Jays hitters show fighting spirit to win season high comebacker.

Toronto v Baltimore. Game two of series. Wednesday September 17, 2008.

Preview: Interesting situation, Jays about to announce that Cito will be Manager next season, not good. I am not a fan of Cito and do not believe that he has done any better than Gibbons was doing. Witness the last few games where this team hitting has been pathetic. If Cito takes credit for the 10 game win streak then he takes the fall for the current mess. He can’t have just the good.
Gibbons may be blamed for the hitting woes but I also give him credit for the best month of the season in May with the 20-10 record that Cito and staff have yet to match. I believe he has indeed restored some calm to the lineup but now this team is so calm and laid back they have no fire and no determination. When was the last time a Jays player was tossed from a game for showing emotion ? Where is the aggressive baseball that Tampa, Boston, Yankees show most of the time. Not Cito’s way…. Well what is Cito’s way? If the hitting last three games is the way then next season will be a bust.
This “first pitch swinging fever” now up and down the lineup is ruining the team and more to the point has resulted in zilch. One perfect example of what I am talking about was last night’s game with young Travis Snider. Playing against a lefty pitcher to get him accustomed to them he took an eight pitch count from Waters and doubled into CF. The only multibase hit of the night for the Jays. All around him and now including Lind which is real shame, the hitters are swinging at “their good pitch”, the first pitch and getting in a deep hole from pitch one.

Rios and Wells are the biggest culprits but now Overbay, Zaun, Rolen, and Scutaro are following their leaders. Opposing pitchers must love it, pitch them all away first pitch, strike one, a couple of more pitches and then down and away to Rios and Wells and bingo. Everybody on baseball knows that Rios and Wells cannot hold off that pitch. Sorry Cito until that is changed then you can keep your style of hitting coaching. As for Rios, he has to be one of the biggest busts of the season in the majors. A player with undoubted skills, with bat, speed and defence and yet still unwilling to run out a ground ball to 1B, run into the wall in RF, let alone shallow foul ground or change his awful hitting. A player yet to have a full season of good baseball and I am afraid that as long as he is not disciplined by his Manager and benched occasionally to bring him up short, he will continue in his own little world that has no link with the game at hand.

So tonight’s game. Can the Jays extend their losing streak to four ? Probably not they may score twenty runs or be shut out again and this is what drives the fans crazy, they never ever know which team is showing up to play from game to game. They do know that the pitchers for the most part will pitch their hearts out hoping that their brothers have brought their bats with them. If and a very big if, this Jays team thinks that they are playoff material then they need to finish the season on a 10-2 run or better. That will be the only signal to the fans that they are for real and not a mirage every night. More to the point for Mr. Rogers he will want to see some bodies in those seats and not the opposing “nations” of fans. Last night’s crowd or lack of was a almost as embarrassing as the way the team played but message to the top, the fans are not as stupid as you may think and they will not be back unless we can see some attractive and entertaining baseball. Cito are you listening. Someone wake him up in that dugout.

What are they saying? Waters: Anytime I'm out there I want to go all nine. Sometimes you don't have what you need to do it but tonight was special."

Marcum: "I threw a couple of changeups, my forearm tightened up and I got some numbness down in my pinkie finger, my hand was going numb. Hopefully I'm not shut down and can make my next two starts and try to end on a good note for next year."

The Manager: We'd like to stay there (third place), so it's important that we play hard the rest of the way no matter what happens. Like I said earlier in the week, we'd like to make a statement to everybody else that we will be around. If it doesn't happen this year, we'll see that it happens next year. So it's important for us to play hard the rest of the way." (or if it doesn’t happen next year Cito there is always 2010…..I hope the last few games is not what he means by playing hard.)
More Manager Cito: “You just hate to lose at this time of the year because you really feel like you've taken a step backward."

Pitching tonight: Purcey (3-6, 5.10) v Bass (3-4, 4.84 ERA)
Purcey makes his first start against Baltimore . After a great outing and pitching eight innings in a 1-0 win over Tampa Bay he was not good in last start in Boston in a 7-0 loss at Boston. He allowed four runs - three earned - and six hits with two walks in 6 2-3 innings. Purcey is 2-2 with a 4.88 ERA in six home starts. He should be in line for rotation in 2009 but is he good enough or does he need another season in AAA ? One of the spring training questions.
Bass makes his second career start. Acquired from Minnesota on Sept. 5, the right-hander was in the rotation Thursday against Cleveland and pitched well enough to earn another start, allowing three runs - one earned - and four hits over 4 1-3 innings 6-3 victory. Bass pitched two scoreless innings on May 13 in his only career appearance against Toronto.

The lineups: Baltimore: Roberts, Markakis, Mora, Huff, Hernandez, Jones, Salazar, Montanez, Castro and Bass pitching.
Toronto: Inglett, Scutaro, Rios, Wells, Lind, Overbay, Rolen, Zaun, Snider and Purcey pitching.

