Final Dunedin game

Last game of spring season at Dunedin at least. Jays will be off to Philadelphia in the morning for two and then New York for season opener. BP only for some, looked optional. I guess after night game. Overbay, Zaun, Johnny Mac and a host of newbies and finished by 11.15.
Astros didn't take any.

Surprise at the gate, Angelo Dundee was in to sign his new book and also throw out 1st pitch. Very nice guy, had my photo taken with him. He was talking great stories to everyone. My dad would have loved to meet him, he was a great supporter of Ali or Cassius as he was.

Lineups: Astros:Bourn, Pence, Erstad, Wigginton, Jose Cruz Jr !, Loretta, Newhan, Tomas Perez ( a Jays reunion to day), Quintero, amd pitching Brandon Locke.
Jays: Eckstein, Stewart, Rios, Wells, Thomas, Overbay, Hill, Scutaro, Barajas, and McGowan pitching. First time I have seen McGowan this spring.

The game. Top of 1st. Bourn walks, Pence hard back to McGowan who gets lead rnner at 2B, Erstad at bat and Pence gets caught stealing by Barajas on furst pitch, great throw. Jays have been much better this season catching runners. Erstad then doubles down rf line, expensive out by Pence would have scored on the double, Wigginton lines out to CF. Nice inning McGowan. Sharp.
Bottom of 1st.Eckstein grounds to SS, Stewart flies to RF, Rios single to LF, Wells walks, two on two out for Thomas. No heroics today... strikes out after fouling several pitches out of stadium. Jays leave two on.

Top of 2nd. Cruz strikes out, Loretta grounds to SS, Newhan grounds to 2B easy out for Hil, Nice ining for McGowan.
Bottom of 2nd. Overbay liner to LF nice sliding catch by Cruz in LF., Hill grounder on the line to 3B, Scutaro making most of his chances now with Rolen out, singles to right centre, Barajas at bat, Scutaro is going, steals 2nd and throw goes into centre and moves up to 3B. Barajas shatters bat and thrown out at 1B.

Top of 3rd. Perez flies out to LF, Quintero hardliner back to McGowan throws him out at 1B, Bourn strikes out, on three pitches. Very nice inning from McGowan.
Bottom of 3rd.Eckstein down the line to 1B one down, Stewart hard grounder to 3B, error on the play and Stewart at 1B, Rios grounds to SS double play.

Top of 4th. Pence grounds to 2B, Erstadt walks on four pitches, McGowan being much too fine, Wigginton pops up to Rios in shallow right centre behind 2B, Cruz walks, Loretta walks to load bases, McGowan is losing something. Newhan strikes out on three pitches.
Bottom of 4th. Wells lines to 2b. Thomas single to LF, two hits for Frannk in consecutive games, rejoice.... Overbay flies to RF, Hill lines ot LF, pinch runner for Thomas out at plate... The 3B coach has not had much success this spring sending runners, far too many thrown out at plate.

Top of 5th. Mathews in RF, Coats at CF, Watson at 1B and Klosterman at 2B. I like Klosterman, will be good backup one day for Hill.
Perez bounces to 1B, nice play, one down, grounder to SS Johnny Mac, two down, Borun flies to CF, good inning for McGowan.
Bottom of 5th. Scutaro flies to CF. Barajas double of the wall in left and just beats throw, Johnny Mac grounds to SS, Barajas in rundown, but lets Johnny Mac get to 2B, Watson double off the RF wall, Johnny Mac scores, Mathews strikes out. That rundown by Barajas enabled the run. 1-0 Jays.

Top of 6th. Pence grounds to 2B, Erstad single, Wigginton with runner going fouls off, pops up to Johnny Mac, Cruz runner going and steals 2B, double into RF scores Erstad, Loretta 2 run HR to LF, 3-1 Astros, Newhan grounds to 1B. Not a good inning for McGowan.
Bottom of 6th. Coats HR to right centre no doubt about it, this kid is good, Butler walks, Phillips single to CF, Klosterman good bunt in front of home plate runner out at 3B, two on one out, Luna 3 run HR 5-3, Barajas double off the wall in LF, his second double, Johnny Mac single through the hole at SS, runner had to hold, on to 3B, end of road for Locke, it is very hot out there and six innings is a lot in this heat. Moehler in to pitch. Watson sac fly scores Barajas runner at 3B, 6-3 Jays, Mathews hit and run on grounds to 1B to end very good comeback half inning by Jays after going down 3-1 in top. BUT note it is the second team guys again with the hits. Rios, Wells and Thomas are in the showers. JP was sitting in his chair behind home plate and would have been pleased with future but no too happy with big guys lack of production yet again. Might hae second thoughts about big $ for Rios with Coats and Lind in the wings..... just a thought JP.

Top of 7th. McGowan still in there, Perez strikes out, Quintero flies to LF, Bourn grounds to Johnny Mac. Very nice inning by McGowan. He is ready for next week.
Bottom of 7th. Coats with Valverde pitching grounds to 2B, Butler strikes out, Phillips grounds to 2B.

Attendance for spring training is announced at 64,444 average attendance 4,623. Higher than 2007.

Top of 8th. Downs now pitching, intimidating for opposition to see the depth of this Jays bullpen.
Kratz catching, this guy is huge. Abercrombie grounds to SS, nice throw by Johnny Mac, Towles strikes out, fly ball to rght centre, nice catch by Mathews. Good inning by Downs.
Bottom of 8th. Klosterman singles to LF, Luna double to wall off Newhan's glove in CF, Klosterman is motoring and scores from 1B with great slide at plate to avoid tag, this kid has great hands, speed and can hit, I like the future at 2B, 7-3 Jays. Philips grounds to 2B, fumbles it, Luna at 3B and runner safe at 1B, surely an error but scorer very charitable or he may have gone home last game at Knology, Johnny Mac single to RF, Luna scores 8-3. Watson strikes out, Mathews grounds to SS double play but damage is already done.

Top of 9th Frasor pitching. Gornult grounds to SS Johny Mac turns to throw and drops ball, runner at 1B, Boprun flies to CF, Accardo into finish off. Newhan grounds to 3B double play to end.

Great game for Jays and the second stringers.
Astros 3 runs 4 hits and 3 errors.
Jays 8 runs 14 hits and 0 errors.