Ventura gives Beckham another rest

TORONTO – Gordon Beckham, 0-for-8 in the series and batting .171 over his last 41 games, didn’t start for the second straight game on Thursday night. Manager Robin Ventura gave Beckham another seat by playing Ray Olmedo at second on Thursday.

“I’d like to be out there playing,” said Beckham when asked if he thought he could use a day off. “The only way you can get better is to get out there.”

Beckham said his body “feels fine” but Ventura said his swing looks “tired.”

“It’s that time of year when you need a little break,” Ventura said. “You can’t see the end yet. This is a tough time of the year.”

When Orlando Hudson fouled a pitch off his toe on Wednesday, Beckham replaced him so his day off was history. As for the tired swing, Beckham said he hadn’t heard that from the manager.

The frustration has been evident after recent bats.

“It does wear on me a little bit,” he said. “It is what it is. We’re in a race so there’s no time to worry about whether I’m fighting the swing or whatever. I just have to start finding some holes and have better at-bats.”

Ventura gave Alejandro De Aza the night off, starting Dewayne Wise in center field.

Olmedo made his first major-league start at second base since 2006.