Marcum gem with run support in smore than enough to start the new win streak as Jays beat White Sox.

Toronto v White Sox. Series and season finale with Sox. Thursday September 11, 2008.

Preview: Jays hoping to rebound from last night loss and streak ending game. Twins have lost this afternoon to Kansas which helps wild card race IF Jays can win and gain a game. Jays almost pulled it off with last innings heroics and five runs after Buehrle had shut them out for seven. But Alex Rios leaves Scutaro at 3B when he struck out. That was not a good way to end the comeback.

For the record book though the 10-game win streak was against teams with winning record: Yankees, Twins, Rays and White Sox. That is very impressive. Only six other major league teams since 1900 have won 10 consecutive games against teams with winning records. The last to do so were the 2007 Rockies. One more would have been new ML record and they were one hit away in the bottom of the 9th. Jays fans will remember that as one of the highlights of this horribly inconsistent season.

Tonight’s game we may see more small ball from White Sox to make up for lack of power with Quentin and Konerko out of the lineup. (see Manager Guillen’s comment below). I don’t think we will see that from Jays, not Cito’s style. It would have been interesting though to see a suicide squeeze last night from Rios and Scutaro at 3B to tie the game up… We should see Overbay in the lineup to make up for last night’s experiment with Bautista which failed miserably. Cito said he was trying to add more power to the lineup ??? Obviously backfired bigtime with shutout for seven innings and the horrible errors at 1B. Marcum pitching tonight, I don’t think anyone knows what to expect but this is a game Jays really need to win. Not just for play off chances but it will also affect the pitching lineups for Fenway this weekend.
If Jays win, then Halladay will go again on three day’s rest on Sunday. If they don’t win, then expect to see Parrish and Richmond pitch the double header.

From the good side last night the fight back against Sox bullpen was impressive especially in the ninth against Bobby Jenks a very good closer. Downside was the mental side once again for many of the Jays. The base running goof by Vernon in the very first inning when it looked as if Jays might get to Buehrle. The three errors by Jays for a team that has played excellent defence for most of the two weeks prior to visiting Chicago. Jays are not a team that plays every pitch, every at bat with their heads. They have not done so all season and appear to be unable to concentrate now when these games are deciding play in October.

What they are saying :
Halladay: "It doesn't matter if you've won 10 or lost 10. But given how well we've been playing, yeah it's disappointing. But you have to get over it. ..."
Manager Ozzie Guillen: "If we don't have the guys who hit home runs in the lineup, we have to try to do something different,"

Konerko on his injury: "It's different if this happened in April or May," "You might wait until there was no pain. I'll just wait until I can function and if there is some pain, that's fine. ... We're fighting here for a spot in the playoffs, but you got to be able to function when you hit."

Pitching: Gavin Floyd (15-6, 3.72 ERA) v Shaun Marcum (8-6, 3.42) . Floyd has won his last five decisions, and Sox have won seven of his last eight starts during that stretch. He pitched seven innings Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels allowing five runs and seven hits in Chicago's 7-5, 15-inning win. Has had only one inning of work against the Jays and that was in 2007 and pitched a perfect inning of relief.
Marcum is 3-1 with a 2.83 ERA in his last five starts. He pitched seven scoreless innings Saturday against Tampa Bay allowing four hits while striking out seven before Toronto won 7-4 in 13 innings. He has pitched well against Chicago and is 2-0 with a 2.04 ERA in three starts against White Sox. He gave up two hits in 6 2-3 scoreless on May 2 in a 2-0 win.

Lineups: Toronto: Inglett, Scutaro, Rios, Wells, Lind, Overbay, Barajas, Rolen, Snider and Marcum pitching. First team playing tonight…. I bet Halladay wishes he had had this lineup last night.
Chicago: Cabrera, Wise, Dye, Thome, Ramirez, Pierzynski, Griffey, Swisher, Uribe, and Floyd pitching.

The result: Jays win this one 6-4.

The very good: Marcum. Excellent outing for seven. 106 pitches.

The good: Jays hitters coming though big in the eight for six runs. Everybody in the lineup getting at least one hit tonight. Inglett, Rios and Wells all now with averages over .300 plus Snider but he has limited at bats. Good defence by Jays apart from Rolen error.
The bad: Downs with two outs gives up four runs. BJ making it far too close again but gets the job done and who will know when they see the save? And we also have to look at Rolen’s error on a play he usually gets easily, that would have been the third out after BJ had struck out Griffey and Swisher. Am not being picky here but bases loaded in the ninth with one out big bats have to score. Rolen in the eighth out at 1B after rounding too far on his single. Jays hitters 6/14 with runners in scoring position.

