Jays bats come alive but just hang on to win this one

Wednesday July 9,2008. Jays v Orioles

Pitching: Burnett v Olson Burnett going for a ninth win which will give him best career start to a season at 9-8. Olson meanwhile has a horrible ERA against Jays and will want to reverse that tonight.

Lineups: Orioles: Roberts, Markakis, Huff, Millar, Scott, Mora, Hernandez, Jones, Fahey and Olson pitching.
Jays: Eckstein, Scutaro, Rios, Wells, Barajas, Rolen, Zaun, Lind, McDonald and Burnett pitching. Second team lineup tonight.

Result: Jays win 9-8.

The very good: Burnett first three innings untouchable. The bats tonight came through at least in the one big inning the way they should be doing all season long. Downs and Carlson almost perfect.
The good: This is second win for Jays against Baltimore which they had to win to move. They have gained two games on them and now have same win total. They are climbing back into this thing, it is far from over. Ryan number seventeen save in nineteen chances. Wells and Rios combined to go 4-for-4 in the fourth. Eckstein two doubles on his return to starting lineup. Jays hitters go five for 14 at-bats with runners in scoring position, having gone 5 for 13 in the same situation the first night.
The bad: First inning Rios and Wells unable to get runner in from 3B with no outs and number 100 double play by Wells.

What they are saying: /said:
Burnett on emergency root canal surgery last night at 10.30 and then a filling at 9:00 a.m. this morning, so I was all numbed up for a while. It wore off in time, luckily, but it didn't bother me at all. I was going to do it this morning and still pitch. That's just my tooth. I don't need that to throw."
Burnett: "I was dominant early and it got quite embarrassing,"
Gaston on hitters with runners in scoring position: "We're still preaching the plan to the hitters. You hope they're taking that out there and the way it seems the last couple days, they might be getting that."
Markakis: "We battled back, we did a great job. We just fell one run short."
Gaston on Wells: "Right now we just think it's a cramp. We don't know. It's kind of sore."

The game:
Top 1st: Roberts at bat pops up to Scutaro at 2B, always good to see Roberts out. Markakis at bat grounds to Scutaro throw to Barajas playing at 1B tonight. Huff at bat, he was hitting them off the restaurant roof in batting practice an hour ago. Fly ball out to Wells in CF. Three up and down for Burnett, great start.
Bottom 1st: Eckstein at bat walks. Scutaro at bat will he bunt him over? Not sure it is Cito’s style. single yes he does great bunt up the line and beats out throw, Roberst throw goes wild and Eckstein moves up to 3B, Scutaro thinks of going to 2B but comes back to 1B. Good decision Marco. Two on no outs and one at 3B for the big guys. Alex now big chance here to start game off. Rios at bat fly ball out Markakis in RF but too shallow for Eckstein to score even with his speed. One down for Wells, come on Vernon, NO NO, grounds one to Fahey at SS to Roberts to Millar at 1B, double play ball and just like that in two pitches three outs. Very disappointing. League leading No 100 in double plays, as the guy across the aisle says Jays might as well be first in something.

Top 2nd: Burnett back out there must be fuming. That could have been a big inning. Millar at bat fly ball out to Rios in RF. Scott at bat grounds out to Barajas at 1B. Flip to Burnett for the out. Looks as if Barajas was hesitant there whether or not to go to bag himself. Hope that unfamiliarity will not cost Jays later in game. Mora at bat two down strikes out. Burnett six up and down so far.
Bottom 2nd: Barajas at bat grounds to Roberts flip to Millar at 1B for the out. One down. Rolen at bat 3-0 count, and now walks on four pitches. Zaun at bat strikes out. Lind at bat grounds out to Millar.

