OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Rich Harden struck out 11 in seven innings Friday and combined with two relievers on a three-hitter to bring the Oakland A's a 2-0 victory over Toronto.
Josh Willingham accounted for all the scoring with a two-run homer in the first.
Harden (4-2) did not give up a hit until the fourth, although he worked his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the first brought on by two walks and an error. The 11 strikeouts were his season high and came in his ninth start of the campaign.
Grant Balfour worked around a one-out walk in the eighth to protect the lead and Andrew Bailey, with the help of a double-play grounder in the ninth, picked up his 16th save.
Brett Cecil (4-6) suffered the hard-luck loss, surrendering only four hits in seven innings.