The game: Top 1st: Jays must not look beyond tonight’s game, this is it every pitch, every at bat. Fenway series will still be there tomorrow. Focus tonight. Inglett, grounds to 3B Uribe to first baseman Swisher? Scutaro one down. more patient, full count, doubles to CF wall past Griffey, nice at bat Marco. One on one down for Rios. Can he make up for last night ninth inning? Also more patient, full count, and walks, two on one down for Wells. Patience Vernon…. Swings and misses first pitch, grounds to Uribe, throw to Ramirez gets Rios throw not in time to get Vernon at 1B, we have seen that before with Vernon. Two on the corners. Lind at bat, lines out to Cabrera SS and leaves two on. Adam is just not hitting well right now.
Bottom 1st: Marcum , Cabrera pops up to Inglett behind Overbay, one down. Wise at bat, grounds to Inglett throw to Overbay for second out. Dye at bat, grounds to Rolen throw to Overbay for third out. Good inning for Shaun. Now let’s get those bats going.

Top 2nd: Overbay, he was missed last night defensively. Grounds to Ramirez throw to Swisher for first out. Barajas at bat pops up first pitch to Uribe. Two down for Rolen. Grounds to Cabrera SS throw high and pulls Swisher off the bag at 1B, Scott escapes there. Error to Cabrera. One on and two down for Snider. Pops up to Ramirez at 2B. Jays go much too quietly here.
Bottom 2nd: Thome at bat, strikes out on three pitches, very nice Shaun. One down for Ramirez, singles up the middle, Scutaro gets glove on it to slow it down but safe at 1B. Pierzynski with one on.fly ball out to Wells in CF, two down. Griffey at bat, Ramirez stealing, Barajas throw wild of 2B but great dive by Scutaro to save base there. Griffey walks. Two on , two down for Swisher grounds to Inglett, dive to stop and throw to Overbay,for third out. Great defence so far tonight for Jays.

Top 3rd: Top of the order now. Inglett at bat, grounds to 2B Ramirez throw to Swisher, one down. Scutaro, shows bunt, grounds to SS Cabrera throw to Swisher for second out. Rios now grounds down the line to Uribe, throw not in time and Alex safe at 1B. Swisher pulled off the bag. Error to Swisher. Perhaps it is the White Sox tonight to get the errors. Wells now with one on and two down. Pops it up to Cabrera.
Bottom 3rd: Uribe at bat, strikes out on three pitches. Cabrera strikes out but not before loud hit just wide of foul pole in LF. That was very close. Wise with two down high fly ball out to Wells in CF. Sox hitting Marcum hard but so far fortunately no damage.

Top 4th: Are Jays bats ever going to get going here ? Lind at bat, this is one that is in need of a hit. High fly ball out to Wise in LF, one down for Overbay fly ball out to Wise in LF. Barajas, grounds to 3B Uribe throw to Swisher for third out. Three up and down. Jays look awfully flat tonight, no spirit in their at bats. They are making Floyd look like Cy Young here.
Bottom 4th: Dye at bat, singles to Wells in CF. One on for Thome. Full count. Not good Shaun, be careful here. Strike three. Gets him looking, nice pitch Shaun. Ramirez at bat, strikes out great pitch. Strikeout number five for Marcum tonight. Pierzynski, pops it up to Scutaro on first pitch.

Top 5th: Jays bats have gone home tonight. Rolen strikes out swinging. Jays hitters are all trying to pull the ball tonight. Snider pops it up to 3B Uribe for second out. Inglett 0-2 tonight. Grounds to Ramirez throw to Floyd for third out. Jays have one hit tonight.
Bottom 5th: Griffey at bat, grounds to Inglett throw to Overbay for first down. Swisher pops it up to Overbay, two down for Uribe. Doubles down the 3B line. One on two down. Cabrera grounds a bullet to Overbay, great play for third out. Where were you last night Lyle ?

Top 6th: Jays have to snap out of this hitting fog here. No use waiting for Fenway it won’t matter at this rate. Top of the order. Scutaro at bat, not swinging at close pitches here full count and singles into RF, his second hit tonight and the only two Jays hits. Very good at bat for Marco. Rios now can he earn his money tonight ? NO grounds to SS throw to 2B Scutaro out at 2B and Ramirez throw not in to time to get Rios, Swisher says he tagged him umpire disagrees and calls Alex safe. One down. Wells goes after pitch out of zone, now grounds to SS Cabrera, throw to Ramirez at 2B gets Alex throw to Swisher and Vernon is out, double play. This is so frustrating, this is like the Jays of early season not the last month. Cito MUST start to play small ball, start those runners at 1B especially when it is Rios. I would rather see Alex thrown out at 2B than the double play. Jays hitters seem asleep tonight. 68 pitches.
Bottom 6th: Wise at bat, fly ball out to Snider in LF at the wall. Dye at bat, pops it up to Rolen at 3B two down for Thome. Grounds to Scutaro playing at 2B with shift right on for Thome. Three up and down for Marcum. He is doing a great job here so far.75 pitches.

