Jays lose a stinker. Bats have gone south.

Tuesday May 20, 2008 Toronto v LA Angels.

Jays definitely need this series win but Angels are a very tough team and division leaders although struggling right now on the road with four game losing streak.

Result: Jays lose this one 3-1 but definitely one they should have had.

Pitchers McGowan v Lackey

Lineups: Angels. Izturis, Mathews, Guerrero, Anderson, Hunter, Kotchman, Napoli, Rodriguez, Quinlan and Lackey pitching.

Jays: Wilkerson, Hill, Rios, Rolen, Stairs, Stewart, Overbay, Zaun, Scutaro and McGowan pitching.

The good: Wilkerson off the mark with Home Run, that will definitely help his confidence. McGowan did everything he could. Carlson and Downs. Scutaro.
The bad: All round bats.
The very bad: Yes tonight some very bad… both eighth and ninth innings for Jays bats. But not least Rios bat in 9th.

The Game: Top 1st:
Izturis grounds to SS error by Scutaro safe at 1B. Come back Johnny Mac.
Mathews Jr. now full count and walks, two no outs. Not the start McGowan wanted. Guerrero now at bat, it doesn’t get any easier with this lineup, Singles to LF bases loaded. No outs. This is terrible start. Anderson now at bat grounds to Hill double play run scores though. 1-0 Angels. Hunter now grounds to Rolen. McGowan escapes huge damage.
Bottom 1st: Wilkerson at bat, has been struggling also. Needs to get his game going. WOW… that’s the way to do it Brad HR to RF…. Evens this one up.1-1. Great start for the bats. Hill now strikes out. Rios grounds to SS infield single but Aybar injured on the play diving to his left to get this one. Out of game. Izturis moves to SS and Quinlan now in at 3B. Alex is on base though.Rolen at bat, there goes Alex steals 2nd. Maybe Alex is going to break out of his terrible slump by being more aggressive. Rolen strikes out. Stairs now we need a single here Matt, druves it hard right back at Lackey. Jays leave one in scoring position but good news is 1-1.

Top 2nd: Kotchman singles to LF. Napoli 3-2 count walks. Here we go again. Two on no outs. Rodriguez strikes out. Quinlan walks bases loaded yet again for McGowan. Three walks so far in game. Izturis grounds to Overbay coming to plate with throw gets Kotchman. Saves the run. Two down for Mathews. Fly ball to Rios. McGowan escapes again but cannot keep doing this and hope to win.
Bottom 2nd: Stewart grounds out to Izturis at SS. Overbay fly ball to LF. Zaun now singles to CF. Scutaro singles to CF. Jays have something going. Wilkerson hero in first inning takes full count and walks. Bases loaded friends. Hill fly ball to Hunter. At least Jays are getting to Lackey.

Top 3rd. Guerrero strikes out. Anderson fly ball to LF. Hunter doubles over the head of Rios playing him much too shallow, Vernon would have had that one. Kotchman now doubles down the line LF. Hunter scores Rios mistake costs McGowan this time. 2-1 Angels. Napoli now walked intentionally. Rodriguez pops up Rolen. McGowan escapes further damage.
Bottom 3rd: Rios strikes out. Very unhappy guy right now. Rolen fly ball to CF. Stairs strikes out. Lackey is finding his rhythm.

Top 4th: Quinlan grounds out to Rolen. Izturis grounds out to Hill. Mathews strikes out. Much better inning for McGowan but is still losing this one.
Bottom 4th: Stewart leads off with sngle to CF. Overbay full count walks. They are being patient at least to push Lackey pitch count.. Zaun now with two on and no outs,. NO. grounds to Izturis double play. Stewart to 3B with two outs. Scutaro walks. Good at bat by Marco also patient. Wilkerson for third time tonight. strikes out leaves Stewart at 3B.

Top 5th: Guerrero fly ball to Stewart in LF. Anderson pops up to Zaun. Hunter grounds to Scutaro. Another good inning by McGowan but bats have to score some
Bottom 5th: Hill singles to CF, good start. Rios now, can he do something? fly ball to Guerrero in RF, Alex cannot buy a hit right now. Rolen at bat Hill going but is caught. Rolen grounds to Quinlan.

Top 6th: Kotchman grounds out to Overbay. Napoli now hit by McGowan, on at 1B. Rodriguez strikes out. Quinlan grounds out to Hill.
Bottom 6th: Stairs grounds to 2B. Stewart fly ball to Mathews in LF. Overbay fly ball to Hunter. Not the greatest inning for Jays.

Top 7th: Izturis grounds to Overbay. Mathews now gets hold of this one to CF. triple. That’s the end of McGowan, not one of his best outings but needed some run support. Frasor now pitching. Geurrero ever dangerous free swinger, be careful here Jason. Get hold of this one to RF sac fly scores Mathews. 3-1 Angels. Anderson grounds out to Overbay.
Bottom 7th: Can the Jays get this one back? Zaun strikes out. Scutaro singles to CF. Second hit of game. Wilkerson now, NO grounds to Rodruguez at 2B double play ball. How many this season?

Top 8th: Hunter full count now and walks. Not a good start Frasor, Here is Captain Hook as well. Jesse Carlson in where would they be without this guy this season? Kotchman fly ball to CF. Hunter moves to 2B.Napoli now intentional walk. Rodriguez, there he goes grounds to Rolen at 3B double play ball. Carlson does it again.
Bottom 8th: Lackey gone what can Jays do now? Shields now pitching. Hill singles to LF. Rios walks, good patience at least Alex. Rolen now overdue himself tonight comes through with single to LF. Bases loaded NO OUTS…. Surely they have something here. Stairs NO strikes out, Stewart grounds to Rodriguez DOUBLE PLAY. JP Ricciardi is about to jump out of his box. They had Shields there. Not even a run with no outs and bases loaded ???

Top 9th: Downs now pitching. Quinlan grounds to Scutaro. Izturis strikes out. Mathews grounds to Rolen. Very nice Scott.
Bottom of 9th: Maybe too late for Jays now facing Frankie Rodriguez, league leading saves at 17. That eighth inning would have really hurt the Jays mentally. Overbay grounds out to 2B Rodriguez. Zaun now much more patient here full count and walks. Good at bat Gregg we need base runners. Scutaro now also patient full count here, Rodriguez not sharp. Walks Scutaro. Two one one out. Wilkerson also patient here, walks. Rodriguez has walked the bases loaded. One out this time, can they do it now ? Hill NO pops up to Quinlan. One day in the near future I think Gibbons is going to have to give the squeeze bunt sign. This is terrible.
Here is Alex, if there is ever a time for him to break out it is now. Bases loaded. 3-0 count. Perfect 3-2 count, too patient. Alex’s mind is totally messed up right now. He should have had that 3-1 pitch. NO I don’t believe it, he strikes out.

Angels win this one 3-1 but Jays outhit them 9-5 but cannot get a hit at the right time. The last two innings have to be amongst the very worst this season.