Martin’s 3 hits as Blue Jays past slumping LA Angels

BLUE JAYS 7, ANGELS 2

TORONTO — Russell Martin had three hits and two RBIs, R.A. Dickey pitched 6 2-3 innings for his first home win since July 10 and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-2 on Tuesday night.

Toronto’s win ensured it would maintain at least a share of first place in the American League East.

The Blue Jays entered tied with Boston for the division lead.

Martin had an RBI single in the first, drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk in the third, singled and scored in the fifth, and doubled over the head of center fielder Mike Trout in the seventh.

Michael Saunders hit his 21st home run, a solo shot off A.J. Achter in the eighth.

Edwin Encarnacion and Darwin Barney each reached base three times.

This is the fifth straight win for the Blue Jays over the Angels.

Toronto has outscored Los Angeles 51-16 in that span.

Angels rookie Nick Buss hit his first major league home run, a tworun drive off Dickey in the second, but Los Angeles lost for the fourth time in six games. The Angels have lost 15 of 18 overall.

The Angels lost their 11th straight road game, their longest such skid since a 14-game streak in 1969.

Dickey (9-13) came in 28 with a 5.57 ERA in 13 home starts. He held the last-place Angels in check, allowing two runs and six hits.

Trailing 2-1, Toronto loaded the bases with no outs against left-hander Tyler Skaggs in the third.

Barney scored the tying run when Martin walked and Encarnacion put the Blue Jays in front by scoring on Troy Tulowitzki’s double play groundout.

Skaggs (1-3) allowed four runs and four hits in four-plus innings. His five walks were a seasonworst.