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Blue Jays starting pitcher Shaun Marcum will have surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee Wednesday in Florida, preventing him from making his final start of the season.
Marcum first felt discomfort in the knee in a game against the Baltimore Orioles a week ago Sunday. He said there was some swelling the next day but felt he was fine to make his start against the New York Yankees Saturday.
Marcum lasted only three innings in Saturday's wild 12-11 Yankees win, forced to leave when the pain in his knee flared up after covering first base on an inning-ending ground ball.
It's expected that Marcum will take four to six weeks for a full recovery after surgery. He joins a long list of injured Blue Jays players expecting to be in full health for the start of spring training.
"I just wanted to finish strong and carry it over into next year," Marcum said. "But we'll get this done and work hard in the off-season to come in and help get us to where we need to be next year."
The medical procedure to repair Marcum's torn meniscus cartilage will be the 11th surgery undertaken by a Blue Jay player this season.
THIEF BUSTERS
Catchers Gregg Zaun and Curtis Thigpen combined to throw out three would-be base stealers yesterday, the first time in more than 13 years that Blue Jays catchers have thrown out three base runners in a game.
REPORT CARD
B At the plate: The Jays got to starter Mike Mussina for three runs in the second inning but let him off the hook. In the end, Toronto had nine hits, including Matt Stairs' 20th home run.
F Starter: Dustin McGowan matched his season-high, allowing six earned runs. He lasted just 41/3 innings.
B Bullpen: Brian Tallet, Brandon League, Josh Banks and Joe Kennedy -- combined to pitch the last 32/3 innings and only Banks gave up a run.