Despite losing two in a row, the Toronto Blue Jays will still be in control of the American League East once they close out a four- game series with the Chicago White Sox this afternoon. Toronto, which has posted back-to-back wins only once since the first week of June, is still 1 1/2 games in front of Baltimore for the lead in the division, with just two weeks remaining before the All-Star Break. Yesterday the Jays made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth inning when they drew to within a single run, but that was as close as the hosts would get in the 4-3 setback. Darin Mastroianni stroked his first home run of the season and plated two of his teams three runs, the other RBI coming from Munenori Kawasaki. Starting pitcher Marcus Stroman made it through 6 2/3 innings before giving way to the Toronto bullpen. The hurler allowed just two runs on a pair of hits and two walks, while striking out six. Dustin McGowan was charged with the loss, his third of the season, after permitting three runs on three hits in just one inning of action. "If you could do things over, you leave him in," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said of Stroman. "But my thinking was, he pitched his butt off, it was kind of uncharted territory, I dont want him to lose the game right there. Thats the way it goes. But you always look back on things like that. I had a plan and it just didnt work." "Its tough, because obviously I want to be out there," said Stroman. "I felt strong but Im also young, so that was Gibbys choice. "Dustin has been great for us all year, so its not like I was mad about coming out of the game. I had 100-percent confidence for Dustin to come in and get that out. Just one of those things and Im sure hell be right back to it." McGowan was charged with giving up a three-run home run by Dayan Viciedo, one of his two hits on the day. Adam Dunn added a pair of hits and two walks as well for a Chicago squad that is fourth in the AL Central, six games below .500 and 8 1/2 games out of contention. Chris Sale was credited with the win for the White Sox as he worked through seven innings, permitting just two runs on four hits, although he did have some issues with his control, issuing five walks. Sale also struck out six on the day. Zach Putnam stepped in late to collect his first save of the season. The Sox now turn their attention toward Jose Quintana, their starter for the series finale today. The left-hander had gone four outings without a win until picking up a much-needed victory on Tuesday versus Baltimore on the road. In that clash Quintana surrendered just a single run on six hits and three walks, striking out eight over the course of seven innings for his fourth win of the season. When it comes to his experience against the Jays, Quintana, now in his third major league season, has a record of 3-1 with a 2.18 ERA in five starts. Going up against the Chicago batting order is former White Sox standout Mark Buehrle. Selected by Chicago in the 38th round of the 1998 draft, the left- hander started his major league career with the Sox in 2000 and remained on the staff until 2011. Now just four wins shy of 200 for his career, Buehrle has struggled of late, last earning a victory against Kansas City on the first of the month. Most recently the Missouri native went up against the New York Yankees on Tuesday, permitting four runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings, but even though the Jays eventually came away with the 7-6 win, Buehrle did not factor into the decision. Against his former Chicago team, Buehrle is 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA. Chicago, which won the season series with the Jays each of the last two years, now owns a 2-1 edge in 2014 battles. 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Air Max 97 Sale Mens .Cowboys owner Jerry Jones seems to be leaning the fiscally responsible way.Let me put it like this: Its going to be a challenge, Jones said of re-signing both of Dallas biggest potential free agents.VANCOUVER -- Mike Santorelli continued his rise from the NHLs scrap heap with a flourish Sunday night. Santorelli, who was signed as free agent by Vancouver in the off-season after being cast adrift by three other NHL clubs, scored two goals and added an assist as the Canucks beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-1. "It feels nice to, for sure, a lot of us have been sniffing around (the net) and our line played great tonight," said Santorelli. The 27-year-old Vancouver native was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the sixth round (178th overall) in 2004, but spent much of his four seasons with them in the minors and failed to stick with Florida and Winnipeg while also playing