The result: Jays win great comeback game 8-7 after spotting Orioles a six run lead. Their biggest comeback of the season.

The good: Comeback win from 0-6. Hitters all down lineup everyone of starting lineup gets a hit, but Rolen 3-4 with triple and two doubles. Rios with double and HR, and Snider one again showing that he does belong in the majors, two key hits and two RBIs including sac fly for the winning run. Bullpen especially Tallet and Carlson who gets the win tonight and of course BJ Ryan closing the door for save number thirty.

The bad: Purcey in the fifth letting game get away from him. Jays bats for four innings and the previous nine last night.

The game: Top 1st: Roberts doubled to left. Here we go friends. Markakis singles to LF, Roberts moves to 3B. Two on not outs. Mora grounds to shortstop Scutaro on to 2B Inglett on to first baseman Overbay double play, but Roberts scores 1-0 Baltimore. Huff singles to CF. Hernandez grounds to 2B Inglett for the third out Huff at 2B.
Bottom 1st: Inglett strikes out. Scutaro grounds to SS Castro to first baseman Huff. Rios strikes out.

Top 2nd: Jones fly ball out to CF Wells. Salazar grounds to SS Scutaro throw to 1B Overbay.Montanez strikes out. 19 pitches
Bottom 2nd: Wells what has he brought tonight? Takes first pitch, well that’s a change. Full count, Vernon patient ? High fly ball out to LF one down for Lind, drives this one up the middle for first Jays hit. Overbay that’s it, grounds to 2B Roberts flip to SS Castro on to 1B Huff inning ending double play. Thanks Lyle. 17 ! pitches for Bass. Looking like last night again.

Top 3rd: Castro pops up to Rios one down. Roberts strikes out. Two down for Markakis full count. Walks him, Mora at bat with two down and one on, on a two strike pitch again, rolls one down to 3B, Both runners safe. Huff with two on now, pops it up to Rolen behind 3B but Purcey had loads of extra pitches there as he could not put the hitters away with two strikes. 40 pitches.
Bottom 3rd: Jays have not scored in thirteen innings. There’s a problem here hitting coaches. And this is so embarrassing, fortunately not many fans again tonight to see it. Rolen now leadoff double to LF off the glove of Montanez. Zaun now with runner in scoring position for only the second time in two games… Zaun grounds to Castro, throw to Huff, Rolen stays there. Snider now grounds first pitch oh no not Travis to 2B Roberts but at least he moves Rolen to 3B first for a Jays hitter this week. Things are definitely looking up here. How does it feel Scott ? Inglett with two down and Rolen at 3B. fly ball out to LF Montanez, leaving the lead off double at 3B. Hmmm ah well at least Jays managed to get to 3B. 30 pitches.

Top 4th: Hernandez pops up to Inglett for first out. Jones at bat, doubles down the 3B line to Lind in LF. hit number five for Orioles. One on, one down for Salazar, full count. Fouling a lot of pitches here, how come Jays hitters can’t do this? Fly ball out to Wells and Jones tags and moves to 3B. Two down one at 3B. Montanez fly ball out to Lind for third out gets Purcey off the hook.56 pitches.
Bottom 4th: Scutaro lines out to LF Montanez, one down for Rios. Grounds to Mora at 3B and throw to Huff, two down. Wells, singles up the middle. Lind with two down one of the problems Jays have is that as they do not play small ball they have to rely on hits to move the players along, here is wild pitch that will help, two more and Jays will score, Wells moves to 2B. Lind lines out to Huff at 1B. The futility continues. Thirteen innings since the last Jays run and this is Baltimore they are playing, go figure. 39 pitches for Bass.

Top 5th: Castro singles to Lind in LF, One on, great shot of Burnett on the bench you can se what he is thinking, only two more weeks with this group, and who can blame him. Roberts at bat, 3-0 count, loops it to Wells in CF. Two on and no outs and you know Roberts will be stealing immediately. Purcey in big trouble here. Markakis this is it, ground rule double into LF corner, Lind nowhere near, slidng but not at the wall. Reed Johnston would have had that one. Jays really need a good fielding left fielder. Castro scores 2-0 Baltimore and Roberts in at 3B still no outs and two more in scoring position for Mora, two more runs as he singles into right centre, 4-0 Baltimore. Huff with no outs, this one is out of here, second row right field seats, 6-0 Baltimore. Camp up in bullpen. Hernandez singles to LF. Six straight hits. Jones strikes out, Bronx cheer to get first out. Salazar strikes out. Umpire gave him a break on second strike. Montanez number nine batter this inning. Strikes out the side but far too late. Purcey has a lot of work to yet to rival Halladay. Tampa beating up on Boston Wakefield is already out of the game. There is irony for you after what he did to the Jays last weekend.
Bottom 5th: Now this will be interesting, how do the Jays hitters respond? Overbay singles into LF. Rolen at bat, now triples off CF wall, Overbay scores, 6-1 Jays and they have their first run since Sunday, nothing to get too excited about yet friends. Zaun gets hit and two on for Snider, two on and no outs. Singles into RF, scores Rolen 6-2 Baltimore and two on and no outs for Inglett. Grounds to Huff throw to Roberts to get Snider for first out, Zaun moves to 3B one down two on. Scutaro singles into LF Zaun scores 6-3 Baltimore and that’s it for Bass. Scutaro at1B and Inglettt at 2B one down. Cormier pitching Rios at bat, big hit Alex now. Yes, finally, Alex comes through, doubles hard to left centre wall and both Inglett and Scutaro score 6-5 Baltimore now Vernon with Alex at 2B. Strikes out turning away from the pitch, come on Vernon hit the thing, two down for Lind grounds to Huff throw to Cormier for third out. Jays comeback with five after not scoring any in previous fourteen innings. Go figure this team.

