Jays come from behind to win big and Burnett win number fifteen

Toronto v Detroit Game two. Tuesday August 12, 2008.

Preview: Jays need to build on last night’s good all round play, hitting, pitching and defense. Burnett going for his career leading number fifteenth win.

What they said: Burnett : "It's big for us to hopefully keep on a good run here because we're far from out of it right now.That's the team attitude. We want to keep winning ballgames and make it interesting."
Cito :" (last night) We played like you'd like to see about 95 games a year," he said. "We pitched well, we hit the ball in key situations and we played some good defense."

Changes for Jays today: Richmond has been moved to the bullpen. Litsch has been recalled Parrish was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.

Lineups: Toronto: Inglett, Scutaro, Rios, Wells, Stairs, Barajas, Lind, Overbay, McDonald and Burnett pitching. Cito never changes a good thing… and why should he?
Detroit: Granderson, Polanco, Guillen, Ordonez, Cabrera, Joyce, Sheffield, Renteria, Inge and Miner pitching.

Pitching: Zach Miner (6-4, 3.57) v A J Burnett (14-9, 4.62 ERA)
Result: Jays win 6-4. Save number 23 for BJ Ryan.

Good : Adam Lind HR and top of the ninth sixth run to make it a two run game for Ryan. Adam 3-5 tonight and more comfortable at number seven in lineup, Johnny Mc. 12 pitch at bat in the fifth to get a walk and then 10 pitch at bat n 7th. That is 22 in two at bats. Burnett in fifth to get out of major trouble with runner at 3B and no outs. Bullpen of League, Downs and Ryan to seal the win for Burnett. Scutaro, Rios and Wells all with two hit night. Seventh inning to come back from 4-1 down and score four. Burnett to win his fifth in a row. Working hard for next year’s contract but that’s ok with the Jays fans.

Bad: I can’t be picky tonight.

Top 1st: Inglett, is he learning anything in the leadoff position? Takes first pitch, I guess yes, also second pitch, maybe. Grounds out to Polanco throw to 1B Cabrera for the out. One down for Scutaro, also takes first pitch, hmmmm. What’s going on here? fly ball out to Granderson in CF. Two down but at least they are seeing some pitches in first inning. Rios, who knows what is in his head? Singles into LF. Good start but will Vernon give him chance to steal here? Wells at bat with two down. Had a good night last night on his return from disabled list, but consistency is the name of the game and that has been missing bigtime from Jays hitters all season long. Alex stealing on pitch two and safe at 2B for number twenty nine. Full count. Strikes out on pitch number twenty. At least that is improvement.
Bottom 1st: Burnett pitching. Granderson at bat, lines out to Rios in CF. One down for Polanco, singles into CF. Guillen at bat one on one down, bounces one to Inglett throw to 2B to get lead runner Polanco. Two down. Ordonez, wild pitch and Guillen moves to 2B. Full count grounds to Overbay throw to Burnett for third out. 16 pitches.

Top 2nd: Stairs at bat strikes out looking, Barajas grounds to 3B throw to 1B for the second quick out. Lind in a mini -slump for him at least, 0-13, but should be able to relax a bit in this lineup position. I really think he was pressing too much in cleanup role when Vernon was on DL. YES indeed, gets hold of one, huge hit to right centre, this one is way back in the crowd, HR to Adam, 1-0 Jays. Overbay with two out, strikes out. 35 pitches.
Bottom 2nd: Burnett has early lead now. Cabrera at bat grounds to Scutaro at 3B throw to Overbay for the first out. Joyce strikes out on great curve ball. Sheffield with two down. full count. Oh dear, not good, gets hold of this one and lines it into LF bullpen to tie this one up 1-1. # 491 career. Renteria, chops it to McDonald at SS throw to Overbay for the out but damage is already done. 37 pitches?

