"I would have traded them in for a win. We've got to get over the hump and start playing some better Baseball, and not wait until the end."

True, it was the typical team-first stuff you often hear from a player who has a big day in defeat. But Giambi's words were on target.

After showing signs of busting out offensively in wins Thursday and Friday, the A's were held to three hits and one run over the first eight innings Saturday before they sprung to life.

Giambi's two-run shot in the ninth off Scott Downs brought the A's to within 6-3. They closed it to 6-4 and had the bases loaded with two outs, but No. 9 hitter Landon Powell swung at the first pitch and hit a lazy fly to right for the game's final out.

Saturday spotlighted a trend that doesn't bode well for the A's their struggles against left-handed starting pitching. Oakland is 3-10 in games started by lefties and 8-7 against right-handers. They entered the game hitting an AL-low .203 against left-handed pitching, as opposed to .259 against right-handers.

Toronto starter Brian Tallet (2-1) was the 13th lefty starter the A's have faced this season, second most in the AL to Kansas City (14).

Making just his 11th career start, Tallet held the A's to two hits over seven innings. Another lefty awaits the A's today in Brett Cecil.

"We faced a string of (six) in a row at one point," center fielder Ryan Sweeney said. "We've just got some tough lefties in this league. But there's no excuse."

Tallet's only mistake was a 1-1 pitch in the seventh to Giambi, who ripped a solo shot to right-center to close Oakland's deficit to 4-1. Giambi's second homer went to the same area. He sits at 399 career home runs, and with one more will become the 44th member of the 400-homer club.

Giambi is hitting just .217, but the A's could certainly benefit from their No. 3 hitter finding his power stroke.

"Ever since (last weekend's) series in Seattle, I've noticed his swing seems to be shorter," A's manager Bob Geren said. "He has a more crisp-type approach. I like how he's been driving some balls the other way."

Toronto chipped away early and often against A's starter Sean Gallagher (1-1), scoring single runs in the first, second, third and fifth.

Though Gallagher didn't walk anybody, the Blue Jays made him pay for leaving pitches up. He exited after five innings, having allowed 10 hits and four runs (three earned).

After pitching his way out of the rotation in spring training, Gallagher was promoted from Triple-A on Monday. Sunday was his first start of the season, and he said the adrenaline flowing through his veins may have worked against him.

"I have to control my emotions a little better and get the ball down in the zone," he said.

Toronto scored two crucial runs off Jerry Blevins in the eighth to make it 6-1, giving them some cushion to withstand the A's ninth-inning flurry.

Blue Jays 6, A's 4 ?Today: vs. Toronto, 1 p.m. ?TV: CSN-CA