Top 7th: Lind hitless tonight, that’s better Adam, turns on this one and doubles off RF wall. Lyle bring him in here please. Not this time, grounds weakly to SS Cabrera throw to Swisher for the out. Lind holds at 2B. Barajas at bat, strikes out on three pitches, this is what I mean Cito, move the guy over anyway you can. Rolen at bat, grounds to Uribe and throw to Swisher for third out. Lind double is wasted.
Bottom 7th: Ramirez grounds first pitch to Inglett throw to Overbay for first out. Pierzynski grounds to Overbay, throw to Marcum for second out. Griffey at bat, two down, full count, golfs this one gently to Rios running in from RF. Three up and down for Marcum again. 86 pitches.

Top 8th: Let’s see what Jays can do here. Snider, 0-2 tonight. That’s the way Travis. Doubles to right CF wall. Once again Jays have leadoff at 2B. Inglett now he can bunt. Wilkerson pinch running for Snider. That’s the way Joe… nice bunt moves Wilkerson easily to 3B. One down one at 3B. for Scutaro. Another bunt ? No, but this will do, singles to RF. Wilkerson scores 1-0 Jays. 3-3 tonight for Scutaro. Rios now, has to come through here yes he does, singles to RF. Two on one down for Wells. Vernon singles to LF and loads the bases for Lind. That’s it for Floyd. He pitched very well for seven. Thornton now pitching, this guy is good. I would try a bunt here Adam. 3-1 count, what are you doing Adam, swing or take? Takes it, strike two, he thought it was ball four. Strikes him out. Overbay now with two down and bases still loaded. Singles up the middle, Scutaro scores, Rios scores and Vernon moves to 3B. 3-0 Jays. Great clutch hitting by Lyle there. That’s it for Thornton. Wasserman now pitching. Barajas great chance to break his slump. YES Rod. Doubles down the line into LF corner, Vernon scores 4-0 Jays. Two on two down for Rolen. Yes he does singles down the line into LF corner, Overbay scores, Barajas scores, but now Rolen thrown out at 1B came too far off the bag. 6-0 Jays. Finally the bats wake up tonight and in a big way for six runs.
Bottom 8th: Marcum still in there, Wilkerson in LF for Lind. Swisher at bat, strikes out. Uribe at bat, 3-0 count. Singles over Inglett into right center, that’s it for Shaun here is Cito. No, he is staying in there. 99 pitch count. Cabrera at bat, Downs is up in Jays bullpen with League. Full count, if he loses this one he is finished for the night. Singles into LF, sorry Shaun that is it this time. Two on one down and Downs now pitching. Brian Anderson pinch hitting for Wise, 3-1 count. Whoa…. Gets hold of this one high fly ball to RF corner Rios gets this one right against the wall. Almost out of here. Two down, both runners move up into scoring position for Dye. 3-1 count again. Lines a double to the wall over the head of Rios. Two runs score. 6-2 Jays. Here comes Thome, two down and Dye in scoring position. There it goes. Thome gets hold of this one and no question, HR to CF, Vernon watches it go, two run HR. 6-4 Jays. That’s it for Downs. His last few outings have not been good…… Four runs with two outs. Cito bringing in Brandon League here. Bases empty two down. Ramirez grounds to Scutaro throw to Overbay for third out.

Top 9th: Jays need to get at least one back here. Horacio Ramirez pitching. Wilkerson first at bat tonight. Grounds to Ramirez 2B throw to Swisher for the out ay 1B. One down for Inglett singles this one down the 3B line. One on, one down for Scutaro 3-4 tonight. That’s it for Ramirez. D.J. Carrasco pitching. Pitch out but Joe is not going. 2-0 count. 3-0, walks him on four pitches. Rios now, could not do it last night in the ninth, perhaps tonight, Singles into RF off glove of Ramirez. Bases loaded for Vernon…. One down. Takes ball one, lifts this one to Ramirez for the out in shallow right, not good Vernon. Lind can you show them how Adam ? Two down bases stuill loaded. That’s it for Carrasco. Captain Hook has nothing on Guillen. This is his whole bullpen. Boone Logan now pitching for final out. Strikes out, leaving bases loaded.
Bottom 9th: Here we go, BJ Ryan for the save with a two run lead….Hang on to your seat belts friends. Pierzynski at bat, hits him. How many times has BJ done that recently? Pinch runner Jason Borgeous. Griffey now at bat strikes out. One down, Swisher at bat, full count, strikes out swinging. Two down for Uribe. Singles into LF corner through Rolen. Error to Rolen here, this could be huge. Borgeous moves to 3B. Cabrera top of the order two down two on, 2-2 count, strikes him out, loosen those seat belts friends.
Jays win this one 6-4 Marcum gets the well deserved win and save number 29 for Ryan.

This win is huge for many, many reasons. One to get back into winning streak after last night. Win series against Chicago, gain a game in wild card race with Twins losing. Going into Fenway on a winning high, you don’t think Boston players were not watching this one. Hits from the guys who had been silent recently. Barajas and Rolen coming through. Scutaro getting very hot at the right time. Marcum backing up Halladay and Burnett.