Pitching, pitching and more pitching wins this one for Jays.

Wednesday March 4, 2009. Jays v USA.

Cito takes this one seriously and puts out a competitive lineup with probably 5-6 possibles for opening day lineup. USA is in town.

Lineups: USA: Victorino ,Jeter, Chipper Jones, David Wright, Adam Dunn, Braun, De Rosa, Ianetta, Granderson and ex-Jay Ted Lilly pitching.
Jays respond with: Joe Inglett, Hill, Lind, Millar, Lane, Rolen, Snider, Chavez McDonald, and lhp Brad Mills.

This was a pitching duel with Jays winning this for first seven innings. Brad Mills gives another great start for three one hit one run innings. Matt Clement follows with a much better outing than his last and three more scoreless innings.

But the return of Casey Janssen after the loss of 2008 season and pitching a very good seventh to preserve a one hitter and more importantly gives JP a good night’s sleep tonight.
It was the 8th inning that the Jays train came off the tracks with Santos pitching. It was not so much Santos as his fielders behind him. First Doparik muffs a Jeter out at first with a brain spasm of trying to run him out instead of throw to Santos. Then dear Russ Adams in LF muffs a line drive and with two 2 errors Santos gives up four runs to let the USA take the lead. 5-2.
Jays go into the 8th down 5-2. Dopirak gets one back for Jays in the bottom of the 8th and then in the bottom of the 9th Jays load them up against JJ Putz who had an awful outing today. Campbell brings one in with line drive to LF but runners are held and only one runs scores. Bases still loaded Ruiz strikes out leaving Dopirak facing Putz with 5-4 game, two down and bases loaded.
He comes through bigtime for the second inning in a row with liner just inside 3rd base bag and scores two to win this one for Jays. 6-5. Dopirak ends with a two hit 3rbi afternoon (and his error but who is quibbling?)

Very well deserved win behind some excellent Jays pitching. The starting rotation is now getting to look a lot better with both Mills and Clement coming through today backed up by Janssen. Better still the win was with the younger guys. Lots of hits again for Jays, they are certainly getting them in each game. Today they had the pitching to support and win this one and that starting rotation is looking better by the day. AJ ??? who is that?

Rolen looking very good in his at bats, was robbed by Scott Rollings first at bat but came through with solid hit in the 5th.
The bad today ??? three errors by Jays, two in the 8th to let USA score four and two at 1B one by Kevin Millar doing a Bill Buckner impersonation.
And Russ Adams, why does Cito continue to use this guy ? and in the outfield ??? This team has outfielders galore and Russ really is out of place with this team.
Adam Dunn, how big is this guy ??? he is HUGE…6’ 6” and 275 llbs (Rolen b comparision is 6’4” and 250lbs ) but for a giant of a man he is incredibly quick on his feet and made a sensational catch to prevent a double down the RF line.

But this one today friends is Jays day over Team USA celebrate it big and Cito you did ok today.

Tomorrow Jays are off but this blogger intends to see Team USA cross town to play the World Champion Phillies and I would wager that every seat is sold for this one.

For Ingoldisthorpe Jay: WBC is the World Baseball Classic, similar to the World Cup for soccer. There are 16 teams playing. Canada is in the division with Team USA and they play on Toronto starting on Saturday. The Jays have several players playing for their countries.
The 16 in four pools are Japan, Korea, Taipei, and China.Mexico, South Africa Australia and Cuba. Canada, USA Venezuala and Italy, Nethsralnds, Panama, Domican Republic and Puerto Rico.
Starts tomorrow/today whenever Thursday is in Tokyo with Japan v China.