Brooms are out with a great comeback win for Jays

Thursday July 10, 2008. Jays v Orioles Series closer.

Pitching: Parrish 1-0 v Guthrie 5-6.

Going for the sweep tonight. I like Parrish I have said here earlier that I think he should have come North with the team at the end of March. He also showed in the spring that he has one of the very best pickoff moves which may help keep Roberts quiet tonight.


Result: Jays win a come from behind walk off one 6-5 and sweep Orioles.

The very good: All round effort by the team tonight, resulting in one of the most exciting games around here this season. Long time since I saw the crowd standing for a tie opportunity hit. Great execution wuth runners in scoring position. Great attacking hitting in the ninth against Sherrill. Lind with his three hits definitely takes the gold medal tonight. Rolen Gold glove play in the 1st to rob Markakis of a double and RBI. Parrish pick off in the eighth. Barajas play to catch Roberts stealing in the eighth. Lind went 1-for-19 in earlier callup, but was 3-for-4 tonight and is hitting .320 (16-for-50) since returning to the majors June 21. Bottom of the order eight and nine Overbay and Lind five of the nine Jays hits tonight.

The good: Rios number twenty three stolen base. Parrish seven tough innings.
Have to tell a story about Eckstein tonight. Young lady with Cardinals Eckstein shirt on called out to him when he came out for pre-game warm up, he acknowledged her and went into the field but only to drop his glove. Came back to sign autographs, Young lady thought he had just turned his back on her and left the area but Eckstein called her back and signed along with the usual mob. Classy David. Some of your colleagues could learn from you.

The bad: The news re Vernon and his injury losing him for four week at least. However who knows ? The way he had been playing perhaps this gives opportunity for someone else to step up and take advantage of opportunity. Certainly Alex can handle CF almost as well. And it will definitely suit his ego. The rest of the game I cannot be too picky here after such a great comeback and effort all-round. BUT I will mention the terrible effort by League. Not only was his throwing fastball after fastball (off target) but he seemed clueless in his approach to each hitter. Needs more time in AAA in my opinion to learn how to pitch as opposed to throwing 96-97mph every pitch.


Top 1st: Roberts at bat fly ball out to Rios playing in CF for Wells tonight and probably for the next four weeks as well. Markakis at bat doubles to RF. Millar at bat grounds to Rolen at 3B. What a fantastic diving into foul territory at 3B and throwing play by Rolen how did he get to that and throw a perfect throw to Overbay. That was a gold glove highlight reel play, right in front of us tonight as we move to 3B tonight for this game. Throws a strike from his knees ! to Overbay at 1B gets Millar. Markakis is in scoring position at 3B with the ever dangerous Huff at bat. Millar must be wondering how he didn’t get at least a double on that one. Huff singles to CF, Markakis scores. Great execution by Orioles, 1-0 Baltimore. Hernandez at bat two down one on strikes out.

Bottom 1st: Inglett back in the lineup in place of Scutaro and leading off. Grounds one in front of plate, not a bunt more an excuse me bat and ball collision. Hernandez throw to Huff at 1B. Eckstein at bat strikes out. Rios at bat grounds to Fahey at SS and throw Huff to end inning..

Top 2nd: Parrish seemed a little uncomfortable out there in the first inning. Mora at bat doubles to left. One on. Payton at bat doubles to right, Mora scores. 2-0 Orioles. Parrish is just not right out there compared to his last start. Jones at bat sacrifice fly ball out to Lind in LF, Payton moves to 3B. One down with runner at 3B. Fahey at bat grounds to Inglett throw to Overbay, Payton scores. 3-0 Baltimore. Two down. The Orioles are showing Jays hitter how to execute here and from the bottom of the order. Roberts his second at bat already in this game, fly ball out to Lind in LF. But Parrish has given up three runs already.

Bottom 2nd: Stairs at bat fly ball out to Jones in CF. Barajas at bat grounds to Fahey SS throw to Huff.Two down for Rolen grounds to Mora throw Huff at 1B.

