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McGowan gets first loss of year; 5-3
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 When Toronto selected Dustin McGowan in 2000, the team felt that he had all the tools to be a major league pitcher and a good one at that. Well, for four innings Friday, he showed everyone that the team made a smart decision. But in the 5th, he also showed everyone he still has a lot to learn, as the Blue Jays lost 5-3 to the Philadelphia Phillies.
The first inning was easy, Aaron Rowand grounds out, Shane Victorino lines out to second and Jimmy Rollins flies out to center; three up three down.  
The second inning was even easier, with McGowan looking like he was back in Long County tossing strikes, as two Phillie batters fanned; three more up and three more down.  
The game continued like this for the Jays, as McGowan struck out four of the first nine batters he faced, and allowed only one man on base — a walk — through the first four innings.
But in the fifth, everything went sour for the Blue Jays and the right handed hurler, as he walked three of the next five batters, allowed three hits and threw a wild pitch. Before it was over, Philadelphia scored five runs in the inning.
 McGowan threw 86 pitches, with 46 being strikes.  He gave up three hits, walked four and struck out five batters while allowing five earned runs.
Even though it was McGowan’s first loss of the season in three starts, manager John Gibbons is intent on sticking with the pitcher and keeping him in the rotation. Gibbons said after the game that the only way the Long County native was going to improve was to work through the difficulties and he could only do that if he didn’t have to worry about whether he would get the start or not.
For the year, McGowan (0-1) has pitched 16 innings, giving up 16 hits and 14 earned runs. He has walked 10 batters and struck out 15, and currently has an 8.22 ERA.
Toronto is currently 18-23; 11 games behind the Boston Red Sox in theAmerican League East.
McGowan will get his next start on Wednesday, taking on the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. 
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