Ryan blows another. Heartbreaker for Jays today.

Thursday June 5th 2008. Toronto v New York series closer.

Jays need to finish road trip with a win to make it 5-4 and more importantly get that space back between Yankees and themselves. I think today’s lineup is weakened without Scutaro or Wilkerson.

McGowan 4-4. 3.95 ERA v Chien-Ming Wang 6-2. 4.14 ERA

Lineups Jays: Stewart, Eckstein, Rios, Rolen, Stairs, Overbay, Mench, Barajas, Inglett and McGowan pitching.
Yankees: Damon, Jeter, Abreu, Rodriguez, Matsui, Posada, Cano, Betemit, Cabrera and Cheng-Ming Wang.

Result: Jays lose this one 9-8 walk off home run by Giambi.

The very good: Great crowd looks like 50,000 again. Stairs HR. Matt is such a streaky hitter and has been quiet for too long. Wilkerson incredible catch in eight with two in scoring position. Highlight reel for this season. Five RBIs for Matt today.
The good: Rolen’s glove at least twice today saves singles. Downs pitching in the seventh.
The bad: Ecksten and Rios leaving bases loaded with one out. Why does Alex always figure in this section? Third, seventh and eight innings leaving Jays runners on with great scoring chances. Second blown save by Ryan but Jays should have locked this one up earlier.

The game:
Top 1st: Stewart grounds to Rodriguez, Eckstein grounds to Rodriguez, looks as if this team wants to fly home. Alex now at least he takes first two pitches. Strikes out. Three up and down.
Bottom 1st: Damon walks, McGowan wild here. Jeter doubles over head of Mench in RF, Damon at 3B. Two on not outs and McGowan pitching as if he wants to go home. Abreu at bat grounds to Inglett. Run scores 1-0 just like that. Jays may get a (much needed) lesson here this afternoon on situational hitting.1-0 Yankees. Rodriguez sac fly ball to RF. Good throw by Mench but Barajas drops ball. Jeter scores 2-0 Yankees. Message to the Jays hitters. It is called situational hitting with runners in scoring position lesson number 1. Matsui grounds to Eckstein. Inning over but you know this is going to be a long afternoon for McGowan and the Jays. McGowan nowhere near the plate today so far.

Top 2nd: Rolen at bat grounds to 2B, nice play by Cano to rob Scott of base hit, one down. Stairs in a big slump, but now the hockey is over perhaps his head will be in this game. I wish he would also learn to hit the other way instead of pulling every ball. Strikes out trying to pull. Two down, this is much too easy for Wang. Overbay grounds weakly to Cano. Three up and down. 25 pitches two innings, this is much too easy for Wang.
Bottom 2nd: Posada gets nice ovation returning from disabled list. McGowan already at 22 pitches from first inning, Posada greets him with single first pitch to RF. Cano another single taking pitch the other way to LF this time. McGowan just does not have anything today. We need Captain Hook. However Betemit here grounds ball to Overbay on to 2B and back to 1B double play helps McGowan here. Two down now runner at 3B. Cabrera 3-0, there ‘s a strike. Full count now. Can he finish him off? Yes indeed. Strikes him out. First today in nine batters. McGowan escapes bigtime. But pitch count over 40 already. He may not get past the fifth today at this rate. He has to find some control.

Top 3rd: Bottom of Jays order, so far Wang has had it very easy with first six. Mench at bat has not had a great start so far. Fly ball out to Damon in LF. Barajas now, this guy has been a great asset and now walks. First guy on base for Jays. Inglett now. 3-0 count. Wang with runner on base a little hesitant here missing three in a row. One right down the middle, why don’t hitters go after those. Full count now. Hit and run here and Inglett lofts it over Jeter’s head. Two on now. Nice hitting by Inglett. Bottom of the order again doing it for this team. Stewart now at bat, can he do something here? 3-0 count again for Wang, appears to have lost his control now since he had runner on. Are you taking this one Shannon ? Yes he is and a strike. Walks him now to load bases. Now more balls than strikes for Wang. Eckstein now. What will he do? Another ball for Wang. Strikes out swinging. Fifty pitches for Wang. Alex now up to you. First pitch!!!!!… Grounds one to Jeter, Inglett out at 3B. Rios leaves three on here to add to the five last night. This guy is SO frustrating to watch.
Bottom 3rd: Damon at bat. Another base hit this time to LF. Third inning with lead off hitter on base for Yankees. Last night also had very high number. Jeter at bat, Damon running and safe but Jeter strikes out. Barajas throw was there but Eckstein could not handle it. Oh Johnny Mac .we miss you. Abreu singles to CF. Damon at 3B. Rodriguez again. Sac fly last at bat. There seems to be Yankees on base all afternoon. Perfect, loops one to Inglett at 2B, no chance for Damon to score. Two down now. Matsui goes after one bouncing in the dirt. Strikes out. He would love hat one back. McGowan escapes yet again with runners at 3B. Dustin you can’t go all afternoon like this…