Top 3rd: Hernandez at bat grounds to McDonald at SS throw to Barajas at 1B. One down. Jones at bat strikes out. First one for Burnett. Fahey at bat strikes out. That was a great inning by Burnett, he mixed everything up and hitters were more than confused. Nine up and down for Aj and right now he is really sharp. He wants that number nine win.
Bottom 3rd: Johnny McDonald in lineup for a change lines one hard to Scott in LF, one down. Eckstein at bat strikes out. Scutaro at bat lines one hard to Jones in CF. Three up and down for Olson.

Top 4th: Roberts at bat fly ball out to Rios in RF. Ten up and down for AJ. Markakis at bat singles to CF, first Baltimore hit. Huff at bat, Markakis steals second bat Huff strikes out. Millar at bat singles to LF, Markakis scores. 1-0 Orioles. Definitely against the play so far. Burnett had been so sharp first three innings and Jays had had their chances especially in the first inning. Scott at bat 3-0 count, AJ cannot find that strike zone now walks Scott on four pitches, Millar moves to 2B and Orioles have something going here. Mora at bat strikes out. Burnett escapes but could do with some runs from his hitters he has pitch too well to be behind here.
Bottom 4th: Big bats coming up and Alex and Vernon need to erase that horrible first inning. Rios at bat that’s better Alex singles to CF. Good start at least. Wells at bat are you going to let Alex steal 2B ??? Yes Vernon, singles to left, Rios to 2B. Where were these hits in the first inning? Barajas at bat two on and no outs. Fouls out to Millar at 1B. One down. Rolen at bat his chance to bring Alex in. Hit on the foot to load bases. Zaun’s big chance, he can hit them out on occasion, a grand slam here would help….. 3-0 count. And walks on four pitches, brings in a run, Jays don’t care they all count. 1-1. Bases still loaded with one out. Lind at bat fouls out to Mora at 3B. Two down and only one run to show for it. This team is jinxed with runners in scoring position. Johnny Mc at bat grounds to 3B, Wells scores and throw to 1B not in time, Johnny Mc comes through really hustling down that line. 2-1 Jays. Two down with Rolen at 3B Zaun at 2B and McDonald at 1B for Eckstein. Yes David….. doubles this one to LF, Rolen and Zaun score easily, McDonald held at 3B but I think he might have also scored. 4-1 Jays. Scutaro at bat and walks. Bases loaded again. Crowd going nuts around me. Alex again for the second time this inning. Full count runners going Alex grounds to 3B Johnny Mc and Eckstein score. 6-1 Jays. Scutaro at 2B and Alex at 1B for Wells. Also his second time at bat this inning. Yes Vernon keeps it going singles to CF. Scutaro scores 7-1 Jays. All in one inning and most of damage done with two outs. Is this the Jays we have watched all season ??? Rios at 2B and Wells at 1B for Barajas. That’s it for Olson although crowd around our seats are telling Manager Trembley to leave him in there! Cormier now pitching. Barajas grounds to Mora at 3B throw to Roberts at 2B, Wells out. BUT Jays have a record seven run inning that should bring huge smile to AJ.

Top 5th: Hernandez at bat grounds to Scutaro throw to Barajas one down. Jones at bat strikes out. Fahey at bat 3-2 count and AJ loses him. Roberts at bat strikes out. AJ likes the lead.
Bottom 5th: Can the Jays put the boot in here? Rolen at bat grounds to Roberts at 2B throw to Millar gets Scott. One down. Zaun at bat patience at bat 3-0 count, and walks on four pitches. Lind at bat doubles to CF Zaun scores 8-1 Jays. One down one on. McDonald fly ball out to Scott in LF.Two down for Eckstein strikes out. But Jays have one more.

