Halladay complete game supported by defence and Scutaro's bat

Friday May 23,2008. Jays v Royals.

Lineups: Royals: De Jesus. Grudzielanek Gordon, Jose Guillen,Teahen, Butler, Olivo, Pena, Gathright and Greinke pitching.
Jays: Stewart, Hill, Rios, Rolen, Overbay, Mench, Zaun, Scutaro, Inglett and Halladay pitching.

Result: Jays win 7-1.

The very good: Halladay another complete game his 5th this season. Scutaro 4 RBIs but all scored with two outs and two in scoring position. Stewart’s catch in 5th. Hill’s highlight reel catch in 7th. One of THE best of the season.
Good: The all round hitting by Jays finally a game when the runners were brought in.

Top 1st: Halladay pitching DeJesus singles to CF. Grudzielanek pops up to Hill at 2B. one down. DeJesus singles to CF. Grudzielanek, Gordon at bat, De Jesus Steals 2B. Gordon grounds to 1B. De Jesus to 3B. Jose Guillen at bat singles to CF and run scores. 1-0 Kansas. Teahen grounds to Rolen gets Guillen in force at 2B.
Bottom 1st: Stewart at bat. Lines softly to 2B Grudzielanek. Hill gets hold of this one but loud fly ball to Guillen in LF. Now Rios at bat with two down. grounds to Gordon at 3B. Quick three up and down for Greinke.

Top 2nd: Billy Butler grounds to Scutaro one down. Olive same play but nice play by Scutaro. Pena singles to CF. Gathright at bat another ground ball up the middle and again Scutaro very nice play right side of 2B to get this one and throw him out at 1B. That’s a Johnny Mac play. 29 pitches for Halladay already.
Bottom 2nd: Rolen first pitch lines one to LF. Overbay singles to RF. Rolen at 3B. Two on. No one out. Here we go can they get runner in. Mench at bat should be swinging here. Trying to pull Greinke. Now a feeble foul out to 1B. Deja vu Jays for the thousandth time this season. Now Zaun just fouling these off.I don’t believe it Zaun taps it in front of plate, easy out at 1B Rolen can’t move. Overbay to 2B on the play. Scutaro third try to get Rolen in. Good at bat here by Scutaro fouling off pitches and patient. FINALLY single to RF. Rolen and Overbay both score. 2-1 Jays. Inglett now with Scutaro at 1B. Pitch count in the 30’s for Greinke now. Jays bats very patient tonight. There he goes Inglett swinging through this one strikes out. But Jays are ahead and 35 pitches for Greinke after only two innings.

Top 3rd: Halladay has the lead for top of Kansas lineup. De Jesus,Nice curve ball from Halladay fools now liner to Scutaro. Last four outs !! Grudzielanek grounds again to Scutaro five consecutive outs. Gordon strikes out on three consecutive curve balls. That inning helps Halladay’s pitch count, 36. But more importantly his curve and breaking balls are on tonight and fooling this Kansas side so far and with the ground balls keeping his pitch count way down.
Bottom 3rd: Stewart lines one to CF just wide of Pena’s glove at SS. Hill now dribbles one to 2B but moves Stewart to 2B. Now Alex with one in scoring position. YES indeed doubles to RF wall over head of DeJesus scores Stewart easily. 3-1 Jays. Rolen now with Alex at 2B. One down. Gets hold of this one, high fly ball just misses foul pole, great swing. Walks him. Greinke wants to stay away from Rolen’s bat. Now Overbay lines to LF. Rios scores. 4-1.Jays and bringing them in scoring position tonight, Keep it going bats. Mench now with two on. Walks bases loaded on four pitches. Zaun at bat, this is where we need a grand slam Gregg. 51 pitches for Greinke. Well, it goes 400 feet but straight up… Pop up to Teahen. Scutaro now with 2RBIs tonight already. YES indeed singles up the middle, Mench and Overbay score, 2 more RBIs for Scutaro with two strikes against him AND with two outs. 6-1 Jays. Inglett now. Grounds to Grudzielanek at 2B. When did Jays last score six ??

Top 4th: Halladay when did he last get six run support ? Guillen at bat. Fly ball to Rios. One down. Teahen lines hard out to Rolen. Butler grounds hard to Overbay. Three up and down. 52 pitches.
Bottom 4th: Top of the order again Stewart Greinke 59 pitches. This time strikes out. Hill still hitless tonight. Gets under this one high fly ball to RF. Rios grounds. 72 pitches

Top 5th:Olivo single to LF Pena strikes out Gathright grounds to Rolen gets the runner Olivo at 2B but cannot turn double play. two down. Gathright steals 2B. DeJesus lines one to LF GREAT diving catch by Stewart saves a run. Hallady 63 pitches
Bottom 5th: Rolen at bat. Walk and single so far. Another single to CF. Great to see Scott back in the hitting groove. 80 pitches. Overbay singles two on no outs for Mench. Fly ball to shallow RF DeJesus. One down. Zaun horrible at bat first pitch swing fly ball shallow LF. Two down for Scutaro tonight’s hero so far. Two on two down. Déjà vu for last two at bats. Not this time, grounds back to Greinke. 93 pitches.

Top 6th: Grudzielanek grounds to Rolen. 64 pitches for Halladay. Gordon strikes him out on a great curve. Guillen grounds first pitch to Rolen, Seven pitch inning just what the doctor ordered. 70 pitches now.
Bottom 6th: Inglett at bat. Greinke gone. Joel Peralta now pitching. High fly ball to CF. One down. Top of order. Stewart soft liner to 2B. Two down for Hill still hitless in three at bats tonight, Fly ball to CF. Still hitless.

Top 7th: Teahen at bat. Grounds to Overbay, Halladay makes the out at 1B. Butler at bat, WOWEEE what an incredible catch by Hill. Runs and dives full length shallow RF to get Butler. Olivo pops up to Overbay. Good inning by Halladay. Great defence tonight.
Bottom 7th: Ron Mahay now pitching. Rios singles to CF. Alex now in the groove. Rolen on base three times. Walk and two singles. Walks again. Two on no outs again. Overbay 3-3 tonight three singles. Walks. Bases loaded now no outs. Mench at bat. Hitless tonight. Has big chance now. Grounds to 3B double play but Rios and run scores.7-1 Jays. Overbay to 3B. Two down. Zaun also hitless, first pitch horrible swing fly ball to LF. I think it may be time to get Barajas in as regular catcher. Zaun is not throwing well tonight and his at bats are awful. When did Jays last score 7 ??

Top 8th: Halladay 79 pitches. Pena at bat. Lines out to Inglett. Olivo first pitch ground out to Scutaro. Two down. DeJesus fly ball to Stewart. Three up and down for Halladay.
Bottom 8th: Jimmy Gobble pitching. Scutaro first pitch high fly to the wall at CF. One down. Inglett same play but much shallower out in CF for Gathright. Two down for Stewart fly ball to DeJesus sliding catch. Maybe ??? replay is interesting, will they show it again?

Top 9th: Halladay wants to finish this one 89 pitches. German first at bat, in earlier for Grudzielanek.strikes him out curve ball again. One down. Gordon Strikes out with great curve. Callaspo in earlier for Guillen. Fly ball to Rios. Fifth complete game for Halladay 104 pitches.

Jays now back to .500 25-25. Second win in a row. Ten hits for Jays.