Top 4th: Now can Jays bats do something here after loading bases last inning? Big bats at bat. Rolen, Stairs and Overbay. Rolen now full count. Fly ball right down in the RF corner just foul. That could have been a triple. Walks him. Stairs now at bat. YES Matt. Yes indeed a Stairs special rocket launch into RF corner, bounces off the wall to tie this one up. 2-2. Hockey is indeed over. Overbay now lines one at Wang throws him out at 1B. Mench at bat fly ball to Cabrera in CF. Barajas strikes out here 70 pitches for Wang.
Bottom 4th: McGowan now has to close the door here on Yankees hitters and not let them get back in this game. He has had reprieves in the last two innings. Posada at bat fly ball to Rios in CF. Good start. Cano grounds back to McGowan throw to 1B, two quick outs here. Betemit at bat, strikes him out. McGowan comes through just in time. Three up and down with under ten pitch inning.

Top 5th: Jays bats now, can they get into gear again? Wang at 72 pitches. Inglett nice at bat, walks. Stewart and top of order. Let’s get hitting here friends. Grounds back up the middle off Wang’s glove saves a hit and throws Stewart out but Inglett moves to 2B. Eckstein hits this one hard. A-Rod knocks it down but Eckstein safe. Two on. Alex 0-2 today. WOW. Hits this one to Cabrera but he drops ball, Inglett scores and Alex at 1B. Error on play by Cabrera. 3-2 Jays. It looks as if he took his eye off ball as he saw Inglett breaking on the fly ball. Rolen at bat, Wang hits him. And bases are loaded for second inning in a row. 86 pitches for Wang. Stairs again. Can his streak continue? YES, YES. Stairs base hit down the RF line. Eckstein and Rios score. 5-2 Jays. Four RBIs for Matt. I told you he was a streaky hitter. Welcome back to the streak. Overbay now at bat and doubles to LF wall. Two more runs score. Rolen and Stairs 7-2 Jays. That’s it for Wang, Ohlendorf pitching now. Mench with Overbay at 2B and one out. Mench head in the sky pops up to 2B. Two down. Barajas at bat. Watches third strike. Great inning for Jays bats. Helped by error and hit batsman but that’s ok, win/loss column does not distinguish.
Bottom 5th: McGowan now pitching with the lead. He had a good three up and down fourth, needs to zone in for a couple more. Cabrera at bat. Base hit into RF gets past diving Inglett. Damon and top of the order. Need a double play ball here Dustin. Walks him. Not good at all Dustin. Jeter at bat with two on. Crowd getting back in the game now. Hits him. Bases loaded. McGowan not helping here. Crowd is in full voice. No outs for Abreu. Grounds to Overbay throw to McGowan one down. Run scores but that saved at least one if not two runs. 7-3 Jays. One down now for Rodriguez. Runners at 2B and 3B. Pops it up to Inglett. Good throw by Inglett but Barajas drops ball again Damon scores. 7-4 Jays. Matsui at bat grounds to Overbay throw to McGowan at 1B. Yankees had bases loaded with no outs . Escapes huge damage but that could be his last inning. 93 pitches and Jesse Carlson throwing in bullpen. We haven’t see BJ Ryan for some time either so he may get an inning.

Top 6th: LaTroy Hawkins pitching Inglett fly ball to Cabrera, catches this one to loud Bronx cheers. Stewart at bat fly ball to Abreu in RF. Eckstein at bat fly ball to Abreu. Three up and down. Not a great inning by the bats.
Bottom 6th: McGowan or Carlson ? McGowan it is 93 pitches. Posada at bat. Great curve ball here to strike him out. Fifth strikeout for Dustin today. Cano at bat singles this one up the middle. Betemit at bat. That’s it for Dustin. Captain Hook is here. Jesse Carlson now in. McGowan not at his best today. Leadoff hitter in first three innings, was throwing too few strikes and escaped huge damage in last inning with bases loaded and no outs, but also in earlier innings leaving hitters at 3B in two innings. Jesse’s 28th game ! that is incredible for someone out of nowhere this season. OH no! …. this one has gone…. Two run HR for Betemit into left centre. 7-6 Jays. Cabrera strikes out. Damon now, singles up the middle. Eighth hit in three games. That’s it for Jesse. Can’t be tough on Jesse, he has had great scoreless run this season. Frasor to face Jeter. Damon running but great throw by Barajas gets him easily.