Top 6th: Whole new ball game here. Tallet now pitching has to hold them here. Castro fly ball out to Lind in LF. Roberts grounds to Scutaro great throw deep in the hole to Overbay to get him at 1B. Two down. Markakis fly ball out to Wells, three up and down on seven pitches. Good inning by Tallet, or maybe Orioles are in shock after that last inning watching their 6-0 lead evaporate in twenty minutes.
Bottom 6th: Overbay grounds first pitch to Roberts throw to Huff for first out. Rolen grounds to 2B Roberts throw to Huff two quick outs. Zaun loops it into right center. One on for Snider. Johnny Mc. pinch running for Zaun. Full count to Snider I do like this kid so cool and so far does not swing at wild pitches (or first pitches). Grounds to SS Castro full length dive to knock ball down throw not in time to get Snider, great play by Castro but not enough, two one for Inglett. Singles into CF. McDonald scores 6-6 and throw by Jones gets away from catcher Hernandez and both runners move up into scoring position. Scutaro at bat, grounds to Castro throw to Huff to get third out.

Top 7th: Thigpen catching. Mora at bat, grounds to Inglett throw to Overbay for first down. Huff with one down. Full count. another ground ball out to Inglett throw to Overbay for second out. Here comes Cito, that’s it for Tallet. League now I never understand that with Cito when Tallet is going so smoothly, one more pitch and he is out of the inning and in comes another pitcher to get settled in and for one out. Hernandez at bat, full count, strikes him out for third out. Boston and Yankees both losing. Jays missed a chance last night to pull one back on those two so don’t let this one get away.
Bottom 7th: The big bats for Jays, we need to see them hitting here friends and put this game away. Rios at bat, Rocky Cherry now pitching. Not a good ball strike ratio, take a few Alex. YES Alex, gets hold of this one, HR to left centre. Second deck. 7-6 Jays. Vernon now high fly ball out to Jones in CF, one down for Lind. That’s it for Cherry. Jamie Walker now pitching, fly ball out to Jones for second out. Overbay at bat, two down, grounds to Huff throw to Walker for third out.

Top 8th: Wilkerson in LF for Lind. League still pitching. Jones grounds to Scutaro bare hand throw to Overbay to get first out. Salazar, this is trouble, doubles to the CF wall. One on one down for Scott pinch hitting for Montanez. Carlson up in Jays bullpen. Singles up the middle and Salazar scores. 7-7 game. Cintron another pinch hitter, this time for Castro and strikes out. Two down for Roberts, 0-2 count, singles into LF, two on two down, here comes Cito, that is it for League. Jesse Carlson to pitch to Markakis. Full count after 0-2. Grounds to Overbay, throw to Carlson for the third out.
Bottom 8th: Jays need to get that lead back. Yankees now winning Boston still losing. Kam Mickolio now pitching to Rolen, Doubles into LF corner. Third hit tonight for Scott. Thigpen now at bat, shows bunt. Gets it down to move Rolen to 3B. One down for Snider. 2-3 tonight. This will do it, Travis fly ball to LF Scott, Rolen scores 8-7 Jays. Good execution by the Jays with runner in scoring position bunt and sac fly. That is a change from earlier in the season but then neither Thigpen nor Snider were laying wit this team. Two down for Inglett. Singles up the middle, Scutaro fly ball out to Markakis in right centre.

Top 9th: Here we go, BJ Ryan pitching with one run lead. Hang on friends. Mora grounds to Scutaro long throw gets to Overbay in time for the out. Huff at bat fly ball out to Wells in shallow CF. Two down for Hernandez strikes hi out, Save number thirty for Ryan.

Jays win their biggest comeback of the season and none too soon. The spark must have been that six run fifth inning by Baltimore finally giving the Jays offence a kick start. Whatever the reason that is fine with Jays fans and may it continue.
Yankees win so Jays stay still but will gain important one on Boston if they continue to lose.