Jays win one for Halladay-finally.

Wednesday May 28th 2008. Toronto v Oakland.

Halladay (5-5) v Harden (3-0).

Jays have lost four in a row to Oakland this season, need to get one here with Halladay pitching, problem is Harden is also one of the best. They outhit Oakland last night but could not get those runners in 1/9. Tonight Zaun on disabled list inflamed right elbow. Thomas also out with a strained quad from that double last night.

Result: Jays win 2-1.
The very good: Halladay once more. Eight innings again.
The good: BJ Ryan number twelve save. Alex clutch double for go ahead run in the ninth.
The bad: Jays bats again let Halladay down early on.

Lineups:
Toronto: Stewart, Hill, Rios, Rolen, Stairs, Overbay, Scutaro, Wilkerson, Barajas and Halladay pitching.
Oakland: Hannahan, Crosby, Cust, Mike Sweeney, Ryan Sweeney, Brown, Ellis, Barton, Suzuki and Harden pitching.


The game: Top 1st: Stewart at bat, full count now. Well hit here to centre right wall to Brown. Hill at bat. Another full count and strikes out. Rios now grounds out to Hannahan at 3B. Three up and down. 17 pitches.
Bottom 1st: Hannahan strikes him out on three pitches. Great curve to end. Crosby full count, strikes him out. Cust at bat grounds this one to Hill, great play and throw to get him. 12 pitches.

Top 2nd: Rolen on eight game hit streak, fly ball to Brown in RF. Stairs grounds through hole in LF off Hannahan’s glove. Overbay at bat, Stairs running, hit and run on, Overbay missed it. Matt is out a mile. Grounds to 2B Ellis. 35 pitches.
Bottom 2nd: Mike Sweeney first pitch swinging fly ball to Wilkerson in RF. Ryan Sweeney grounds to Scutaro. Brown singles to RF. Ellis with two down one on. Now walks on four pitches. Two quick outs and now two on. Barton full count now, strikes out. Halladay gets out of trouble. Three strikeouts now and 27 pitches.

Top 3rd: Scutaro first pitch swing grounds down to 3B.Wilkerson full count singles to RF. Barajas lines one to LF. Two on now. Stewart lines it up the middle. Wilkerson scores 1-0 Jays. Barajas at 2B. Hill grounds to 2B, double play ball. 50 pitches. Jays four hits.
Bottom 3rd: Halladay now with lead. Suzuki broken bat and falls down Rolen throws him out. Hannahan first pitch grounds to Hill, two down. Crosby doubles this one to left centre wall. Cust singles up the middle. This game is tied up 1-1. as Crosby scores from 2B. Mike Sweeney fly ball to Wilkerson. 38 pitches.

Top 4th: Rios is leading Jays in hits 56 but just not in his power groove yet. Wells has started his rehab in Florida it will be good to get him back. High fly ball here to RF Brown at the track. Rolen strikes out. Stairs fly ball to CF. Three up and down. 61 pitches for Harden.
Bottom 4th: Ryan Sweeney bounces high to Scutaro. Brown single to CF. Ellis grounds to Rolen, double play, to Scutaro and Overbay. That’s what we like. 47 pitches.

Top 5th: Overbay grounds back to Harden after leaving two strikes, not a good at bat Lyle. Indecisive on first two pitches. Scutaro now This one is singled into RF, Brown knocks it down and Marco stretches this one into two beats the throw. In scoring position now for Wilkerson with one down. Full count. Grounds this one to 2B out at 1B but Scutaro moves to 3B. Two down for Barajas, foul tips this one into Suzuki’s glove tryng to get bat out of the way. 80 pitches for Harden.
Bottom 5th: Barton at bat strikes out on three pitches backing away from the third. Suzuki strikes out on three pitches, tried to check it but went around. Hannahan now at bat two down, hits him on the foot. Just can’t finish these guys off after two quick outs. Crosby at bat, strikes out. Six strikeouts. 64 pitches

Top 6th: Stewart pops up to shallow left, one down. Hill now strikes out. Alex now to extend this inning just trickles off bat but Alex beats throw error to 1B. Rolen now Alex stealing but great throw by Suzuki to get him to end inning. Rolen will lead off next inning. 94 pitches for Harden.
Bottom 6th: Cust singles to RF. Mike Sweeney full count fly ball out to CF. Ryan Sweeney doubles to RF corner. Cust holds at 3B. Brown grounds to Overbay throws home and gets Cust. Two down. Sweeney moves to 3B. Ellis at bat long fly ball to the wall and GREAT catch by Alex. That was a Vernon catch. Halladay escapes this one. 81 pitches.

Top 7th: Harden now at 94 piches. Rolen now first pitch come on Scott, you gotta take a couple here and give Riy some breathing room….. fly ball out to RF. Stairs also fly ball to LF. Overbay IS taking a few. 102 pitches now for Harden. Full count. Takes strike three. Not the best but good news might be the end of Harden. Gaudin is warming up in bullpen.
Bottom 7th: Roy does have some pitches and could go two more IF all goes well now. Bottom of the order starting with Barton. Single to shallow RF. Suzuki bunt ? yes but foul, two strikes, and goes again third attempt and strikes out. Hannahan chopper to Hill Barton out at 2B. Hannahan at 1B. Two down. Crosby pops it up to Barajas. Nice pitching Roy 95 pitches. Now can the bats do something?

Top 8th: Harden out and ex-Jay Chad Gaudin now pitching. Davis in CF for Ryan Sweeney. Scutaro at bat. Oh no. Scutaro gets hold of this one, high to the wall in LF. Just missed going out. Wilkerson grounds out to 1B. Barajas full count. That was the ball to hit. Now goes after ball four and pops it up. Not a good at bat.
Bottom 8th: Halladay still in there. Cust full count singles to RF. 3-4 today. Mike Sweeney strikes him out. Davis grounds up the middle Scutaro to Hill but just the one out. Two down. Davis steals on second strike to Brown. Roy strikes him OUT!..... That was beautiful.

Top 9th: Top of Jays order. Keth Foulke now pitching. Stewart at bat. Full count now. Walks him. Does Hill bunt him over? 0-3 tonight. Yes sir… gets Stewart to 2B. Rios now. FINALLY…… doubles down the 3B line. 2-1 Jays. Good at bat Alex, nice hit. Rolen at bat grounds to 3B Alex has to hold at 2B. Stairs now. Intentional walk to get to Overbay. OK Lyle, are you second best ? Takes first two pitches for strikes. Now full count, Lyle has been very patient all season. Runners going. Fly ball here to CF.
Bottom 9th: BJ Ryan now in to save this one for Halladay. Inglett in defensively LF for Stewart. Ellis walks not a good start BJ. Barton bunting down 1B, Ellis to 2B one down. Suzuki fly ball to Inglett in LF, Ellis has to hold at 2B. Two down. Hannahan now full count. Walks him. Crosby grounds to Scutaro at SS.

Jays win this one 2-1. BJ number twelve save and number six win for Halladay

Tampa and Yankees won today. Baltimore loses and now Boston just lost 1-0 to Seattle. Jays make up some ground above them.