Top 3rd: Boston are hammering Texas 10-0 in 1st inning Ortiz had two three run HR’s in the first inning… 6 RBIs already. McDonald lines out to Guillen at 3B. Inglett fly ball out to Granderson in CF, two down. Scutaro doubles into RF corner into the crowd. Alex now can he bring him in? Strikes out swinging with head in outer space. 42 pitches.
Bottom 3rd: Inge at bat, full count. Grounds to Scutaro on full run throw to Overbay just gets him nice play Marco. Granderson with one down, this is trouble, lines it into RF corner for a double. Polanco fly ball out to Wells in CF, two down and Granderson holds at 2B. Guillen pops it up to Scutaro in foul territory drops the ball. Ouch. Error on Scutaro. Full count and strikes out, Scutaro off the hook. 56 pitches. High pitch count for AJ.

Top 4th: Wells at bat, singles it into CF. Stairs at bat, lines out first pitch to Granderson. One down. Barajas at bat, one down. Full count but don’t expect Vernon to be running. Very fortunate also as Barajas lines out right to 2B Polanco. Lind at bat two down, strikes out. 64 pitches.
Bottom 4th: Ordonez at bat, full count, strikes out. Number three for AJ. Cabrera at bat strikes out on three pitches. Joyce with two down, hits him hard on the back foot. Sheffield, grounds to Scutaro at 3B throw to Overbay for third out. 72 pitches. Looks like both pitchers will be out of this one early.

Top 5th: Overbay at bat, grounds to Polanco running to his left nice play to get Overbay. McDonald at bat, making Miner work hard for this one, fouling several off here. Full count, and walks him, 12 pitches great at bat by Johnny Mc. Inglett at bat, loops it into shallow LF. Two on one down. Scutaro at bat, fly ball out to Granderson in shallow CF. Two down McDonald cannot move up. Rios now at bat, this is where we need you Alex. Grounds to Renteria at SS throw to 2B to get Inglett. 86 pitches.
Bottom 5th: Renteria at bat, 3-1 count. Walks him. First walk tonight for AJ. Inge at bat, loops it into shallow right, Rios drops ball and Renteria goes to 3B. That should be error on Alex. Granderson at bat, pops up to McDonald, one down. Too shallow for Renteria to score. Polanco at bat, grounds to Scutaro throw to home plate gets Renteria. Two down. Guillen at bat, strikes him out. Great pitching AJ….with runner at 3B and no outs… 87 pitches.

Top 6th: Now this is where Jays hitters make Tigers pay for that. Wells at bat grounds to Renteria, throw to 1B for the out. Stairs at bat in his own slump, full count, long fly ball out to Granderson in CF. Two down. Barajas grounds slowly out to Renteria. Throw to Cabrera 1B for third out and maybe end of Miner. 103 pitches.
Bottom 6th: Baltimore losing, Boston winning and Yankees tied at the moment. Tampa yet to start in Oakland. Ordonez at bat, lines this one hard and high to RF corner, bounces back into the field umpire changes call, now HR. 2-1 Detroit. Cabrera at bat, grounds to Scutaro at 3B throw to Overbay, one down. Joyce at bat, strikes out. Two down for Sheffield. Bobby Seay pitching in Detroit bullpen. Gets hold of this one. HR again for Sheffield into LF corner seats. 3-1 Detroit. Renteria doubles to right centre wall. Here comes Cito. AJ stays in. Camp is now up in bullpen. Inge at bat, this is trouble doubles to LF corner, Renteria scores 4-1 Detroit. Granderson at bat, Inge stealing and great throw by Barajas to catch him. Hmmm what’s that about making last out at 3B ? Not smart ball there Brandon.