Top 7th: Let’s see what Jays bats have left. The big bats again. Alex you are so overdue for a big one. 3-0 here. Walks on four. That’s ok. Leadoff runner. Rolen now at bat, has scored two runs today but no hits. Walked and hit by pitch to get on base. Alex distracting Hawkins throwing over three times now Posada going out. Rolen is always so intense at bat. Fouling these pitches off. Hawkins is really having problems and indecisive. Rolen now singles to LF. Two on no outs. Veras now pitching. Stairs at bat with four RBIs to day. Jays have been outhit by Yankees 9-5. Grounds to 1B double play ball here. Betemit to Jeter to Veras. Rios to 3B. Overbay now with two down. Full count, Lyle strikes out.
Bottom 7th: Frasor to face Jeter as he was left at when Damon caught stealing to end last inning. This is a big inning to get the big bats here. 3-0 not good Jason. Grounds this one to Rolen, spins and throws Jeter out. Great play Scott. Scutaro now in at 2B. Inglett in LF for Stewart and Wilkerson for Mench in RF. Abreu at bat, Frasor almost as slow here between pitches as Hawkins was. Walks around the mound. Gets everyone nervous. Abreu now doubles to LF. That’s it (fortunately) for Frasor. Downs now pitching to face Rodriguez. Grounds to Scutaro. Rodriguez out at 1B. Two down with runner Abreu at 3B. Matsui strikes out swinging. Great pitching Scott.

Top 8th: Can Jay bats get some additional runs here? Wilkerson first at bat. Veras pitching. 3-0 count. Walks Wilkerson. Good patient at bat Brad. Barajas now 0-2 today. Wilkerson running here, Posada’s throw high and Wilkerson safe. Now someone bring him in please…. Full count here. Hits him in the back. Two on again no outs as with last inning. Inglett at bat. Bunting perfect up 3B. Both runners move up. Nice bunt Joe. Scutaro now with two on and one out. I think that was your pitch Marco right down the middle and takes it. Full count. Grounds it to SS. Run down to get Wilkerson. Two out with Scutaro to 2B. Barajas at 3B. Eckstein fly ball to Cabrera. Once again Jays can not bring the runners in.
Bottom 8th: This game should have been out of sight for Jays long ago with all the chances they have had. Downs now to Posada. 3-1 count. Walks leadoff. How many chances do you need to give to Yankees ? Cano at bat bunting, pinch runner Duncan for Posada. Perfect grounds to Eckstein steps on 2B and throws out Cano at 1B. Two down. Great play David. Betemit singles to RF wall. Wilkerson quick throw to keep Betemit at 1B. That double play hurts Yankees now. Cabrera full count walks him. Two on again. Damon at bat passed ball both runners move up, that is not good. Need an out here Scott. Full count. Great hit by Damon to the wall. Wilkerson incredible catch banging up against the wall halfway up the wall. Both hands.

Top 9th: Farnsworth facing Rios, no comment this time. . There you are Alex, singles into shallow right. Extends his hit streak to 26 games against Yankees. Rolen exactly the same hit shallow right centre. Two on and we can hear the Bronx cheers in Ontario. Stairs now with two on no outs. This is the third inning in a row Jays have had this. 3-1 here, more boos. Full count. There it goes, Stairs connects to left centre ground rule double. Alex scores 8-6 Jays. Rolen to 3B and Matt at 2B. That would have scored Rolen if not bouncing over the wall. Five RBIs for Matt today. Overbay with no outs. Grounds to 1B. One out Rolen hold at 3B. Intentional walk to Wilkerson to load bases for Barajas. Make them pay here Rod. Crowd is dead quiet. Strikes out. Two down. Inglett gets hold of this one nice hit and sends it into centre right but Cabrera makes great catch to rob Joe that would have scored three.
Bottom 9th: BJ Ryan with 8-6 lead. Facing the big guys. You know he wants to get out here and forget last game and blown save. Jeter full count, grounds hard to Rolen, great play Scott saves another single. One down. Abreu fly ball to Rios in CF. Two down for A-Rod. This time singles to LF gets by Rolen and Eckstein blocked off on the play. Matsui now Rodriguez takes 2B defensive indifference. Matsui singles to CF scores A-Rod. 8-7 Jays. Giambi at bat pinch hitting for Posada. Crowd on their feet now. 0-2 pitch HR to RF. Yankees win this one 9-8. Second blown save by Ryan.Jays cannot say they were robbed here, they left runners on base in the alst three innings and had plenty of chances to score more. But that said Ryan really has to dig deep after this one.