Blue Jays' Morrow shuts out Angels

Anaheim, CA – Brandon Morrow tossed the second shutout of his career, lifting the Toronto Blue Jays to a 5-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the opener of four-game set.

Morrow (3-0) fanned eight and allowed just three hits for Toronto, which has won five of its last six.

"My fastball command is what did it tonight," Morrow said. "Most of my strikeouts were on sliders. I was able to change speeds. I had better life on my fastball, I could hit down and away anytime I wanted to."

J.P. Arencibia smacked a three-run homer, while Kelly Johnson, Yunel Escobar and Brett Lawrie each had two hits and a run scored.

Dan Haren (1-2) gave up five runs -- three earned -- on five hits and two walks for the Angels, who had their three-game winning steak snapped.

"I put us behind the eight ball and it's tough to play catch-up with a pitcher (Morrow) like that," Haren said.

The Blue Jays plated three in the third and two in the six to account for the scoring.

Lawrie and Colby Rasmus began the third frame with back-to-back singles and Arencibia belted the first offering from Morrow into the left-field seats.

In the sixth, Johnson led off with a walk and Escobar blooped a single into left. After Jose Bautista and Adam Lind struck out, Edwin Encarnacion slapped a ground ball to third base.

Mark Trumbo fielded the ball cleanly but his throw to first base was well wide, allowing Johnson and Escobar to score, making it 5-0.

Morrow set the Angels down in order in the fifth through eighth innings before Trumbo led off the ninth with a double. Morrow, though, stranded him there as he retired the next three batters to cap the win.

Game Notes

Arencibia's three-run shot was his first homer since Opening Day, when he launched the go-ahead homer in the 16th inning against Cleveland...Toronto was 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position...It was also Morrow's second career complete game.