Top 7th: Jays hitters have to appear from wherever they have disappeared to. Not many games are won with one run and certainly not this one now. Texas has just scored eight in Fenway so it can be done friends. Wild game Boston 12 Texas 10… Seay pitching, Lind at bat. That’s the start Adam, singles to shallow right. Overbay at bat, one on, hitless so far tonight. Strikes out looking. Lyle is not very aggressive at bat. McDonald at bat, fouling them off again, full count, doubles here to LF what a great at bat Johnny Mc 10 pitch at bat. That is 22 in last two at bats. Perhaps he is trying out for leadoff? Inglett two in scoring position one down. Grounds to Polanco at 2B. throw to 1B gets Inglett , Lind scores. 4-2. Two down. Seay is gone. Joel Zumaya pitching. Scutaro at bat with McDonald at 3B. Just a single Marco will be fine. Yes, perfect Marco. Singles up the middle. Scores Johnny Mc. 4-3. Alex Rios at bat, can he be a hero here? don’t bet on it. Full count now. Ball four, Alex walks, Scutaro now in scoring position for the big guy. Vernon at bat two down, two on. Pitching coach out there. Expect a strike down the middle Vernon. YES Vernon, right down the middle, listen to those boos, Vernon hammers this to the left centre wall. Scutaro and Rios score and Jays go out ahead 5-4 Jays. Double for Vernon. Stairs intentional walk, not sure why as he is not hitting well at all. Playing percentages I guess. Barajas at bat, Farnsworth up in bullpen. 3-0 count now to Barajas, more boos at Comerica. Walks bases loaded on four pitches. Here comes Leyland. Farnsworth to pitch with bases loaded. Zumaya gets great reception as he walks out, but not the one he prefers. Lind at bat with bases loaded. Jays have batted around. High fly ball out to LF corner, just missed that one for a grand slam. Tigers fans cheer with relief. League to pitch and bullpen to try to save this one for Burnett. Jays hitters 2/8 with runners in scoring position.
Bottom 7th: 14-14 in Fenway. Still in sixth inning. League pitching Granderson at bat, hammers it to 1B but gold glove save by Overbay and throw to League to get the out. Great play. Polanco loops single into RF. Guillen at bat, grounds it to Inglett drops ball but recovers and gets Polanco at 2B but not Guillen. Ordonez at bat, wild pitch Guillen moves to 2B. Full count, do you walk him ? No, Ordonez lines it out to Lind in LF. Good pitching for League.

Top 8th: Farnsworth pitching, Ryan Raburn replacing Guillen at 3B. Would be nice to get a couple more here. Overbay at bat, hitless tonight 0-3. Lines out right at Raburn. One down for McDonald grounds first pitch this time to Renteria to throw him out at 1B. Inglett now, can he make up for that missed double play ball last inning? Not that it hurt the team but he should be smarting. 3-0 count. Walks. One on for Scutaro. 2-4 tonight. Grounds to Raburn throw to Cabrera for third out.
Bottom 8th: Downs pitching. Cabrera at bat, grounds to Scutaro at 3B throw to Overbay for first out. Joyce at bat, strikes out inside swinging. Sheffield at bat, pops it up to McDonald for third out. Downs has done his job.

Top 9th: Big bats for Jays now need to earn their money. Rios, a single first at bat plus a walk and that is it tonight, so frustrating to see him struggle. Fredy Dolis pitching. High walk strikeout ratio. Pops it up to Renteria catches it and drops ball on collision with Joyce. Alex on 2B. he will take it. Vernon now, can he bring in Alex? Loops it to Ordonez in shallow RF. One down. Another intentional walk to Matt. Barajas at bat, BJ Ryan up in bullpen. Alex stealing and just safe at 3B. VERY close. Number 30 for the season. Wild pitch can score here. Pitch gets away Alex holds but Stairs gets to 2B. Mench now pinch running for Stairs. Another wild pitch and Rios coming this time and out at home plate, he was safe on TV replay but called out. Two down, Mench at 3B. Full count, now walks Barajas. Lind at bat, another full count. If Alex had not run this would be interesting pitch as bases would be loaded. YES Adam, singles to CF. Mench scores 6-4 Jays. Barajas moves all the way to 3B. Overbay long overdue. Lines out to Ordonez in RF.
Bottom 9th: BJ Ryan with a two run lead. Renteria at bat strikes out, one down. Inge at bat, high fly ball to shallow center for Vernon, two down. Granderson at bat, another high fly ball out to Vernon in CF.

Jays win another 6-4. BJ Ryan save number 23.