Past not a factor as Dickey pulled in sixth

TORONTO -- When R.A. Dickey was pulled in the sixth inning in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Angels, it ended an impressive streak for the knuckleballer.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons strolled to the mound with one away in that inning and removed his workhorse knuckleballer after just 92 pitches and runners on the corners, stopping at 15 a streak of games in which Dickey pitched at least six innings.

"The way I view it, it doesn't matter who it is out there -- if I think we have a better chance to win the game [with someone else] ... I just let the game dictate that," Gibbons said. "If I think the guy is the best option out there, then I'll leave him in there. If not, make a change. It's got nothing to do with confidence; it usually comes down to looking at results."

While Gibbons has had no problem going to his bullpen early, he said his decision Wednesday had nothing to do with a lack of faith in his starter.

"I got all the confidence in the world in [Dickey], but it comes down to trying to win a game," Gibbons said. "You're worrying about 25 guys, not one. That's the name of the game. Bottom line is win the game somehow."