"Before elbow soreness bit a month-long chunk out of his season, Shaun Marcum was riding a wave of brilliant performances. He ranked in the top five in the American League in strikeouts and ERA. If not for Roy Halladay's string of complete games, Marcum might have qualified as the club's ace of the first half of this season.
Then his injury flared. He convalesced. After he returned, much of his confidence seemed gone. He allowed 16 earned runs in his first three appearances back. He lamented that he'd lost accuracy with his fastball, which sets up his bread-and-butter changeup.
Last night, the first-half Marcum reappeared.
He carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning against the A's. It was marred by a Bobby Crosby solo home run in that frame.
"After the game, I told him, `Welcome back,'" catcher Rod Barajas said.
While Oakland failed to take advantage of its slim opportunities, the Jays' offence was ruthless with theirs. Barajas' first-inning three-run homer gave Marcum an early stake. Two runs in a sloppy seventh padded it. There was little else for Toronto to scavenge off major league debutant Gio Gonzalez, who allowed only four hits.
The Jays won their third in a row over the A's, 5-1. Oakland has now lost nine straight. The series wraps up tonight as A.J. Burnett searches for a team-leading 14th win.
Afterward, the low-key Marcum seemed more relieved than pleased by his performance.
"Locating my fastball, that was the main thing I was struggling with the last three starts," he said.
The fastball returned during intensive bullpen and video room work with pitching coach Brad Arnsberg and bullpen coach Bruce Walton. It was pointed out to Marcum that his arm was getting too long in his motion, taking his fastball out of the strike zone.
He relocated the proper delivery in his bullpen session this week.
"A lot of confidence shot through me," Marcum said of the session. "I felt like I was back to normal."
Source
Straight A's for Jays' Marcum
Straight A's for Jays' Marcum
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