Top 3rd Markakis at bat strikes out. Only the second strikeout for Parrish tonight. That tells me he is not right. Millar at bat fly ball out to Lind in LF. Two down. Huff at bat doubles to right 2-2 tonight, we don’t want to see this guy hot at least not in Toronto. Save it for Fenway. Hernandez at bat two down one in scoring position. Grounds out, to Eckstein at SS throw to Overbay at 1B.

Bottom 3rd: Wilkerson at bat replacing Alex in RF grounds to Huff at 1B tonight throw to Guthrie. One down. Overbay his first at bat singles to CF, can Jays get something going here. Lind at bat NO Adam, grounds to Fahey at SS throw to Roberts at 2B on to Huff at 1B. double play déjà vu 101 times.

Top 4th: Parrish still in there but his pitch count getting up there, I would imagine they would like to see six innings from him tonight if he can. Mora at bat fly ball out to Rios in CF. Payton at bat grounds to Eckstein SS throw to Overbay at 1B. Jones at bat fly ball to Wilkerson in RF. Three up and down, that’s more like it John.

Bottom 4th: Inglett at bat singles to RF. Good start here, first inning with a leadoff hitter on base. Eckstein at bat sac bunt, to Guthrie throw to Huff only just gets Eckstein, Inglett moves to 2B.Rios at bat can he bring him in here. Passed ball, Inglett moves up to 3B.Even better for you Alex, One down with Joe at 3B. Alex grounds out to Mora at 3B, throw goes to runner at 1B. Alex out but Inglett scores, 3-1 Orioles. Jays are on the board and Jays are executing here. Stairs at bat, when did he last connect ? patient at this at bat, full count here and now walks. Barajas at bat grounds to Fahey SS throw to Huff to get Barajas but Jays are still alive.

Top 5th: Vancouver Jay arrives for her last game before world travel tomorrow. They will hear her if they don’t start to hit. This could also be Parrish’s last inning if things get tough.Fahey at bat grounds to Overbay throw to Parrish. One down. Roberts at bat walks, not what you need here John. There he goes, but they have him picked off, Barajas is holding ball and running towards Roberts now throws to Eckstein back to Overbay, Roberts tagged out. Two down and a great out to get. Markakis at bat walks. The Roberts out is huge now. YES John, great move he has Markakis picked off first pitch. We saw that move in Dunedin and scouts should have it marked down by now, don’t try stealing. Bottom line in just a few pitches Parrish has gone from a possible two on and one down to all out. Very nice pitching.

Bottom 5th: This great stuff is no good if the bats cannot get something going and soon. Rolen at bat lines out to Jones in CF. It was hard hit but straight at him. Wilkerson at bat fly ball out to Payton in LF.Two down for Overbay. Grounds out to Guthrie throw to Huff. Three up and down very quietly. Not the way to sweep. Crowd is also really quiet tonight, nothing to shout about.

Top 6th: Millar at bat grounds to Rolen at 3B throw to Overbay. One down. Huff at bat grounds to Overbay throw to Parrish, two down. Hernandez at bat fly ball to Rios in CF. Another good inning by Parrish who really settled down after the first two.
Bottom 6th: Lind at bat needs to get over that double play in the first, here it goes, doubles to RF. Much better Adam. Top of the order with one on and no outs. Inglett at bat grounds to Fahey SS throw to Huff at 1B and , Lind moves to 3B. One down. Eckstein at bat grounds to Fahey is throwing to Huff, Lind scores. 3-2 Orioles. Jays gradually doing it right. Rios at bat singles here to RF. Stairs at bat, Rios steals 2B. Number twenty three on season. Hernandez appeared to double pump his throw which cost him the out. Stairs now at bat with Alex at 2B, pops it up to Hernandez. Inching closer and closer.

