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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"Its going to be an honour to be back out there with my teammates. Super pumped, super excited and just preparing for the game." The pronouncement came as a bit of a surprise in a locker room not known for players "breaking news." "Yeah, yeah, Im just getting it out of the way there," Gronkowski said. "Every single day this week (he would have been asked about returning) - get it out of the way now." "It just feels good in my mind to know that Ill be out there with my boys, working hard, grinding with them, being out there." The Patriots are 6-0 all-time when Gronkowski plays against the Dolphins, but Miami has kept him in some check of late. Gronkowskis last two games against Miami resulted in a total of only four catches. Dolphins coach Joe Philbin said his team was "fully prepared" for a Gronkowski sighting. "Hes an excellent player," Philbin said Monday. "Hes been a very very productive player throughout his career. Well have a good plan in place, but hes certainly an important part of their offence, and a productive part of it. Well be ready for him, for sure." Gronkowski, who tore his right ACL and MCL last Dec. 8, is a two-time Pro Bowler and was an All-Pro in 2011. He has 226 catches with 42 touchdowns in 50 regular-season games. Last season, coming off multiple surgeries and an arm infection, he appeared in seven games, catching 39 passes, four for touchdowns, before going down on a hit by safety T.J. Ward, then of the Cleveland Browns. Asked if he feells ready, Gronkowski said, "Definitely.dddddddddddd I feel mentally and physically ready, for sure, no doubt about it." "Just the way we just worked throughout all camp and the last few weeks, everythings just been going well," Gronkowski added. "Theres been no setbacks, just more and more (work) every single day. "Now I just have to focus on the Miami Dolphins, just keep focusing on getting better and getting stronger." Dolphins defensive co-ordinator Kevin Coyle said hes been working under the assumption Gronkowski would be ready for Week 1. "Hes also been a big target for them in the red zone," Coyle said. "If he plays, and how much he plays, we dont know how much that will be, thats not going to change what we do." Gronkowski says he doesnt expect to play "every single snap" Sunday, but is ready for "whatever the coaches have." "Its been long and tiring for sure," he said. "But you just got to be patient and everything comes along well. Thats the way Ive been - just keep working hard and it will all come." Last week, the Patriots traded veteran guard Logan Mankins to Tampa Bay for tight end Tim Wright, who has been added to provide depth. "So far, hes been working hard. Its been great seeing him improving every single day, learning everything, and its always fun with a new guy that wants to work hard," Gronkowski said. NOTES: WR Josh Boyce, cut Saturday, was one of 10 players signed to the taxi squad, a list that includes DL Charley Hughlett, who is being signed for the second time as a long snapper after the release of Danny Aiken. DE-LB Rob Ninkovich is currently the only long snapper on the roster. ... Also re-signed were DL Jake Bequette, LBs JaGared Davis and Deontae Skinner, S Kanorris Davis, RB Jonas Gray, OL Chris Martin and DB Daxton Swanson. The club also added quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson, last with San Francisco. ------ AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds in Davie, Fla. contributed to this story. ' ' '