Jays v Rays in Tampa. Tuesday August 26,2008.

Preview: Huge series. After losing that last game against Boston in extra innings on Sunday in Toronto Jays have to recoup fast and at least win this series if not sweep the Rays, easier said than done. In Jays favour, Tampa showing some signs of weakening with injuries catching up to them. Second pint in favour is that Halladay is pitching tonight. On the downside though Halladay has lost his first three starts agains Tampa this season.

Linueps: Toronto. Inglett, Scutaro, Rios, Wells, Lind, Overbay, Stairs, Barajas, McDonald and Halladay pitching.
Tampa: Iwamura, Upton, Pena, Floyd, Baldelli, Aybar, Hinske, Navarro, Riggans and Shields pitching.

Result: Jays win 6-2.

The good: Hits all round for Jays tonight except for Inglett, Halladay win number sixteen, bullpen scoreless innings, Multihits for Rios, Wells, Overbay and Barajas. No walks issued to Rays. First pitcher in majors to pitch 200 innings this season.
The bad: Jays leave two leadoff singles on base in the 2nd inning. Leave eight on base in the game and go 3 /12 with runners in scoring position.

The game: Top 1st: Inglett grounded out to first baseman Pena one down. Scutaro singles to CF. Rios strikes out but Scutaro steals and is safe. Vernon with Scutaro in scoring position. We have seen this first inning scenario often this last week, let’s hope we get same results. Wells grounds to 2B off glove of Pena to allow Scutaro to score. 1-0 Jays. Vernon has done it again, this guy is hot finally. May it continue for the rest of the season. Another hot bat Lind, grounds to Iwamura at 2B throw to Pena for the out but Jays have the lead.
Bottom 1st: Iwamura grounds out to Overbay one down. Upton strikes out. Two down for Pena pops up to Inglett at 2B.Three up and down for Halladay to start and you know he wants this one.

Top 2nd: Overbay singles to CF. Stairs singles to CF, Overbay moves to 2B. Two on for Barajas, strikes out. McDonald strikes out. Two down and still two on. Inglett grounds to Iwamura throw to Pena at 1B and Jays leave two leadoff singles on base. Not good.
Bottom 2nd: Floyd singles to CF. Aybar lines out to Wells in CF. One down. Hinske who has been a nemesis of Toronto this season, does it again here and singles to CF, Floyd moves up to 2B. Navarro grounds out to Overbay two down. Floyd moves to 3B and Hinske to 2B.Rays threatening here. Ex –Jay Gross strikes out leaving two in scoring position. Joe Maddon would not like that at bat. He knows they will not get many chances against Halladay.

Top 3rd: Scutaro pops up to Bartlett SS. Rios doubles to LF, Alex continues his return to form and is in scoring position for Vernon. Wells fly ball out to Upton CF. Wild pitch by Shields, Rios to 3B. Great opportunity here friends. Lind not swinging full count and walks. This is getting interesting. Two on two down for Overbay. Lyle doubles to CF, Rios scores, Lind scores and Jays go out 3-0. Perfect for Halladay. Stairs grounds to Iwamura throw to Pena for third out but Jays are increase their lead.
Bottom 3rd: Bartlett grounds to Inglett throw to Overbay 1B. Iwamura fly ball out to Wells in CF. Upton fly ball out to Rios. Another three up and down for Halladay.

Top 4th: Barajas infield single to 2B. McDonald grounds to Iwamura throw to Pena at 1B. Barajas to 2B.Inglett grounds to Iwamura, throw to Pena for the out, Barajas to third. Scutaro now can he bring in Barajas ? Fly ball out to Gross RF.
Bottom 4th: Pena grounds out, to Inglett throw to Overbay. One down. Floyd grounds to Overbay flip to Halladay for the out. Aybar strikes out. Three up and down for Roy.

Top 5th: Rios singles to CF. Wells grounds to Aybar 3B throw to Iwamura on to Pena 1B, double play. Lind strikes out. Easy one for Shields.
Bottom 5th: Hinske grounds to McDonald SS throw to Overbay. One down. Navarro grounds to Inglett on to Overbay. Two down. Gross singles to LF. Bartlett strikes out. Halladay continues his good effort tonight.

Top 6th: Overbay fly ball out to Upton CF. One down for Stairs, grounds to Iwamura throw to Pena for second out. Barajas grounds to Iwamura throw to Pena for third out. Bats have gone silent here.
Bottom 6th: Iwamura singles to CF. Upton strikes out. Pena singles to CF, Iwamura to 2B . Wild pitch by Halladay, Both runners move up. Iwamura to 3B, Pena to 2B. One out. Floyd strikes out. Aybar hit by a pitch. Hinske singles to LF, Iwamura scores, Pena scores, Aybar to 3B. Rays pull town back, 3-2 Jays. Riggans pinch-hitting for Navarro. Riggans strikes out. That should be it for Halladay tonight, Cito will not make the same mistake he made with Burnett on Sunday by leaving him in for the 7th.

Top 7th: Riggans in as catcher. Johnny Mc singles to LF. Inglett bunting and gets it down, Pena to Iwamura not in time. McDonald to 2B. Scutaro fly ball out to Upton CF. Wild pitch by Shields, McDonald to 3B. Rios full count and walks. That’s it for Shields tonight. Bradford now pitching.
Wells singles to left, McDonald scores, Rios moves to 3B. 4-2 Jays. Howell now pitching. Lind grounds to Iwamura throw to Bartlett SS to get Wells at 2B. Lind to 1B. Jays adding to their lead.
Bottom 7th: Carlson now pitching. Gross strikes out. Bartlett singles to LF. Iwamura grounds out to Overbay, moves Bartlett over to2B. League now pitching. Upton strikes out.

Top 8th: Overbay grounds out to Pena. Stairs pops out to Riggans. Two down for Barajas , hammers this on to LF, HR for Barajas and Jays now have 5-2 lead. McDonald full count and walks Inglett lines out to.Upton.
Bottom 8th: Downs now pitching. Pena grounds to Inglett on to Overbay. One down. Baldelli pinch-hitting for Floyd.Baldelli grounds out, to McDonald throw to Overbay. Aybar fly ball out to Wells.

Top 9th: Blue Jays ninth. Baldelli in as designated hitter. Hammel pitching. Scutaro flied out to left fielder Hinske. Rios flied out to right fielder Gross. Wells with two down, first pitch HR swing, a bomb to CF no doubt about that one. 6-2 Jays, that helps. Miller pitching.Lind strikes out on three.
Bottom 9th: BJ Ryan pitching but not a save situation. He was up in bullpen before sixth run. Zobrist at bat full count, strikes out. One down. Riggins grounds to McDonald at SS, throw to Overbay. Two down for Ruggiano, strikes out and Jays win 6-2 Halladay his sixteenth.

Now the hardest one game two with Purcey pitching. This will not be an easy one and will be one that the hitters have to support Purcey bigtime.
Scott Rolen activated from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday. He is expected to work out with the team for a couple days before returning to the starting lineup.

Cito on Rolen: "I'm going to have him in the lineup pretty much everyday,"
Jeremy Accardo is also out for rest of season will not pitch again this season due to a right forearm injury.