Top 7th: Parris still pitching, he has really settled after that rocky two innings at the start. Mora at bat fly ball out to Rios in CF. Payton at bat fly ball out to Rios in CF. Two down. Jones at bat triples to CF. Don’t celebrate just yet John. Fahey at bat with Jones at 3B strikes out. Parrish is very happy and with pitch count over the 100 he is done but I would not have bet him getting past four innings after the start he had.
Bottom 7th: Barajas at bat strikes out. Rolen at bat strikes out. Wilkerson at bat fouls out to Mora at 3B. Three up and down very meekly. This game may be lost already.

Top 8th: Tallet now pitching. I thought he was starting on Sunday ? Top of the order yet again. Roberts at bat singles to CF. Just what Tallet wanted ! Markakis at bat grounds out to Overbay, Roberts moves to 2B. League now pitching. Millar at bat fouls out to Wilkerson in RF what a great sliding backhand catch by Wilkerson, I didn’t think he could get to that one. Great effort. Huff now but with 1B open they are walking him intentionally. Hernandez at bat two down, two on, League is way off and walks bases loaded here, Roberts 3B, Huff at 2B. This is not good. Mora at bat singles to RF, Roberts scores, Huff scores, Hernandez to second. League has just ruined this one. 5-2 Orioles. And Orioles with Sherrill one of the best closers in the league just waiting for the ninth here. Payton at bat infield single to SS, Bases loaded again Hernandez to 3B, Mora at 2B.League is just not getting strikes here. Jones at bat bases loaded two down, lines out to Inglett. This is bad enough but could have been far worse, crowd is leaving this one.

Bottom 8th: Johnson pitching. Overbay at bat singles to CF, Lyle has had a good evening, but they need three here to tie this one up. Lind at bat must get him over at least, YES Adam, doubles to CF, Overbay at 2B. Two in scoring position and no outs for top of the order. Inglett at bat grounds to Roberts throw to Huff, Overbay scores, Lind to 3B 5-3 Jays with one out and one at 3B. Eckstein at bat grounds to Fahey throw to Huff, Lind scores. 5-4 this game is not over friends. Rios at bat grounds to Roberts throw to Huff. But Jays are back in this one.

Top 9th: Camp now pitching. Fahey at bat grounds back to Camp off his body to Inglett to Overbay Fahey out at 1B. That was a weird play. But it is an out. Roberts at bat, this is the guy to be careful with Shawn. Strikes out. Huge out for Camp, two down for Markakis, grounds to Inglett throw to Overbay and we need one run here.
Bottom 9th: Sherrill pitching. 27 saves so far this season that is very impressive. Jays need some clutch hitting here. Only one walk off win so far this season and that was against the Orioles this week. Scutaro at bat pinch-hitting for Stairs strikes out. One down. Barajas at bat singles to LF. One on, one down. McDonald now pinch-running for Barajas. Rolen at bat, YES Scott doubles to RF, McDonald moves to 3B and Jays have winning run in scoring position at 2B. Zaun at bat pinch-hitting for Wilkerson. Intentional walk here to load bases Rolen is the important run. Crowd is on their feet all round stadium. Overbay at bat first pitch swinging lifts this one a sacrifice fly to Jones in CF, McDonald scores. This game is all tied up 6-6. Lind at bat with two down, no pressure Adam the game is tied, YESYES YES Adam, swings at first pitch singles to RF, Rolen scores, Zaun to second. 6-5 Jays. Lind is the hero.
The Jays are all out of the dug out chasing Lind down and mobbing him, As Vancouver Jay says we have not seen this type of intensity from Jays this season at all. They are one happy, happy bunch. But we note Vernon out there, I don’t think Jays medical staff will be too happy to see him out there celebrating.

This game is over. Jays win this one 6-5 with incredible comeback play all night long and when it counted in the end. Baltimore is swept and Jays should now be level with them at least in the win column. It’s a great start and more to the point you can start to see the hunger and intensity growing in the young guys. Good to see Tampa getting thrashed by Cleveland tonight and Yankees have also lost in Pittsburgh. Jays will not see Mussina in Toronto this weekend as he was pitching in Pittsburgh.