Litsch wins number five. Jays winning streak at two.

Tuesday May 13th 2008.

Minnesota Twins v Toronto Jays.

Toronto coming in off a good win last night in Cleveland need to keep momentum going but a tough assignment against Minnesota who have just won three of four against Boston.

Score: Jays win this one 5-3.

Lineups: Jays: Wilkerson Hill, Rios, Rolen, Stairs, Overbay, Stewart, Zaun, Scutaro and Litsch pitching
Twins: Gomez. Harris, Mauer, Morneau, Cudoyer, Monroe, Young , Lamb, Everett and Slowey pitching

The very good: Jesse Litsch, what can we say about this kid. Now 5-1 and pitching so well.
The good: The bats Stairs HR. Stewart, Overbay, Wilkerson, Mench, Zaun and Hill again tonight. Ryan's save number six.
The bad: Too many left in scoring position yet again.

Top 1st: Wilkerson strikes out looking. seven pitches one down. Hill broke out of his slump last night with 2rbis. Singles to CF. Gomez wild throw over everyone, into dugout Hill to 3B. Error Gomez. Rios at bat, at least he can't ground into double play which he did twice yesterday. Strikes out though looking. Rios cannot buy a hit right now. Rolen at bat, strikes out. Well, not a great start leaving Hill in scoring position with one out.
Bottom 1st: Gomez at bat strikes out. Harris grounds to Rolen at 3B. two down. Mauer at bat singles into CF. Morneau at bat grounds to Hill. No further damage nice inning by Jesse.

Top 2nd: Stairs walks. Overbay now, not bunting I don’t think so anyway. No. Lyle has his strike back just needs some runs to go with it. Fly ball to LF. Stairs cannot move up. Stewart ex-Twin, has he come out of his slump? Oh no…. lines to 2B who drops it. Stairs had retreated and gets caught in double play. Strange play. After last night’s triple play, how many more freaky plays can go against this team?
Bottom 2nd: Cuddyer first pitch fly ball out to Rios in CF. Craig Monroe grounds to Scutaro at SS. Delmon Young at bat fly ball to Rios. Another efficient inning by Jesse.

Top 3rd: Zaun grounds to 3B but not before fouling a few off for good at bat by Gregg one down. Scutaro grounds to SS Scutaro safe on the throw with head first dive. That is HUSTLING, shades of Reed. Wilkerson strikes out. Hill again, weak Aaron tap back to Slowey first pitch. That was one to forget Aaron, get your head in the game.
Bottom 3rd: Jesse getting no help from his bats tonight. Lamb at bat, grounds to 1B. Adam Everett at bat, fly ball to Rios. Alex had to run for that one this time. Gomez bomb, that one has gone, HR to LF centre. 1-0 Twins.Harris fly ball to Wilkerson. Can’t blame Jesse. The bats have to give this pitching staff some run support. 0 runs will not win any games.

Top 4th: Rios fly ball to CF. Rolen fly ball to LF. Two down. Stairs walks. Overbay doubles to LF, Stairs scores 1-1. Stewart at bat, lines double to RF over Cuddyer’s head, Overbay scores from 2nd. 2-1 Jays. Back to back doubles. Zaun grounds to 2B. That’s the way to reply with two runs after giving up one in bottom of 3rd.
Bottom 4th: Mauer fly ball to Rios again a run to get to it. Morneau lines out to Stewart in LF. Two quick outs. Cuddyer high fly ball to Stewart.

Top 5th: Scutaro, grounds to 2B. Wilkerson fly ball to LF 0-3 tonight. Hill fouls out to Mauer.
Bottom 5th: Monroe strikes out. Young grounds to Scutaro, two down. Lamb drives this one up the middle almost caught by diving Scutaro, off his glove. Everett grounds to Rolen. No damage here. Another good inning by Jesse.

Top 6th: Rios strikes out. Alex is not playing well right now. Rolen grounds to Everett at SS. Two down. Stairs a bomb to RF in upper deck. This game is tied. 2-2. Guerrier now pitching Overbay grounds out to Guerrier.
Bottom 6th: Gomez singles to LF. Harros grounds to Rolen gets Gomez but can’t turn the double play. Mauer grounds to Overbay Harris goes to 2B. That’s it for Jesse ? Jesse Carlson now in for Morneau with Harris at 2B. Morneau high ball off CF wall, triple Harris scores. Captain Hook out there again Frasor now pitching. Cuddyer grounds to Hill. Why did Litsch go after 70 pitches ?

Top 7th: Stewart singles to CF. Zaun grounds out to SS gets Stewart at 2B. Zaun safe. Scutaro strikes out. Wilkerson singles to CF, Zaun to 2B. Two on for Hill. Singles to LF, Zaun scores. 4-2 Jays. Wilkerson to 2B and goes to 3B on the throw. Hill to 2B. Rios intentional walk to load bases and pitch to Rolen ?? Rolen strikes out.
Bottom 7th: Frasor still pitching. Monroe strikes out. Young fly ball to Wilkerson in RF. Lamb grounds to Rolen.

Top 8th: Reyes now pitching. Mench pinch hitting for Stairs singles to LF. Overbay singles to RF. Mench to 2B. Two on, no outs surely Jays can score??? Bass now pitching. Stewart full count, and walks . Bases loaded. Zaun sac fly to Young in LF Mench scores. 5-2 Jays. Scutaro grounds to Morneau at 1B. Moves runners up Overbay at 3B and Stewart at 2B but now two down. Wilkerson, grounds out to SS. Well Jays get one more but could have had several more but not the way they are hitting with runners in scoring position.
Bottom 8th. Benitez in to pitch first game as Jay. Jason Kubel pinch hitting for Everett first pitch swing and connects, HR to RF upper deck same place as Stairs HR earlier. 5-3 Jays. Gomez strikes out. Harris walks. Downs pitching. Mauer at bat grounds to Hill gets Harris at 2B. Two down. Morneau grounds to SS steps on 2B. Jays need to try to get one back to get cushion for bottom of 9th.

Top 9th: Bass still pitching. Casilla in now at SS. Hill 2-4 tonight, and on base again with a walk. Rios 0-3 plus intentional walk not good so far tonight. Strikes out for third time this game. Alex what can you do to get out of this miserable hitting slump? You look as if you haven’t a clue up there. Rolen 0-4 also tonight fly ball to RF. 0-5 Scott tonight. Mench. Hill stealing and caught in rundown. Not good Aaron, what happened there?
Bottom 9th: B. J. Ryan pitching. Cuddyer singles to RF. Monroe strikes out on three pitches. Young grounds to Rolen. Cuddyer to 2B. Lamb high fly ball to RF but foul. Grounds to Rolen. Throw to 1B to end this one.

Jays win 5-3. BJ Ryan has another save. Litsch the win. Now 5-1. Not bad for a number five guy in the rotation.

Tomorrow Halladay, overdue for a win but needs run support.