briefly in Sweden during the NHL lockout last season. But Santorelli, who joined Vancouver on a two-way contract, now has eight goals on the season, easily surpassing the two he produced with Florida last season while splitting the campaign with the Panthers and Jets. And, he is just one shy of the nine goals that he had in 60 games with Florida in 2011-12. "He was our best player by far tonight in all areas," said Canucks coach John Tortorella. The Canucks (17-10-5) posted their fifth win in sixth games and moved within a point of the upstart Avs (20-8-0) in the tight Western Conference standings. "I honestly felt we played a better game than them and, unfortunately, we have nothing to show for the result," said Colorado coach Patrick Roy. "But, I mean, Luongo was good. Both goalies were good, actually." Ryan Kesler also scored for the Canucks, who were outshot 29-21 by the Avalanche. Jamie McGinn replied for Colorado with only 7.1 seconds left in the game. As a result, Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo was denied the 65th shutout of his career and a chance to move within one of tying Roy, who ranks 14th all-time in NHL history. "If you ask me about the goal I am going to snap," Luongo said with a laugh. "Its all right, that stuff happens. Well take the two points and move on." The Canucks goaltender improved his record on the season to 14-8-5. Colorado goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere, 36, lost for the first time in eight decisions this season. The Avs suffered only their third loss in the past nine games. Gigueres 7-0-0 start to the season was a career best as well as a Colorado franchise goaltending record. "I didnt think we played terribly bad," said Giguere. "But I dont think it was our best effort, either. I dont think it was, overall, a great effort by either team. It was kind of a grind-it-out type of game, and they got the two goals in the third. We just couldnt recover from that." The Canucks, criticized by Tortorella following Fridays overtime win over Phoenix for an ongoing inability too finish out wins, broke open a tight game with two goals in the third period.dddddddddddd Kesler put the Canucks ahead 2-0 at 1:32 of the second period as he tucked in Santorellis rebound while standing alone beside the net. The goal was Keslers fifth goal in his past four games and 15th in 32 total games this season, putting him just seven shy of the 22 he mustered in 77 contests in 2011-12. He has already surpassed the measly four he scored in an injury-plagued and lockout-shortened 2013 campaign. About five minutes later, Santorelli beat Giguere with a high shot while using linemate Chris Higgins as a decoy on a 2-on-1. Vancouvers third-period onslaught came after Colorados Holden beat Luongo with a high slapper, but hit the crossbar with just over three minutes left in the second. The Canucks second line of Santorelli, Kesler and Higgins, who had two assists, accounted for all of Vancouvers goals. "They are two unbelievable players to play with and its nice playing with two guys like that," said Santorelli. "You learn a lot from them. We are communicating with each other on the bench and letting each other know where we are and things like that, and its been fun." Vancouver was blanked on three power plays, marking the first time in eight games that they have not scored with the man-advantage. Colorado had one power play. Giguere was not perturbed by the end of his unbeaten string. "These are just stats for you (media) guys to talk about," said Giguere. "It was nice, but I try to go in there and compete every day and, unfortunately, losing is part of the game, too. Im just gonna regroup and get ready for the next chance that I get to play." McGinn spoiled Luongos shutout after Roy pulled Giguere in favour of an extra attacker for most of the last five minutes. "We pulled the goalie with five minutes left in the game for us as coaches to show our players that we (dont) quit," said Roy. Luongo joked that Roy pulled his goalie early to prevent him from getting close to the Hall of Famers shutout total. "Theres no danger there," said Roy. "Hell pass me there, for sure." Luongo wont have to wait long for another chance to tie Roy. The Canucks host Carolina on Monday while Colorado heads home to meet Phoenix on Tuesday. Notes: The Canucks recalled defenceman Yannick Weber from Utica of the AHL earlier Sunday. He adds further depth following Alex Edlers undisclosed injury and coach John Tortorellas comment that Andrew Alberts play "scares" him. Edler sat out his second consecutive game. This season marks the first since the former Quebec Nordiques franchise relocated to Colorado that the Avs and Canucks are not competing in the same division. ' ' '