Top 6th: Markakis at bat singles to RF. Huff at bat, careful AJ with this guy, singles to CF, Markakis to 2B.Orioles not giving up here. Millar at bat pops up to McDonald. One down and runners hold. Scott at bat, another dangerous hitter, 3-0 count and walks on four pitches to load the bases, Markakis to 3B, Huff to 2B. Burnett in trouble here. Mora at bat singles to CF, Markakis and Huff score, Scott to second. 8-3 Jays. Hernandez at bat singles to RF Scott scores, 8-4 Jays. Vancouver Jay sitting with me cannot stand the tension here and has to leave. Burnett unraveling. Jones at bat Mora on 3B, Hernandez at 1B. Still only one down. Jones gets hold of one and there it goes into the seats in left centre, three run home run. Mora scores, Hernandez scores. 8-7 Jays this game is NOT over friends. But it is for AJ still has the lead but what a turnaround. Carlson now pitching. Fahey at bat bunting, Carlson to Barajas, two down. Roberts at bat infield single to 3B. Carlson has to be careful here with Roberts on base. Scoreboard shows 25 steals in 32 attempts. Markakis at bat full count, Roberts stealing, but great pick off by Jesse, just held his delivery that big longer and throw to Barajas at 1B has Roberts in a rundown throw to shortstop McDonald, Roberts out. Carlson is full of talent. However we have a new ball game.
Bottom 6th: Scutaro at bat singles to RF. Scutaro is worth every dollar. Alex now let’s move him along. Rios lines out to Markakis in RF. Scutaro has to hold. Wells at bat, what can he do this time? grounds to Fahey SS throw to Roberts 2B, Scutaro out. Throw too late for double play. Wells at 1B. That would have been embarrassing Vernon. Barajas at bat singles to RF, Wells moves to 2B.New pitcher with two on and one down. Cabrera pitching. Wells stealing third. Beats the throw but pulls up lame. Trainer out along with Cito, looks like a hamstring. Vernon now running so may not be hamstring, stays in game at 3B. Now Rolen at bat, great chance here, singles to LF Vernon comes in, Barajas to 2B. 9-7 Jays, that extra run will be breathing space here. Zaun at bat with two on and two down. Fly ball out to Markakis in RF.

Top 7th: Vernon stays off field so probably precautionary Rios moves to CF. Wilkerson in at RF.
Barajas now catching. Overbay is in at 1B. Markakis at bat strikes out. Huff at bat doubles to CF, this Oriole team keep coming back at Jays. Millar at bat strikes out. Two down, Carlson has done a great job so far. Scott singles to CF, Huff is coming home Alex throwing from CF and gets him on the foot, Orioles argue that call. It look close from here but why didn’t he slide in? But then again why was he sent home with Alex gunning from CF? Another outfield assist for Alex.
Bottom 7th: Lind grounds to Roberts throw to Millar at 1B.One down. McDonald grounds out, to Mora throw to Millar. Two down. Eckstein at bat doubles to CF. That’s better, need the runs here guys. Scutaro at bat walks. Two on for Alex fly ball out to Markakis. Still much too close.

Top 8th: Inglett in defensively for Lind in LF. Downs pitching. Mora grounds to McDonald throw to Overbay at 1B. One down. Hernandez grounds to Scutaro at 2B throw to Overbay at 1B.
Jones same play grounds to Scutaro to Overbay. Excellent pitching for Scott Downs. Three up and down.
Bottom 8th: Jays last chance to add to this total and it looks as if they need at least a five run lead. Aquino pitching. Wilkerson fly ball out Jones in CF.Barajas strikes out. Rolen fouls out to Millar at 1B. Not a great inning for Jays. BJ will have to do it with two.

Top 9th: Ryan pitching. Payton pinch-hitting for Fahey strikes out. Ryan really means business here. Roberts at bat one down, strikes out.Two down and BJ smoking. Markakis at bat, full count, crowd on feet OH NO BJ !!! Markakis gets hold of this one over Inglett’s head home run and this a one run ball game yet again. 9-8 Jays. Huff at bat, be careful with this guy BJ he is just waiting for that fast ball. Another full count and crowd again on their feet. Walks him but that seemed to be semi-intentional from here at least. He was keeping everything low from Huff. Well now he has Millar the go ahead run at the plate. Millar lines one but this is OK right at Rios in CF. Jays win this one. Tough way but it is still a W and they have lost similar games this season so the luck was with them tonight.