomas hit his 490th homer, a go-ahead, two-run drive off Tim Wakefield in the sixth inning that led Toronto to a 7-3 victory Monday night over a Red Sox team that lacked the power and passion that produced a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees.