Jays give away another and ruin great outing by Romero,

Toronto v Baltimore. Game two.

Jays have Romero tonight on a four game win streak but must continue to pitch well to win another. Jays hitters have to come out of their funk. Only two runs last night and although enough to win that one it is far from their average. Jays have not won two in a row in more than two weeks. Earlier in the season they had not lost two in row for weeks. In his last and only game with Baltimore on May 26, Romero gave up five runs and 11 hits over 5 1-3 innings in a 7-2 loss. Gave up season high three home runs to Jones, Huff and Reimold. That was his first start after injury. Since then he has been excellent winning four straight.. Problem is that he is a rookie and could get over confident, not tonight please Ricky, Jays need a win. Baltimore reply with Rich Hill who has been pitching very badly over the last three outings with a 13.15 ERA. Jays have to get to him early and hard. He also gave up six earned runs over 3 1-3 innings against Toronto on May 27. Hinske has two home runs for Yankees in California this afternoon.

Lineups: Toronto: Scutaro, Hill, Lind, Rolen, Wells, Rios, Millar, Barajas, Bautista and Romero pitching.
Baltimore: Roberts, Jones, Markakis, Huff, Wigginton, Scott, Mora, Wieters, Andino and Hill pitching.

The good: Romero and that’s it tonight apart from excellent gold glove defence by Rolen.

The bad: Up and down the lineup 3/15 with runners in scoring position, Jays had chance after chance, twelve of them to win this thing. Ruined another great outing by Romero and also lose chance to pick up game on Yankees and Tampa both losing today. Very disappointing against a team below them in the division.

Top 1st: Scutaro, grounds to Andino at short, throw to Wigginton at first. Hill, strikes him out looking, not sure about Aaron these days…. Lind, pops up to left centre. Jays go far too easily here, three up and down not a good sign. Don’t take Hill lightly.
Bottom 1st: Roberts, grounds to Rolen, throw to Millar for first out. Jones singles into right past diving Millar. Markakis with one on and one down. Perfect grounds to Hill, throw to Scutaro back to Millar, double play ball.

Top 2nd: Rolen, grounds softly to Andino throw to Wigginton for first out. Wells, oh boy, Vernon tags one to left and great catch by Scott over the wall, perfectly timed, that was a home run taken away from Vernon. That was very tough Vernon. Rios grounds to Andino throw to Wigginton to end this one.
Bottom 2nd: Huff, long fly ball to Vernon in centre, one down for Wigginton, doubles to wall in centre right, great ovation for Scott here for that catch. Grounds to Hill, flip to Millar for second out. Wigginton moves to third. Two down for Mora. Full count after being ahead 0-2, come on Ricky. Bear down here. Walks him, not good. Wieters, two on and two down. Pops it up, Wells sliding and off his glove, run scores, runners move to second and third.1-0 Orioles. That was tough but Romero has put himself in this he had Mora at 0-2 and could not finish him off. Andino, gets him on great curve but he had many extra unnecessary pitches and is one run down as a result. 34 pitch count.

Top 3rd: Millar, grounds to second throw to Wigginton for first out. Barajas, pops it up to Jones. Two down. Jays are letting Hill dominate them here. Bautista, swinging wildly at first two pitches way outside. Singles over head of second. One on first base hit for Jays tonight, Scutaro. Balk called and Bautista moves to second, Scutaro fly ball to left for third out. Jays are not playing well tonight. Angels are hammering Yankees 14-8 top of 9th. Could be two losses in a row but of no value if Jays cannot get their act together here. Hinske has two home runs !!!
Bottom 3rd: Roberts walks. I tell you Romero is not focused here at all tonight. Jones, Now Barajas goes out, settle him down Rod. Grounds to Rolen throw to second gets Roberts, no chance for double play here. Jones at first. One down for Markakis, Jones running but great throw by Barajas gets him at second. Jays catchers have much better record this season and catching runners. Two down Markakis grounds to Scutaro throw just gets him at first.

Top 4th: Jays hitters have to get to Hill now. He has had no problems at all so far apart from that Vernon hit which could have gone out. Hill leading off. Final in LA, Yankees lose 14-8 and two in a row to the Angels. Hill swings at first pitch, nowhere near, that’s better Aaron, gets hold of this one and doubles to the wall in left centre gap. Lind, strikes out looking, could not move Hill over. Rolen perfect timing for him to get that hit streak going again. High fly ball to Scott in left. Hill does not move on the play. Wells, who tagged Hill the first time and deserved a home run. Full count to Vernon. He will not give you one to hit here Vernon. That was ball four but Vernon fouls it off. This one is down and in and almost hits him. Ball four. Vernon at first, Hill has not moved since leadoff double. Rios now, don’t try to be a hero Alex, just a base hit. Strikes out. Head in the air no eye on the ball. Back to his usual. Jays leave leadoff double out there despite four attempts from their numbers three, four, five and six hitters. Says it all tonight so far at least. Hill is dominating them out there and without any thought of aggressive running or hit and run or bunting, this team is not going to win this one. You can feel it.
Bottom 4th: Huff, grounds to Hill throw to Millar for the out. Wigginton, lines one to Wells, two down for Scott. This one is tagged deep to right over the gate into the walkway. 2-0 Orioles. Scott’s night tonight so far. Mora, fly ball to Wells for third out but Orioles have two and Jays are looking like AAA tonight.

Top 5th: Jays hitters have an uphill fight tonight, Millar leadoff double into left but we have been here before. Perhaps the bottom of the order can do better, they can’t do worse. Barajas, lines it to Jones in centre, one down. Millar stays at second, this is becoming like a broken record. Jays fifth attempt to get a hit with a guy at second, Bautista, lines to Scott, Sixth attempt. Scutaro now. But I am not taking any bets that he will do anything better. Finally, on a 2-2 count, Scutaro doubles down left field line but it should not take seven yes seven attempts to move a guy from second. 2-1. Hill, first pitch swing lines it into left and Scutaro scores. 2-2. Finally they have woken up here, Scott’s throw by the way was way off the plate up first base line. Jays will remember that. Game is all tied up. Lind, with Hill at first. Now (the other) Hill is getting concerned throwing over to keep Aaron there, full count. Takes third strike again. Not a good at bat Adam. 70 pitches for Hill.
Bottom 5th: Wieters strikes out. Andino grounds to Rolen throw to Millar. Roberts grounds back to Romero throw to Millar.

Top 6th: Rolen, fly ball to Scott. One down for Wells, singles to left. Rios, 0-2, fly ball to Scott, Two down for Millar. Vernon has not moved from first, he has to test Wieter’s arm here. Not like that Vernon, is caught in a rundown and out. 87 pitches for Hill.
Bottom 6th: Jones, grounds to Hill throw to Millar, one down. Markakis, this is trouble, doubles into right corner. Huff, that’s the way to execute, doubles into right centre and Markakis scores easily, 3-2 Orioles. Orioles 2/3 with runners in scoring position Jays 2 for 8. And there’s the difference and major weakness of this Jays team. Pops it high to Millar at first. Two down for Scott. High fly ball to Rios in right, but Orioles are out ahead again. 83 pitches.

Top 7th: Boston winning, Tampa losing and Yankees have already lost. Can the Jays make up a game tonight? Millar to finish off his at bat from the last inning when Vernon was picked off. Singles into left. Second hit for Kevin tonight. Here comes the coach Kramitz that’s it for Hill. Danys Baez pitching, Barajas at bat. Strikes out. One down for Bautista. Great, grounds to Andino flip to Roberts throw to Wigginton double play ball.
Bottom 7th: Mora, 3-0 and walks on four pitches, not good Ricky. Concentrate here. Bullpen gets the call. League. Wieters, throw over behind Mora, he was just standing there, now caught in rundown finally Barajas ? gets him. That was crazy four or five attempts. Wieters pops up to Hill in shallow right. Two down. Andino 2-0 count, that brings out Barajas come on Ricky number nine guy here. 3-0 count. There’s a strike, full count, strikes out.

Top 8th: Can Jays make Orioles pay for that mental error by Mora. Top of the order. Scutaro to leadoff. New pitcher Jim Johnson. Hits Scutaro on the arm, that hurt. Hill 2-3 tonight, that pitch is inside just misses Hill. Johnson a little wild here. There goes Scutaro, Hill grounds back to Johnson, not way to get Scutaro throw to first for the out, but stays out of a double play. That’s more like the aggressive stuff we need more of. Scutaro seems to have great base running sense. Lind at bat, hitless tonight, and was clueless against Hill, one down one in scoring position but Jays 3/8 tonight so don’t bet the house on this one, those are not very good odds. Full count, that one was very close to take Adam, singles to left. Scutaro to third. Much better at bat for Lind. Here comes the coach. Rolen now with Scutaro at third and Lind at first and one down. This could be the game here. This should do it, high fly ball to Scott in left. Scutaro tags and scores. This game is tied up. 3-3. Lind tags and goes to second on throw. Two down for Wells, chance to go ahead here Vernon. Strikes out.
Bottom 8th: Tampa losing to Oakland 7-2 top of the ninth. Kansas fighting back against Red Sox, now 9-4. Romero still out there, 99 pitches. Roberts, singles up the middle. Jones, perfect, grounds too Hill, flip to Scutaro throw to Millar falls over but makes the play, double play ball. Two down for Markakis. 2-2 count, grounds to Millar, for third out.

Top 9th: Can Jays get a couple here for Downs ? and Ricky of course. Great outing after rocky start. Sherrill now pitching. Ok Alex, big opportunity here. We need a hit. Takes first two for strikes. Hmm. Keep your head down now Alex. Grounds to third, throw just beats him but good hustle for Alex. Millar, pops it up to Scott in shallow left. Two down for Barajas. Frasor and Downs up in bullpen. Barajas first pitch ! grounds to Mora at third easy play. For third out. Not a good at bat there Rod. Game is on the line here.
Bottom 9th: Tampa has lost, Kansas has six now. Losing 9-6 but fighting back at Fenway. Great chance for Jays to pick up on Yankees and Tampa. Frasor now pitching. Huff, Frasor overthrowing here. Get it down Jason, 3-1 count. Huff pops it up to Scutaro. One down for Wigginton,full count. Singles over head of leaping Scutaro to left. One on one down for Scott. Need a ground ball here Jason. Let your defense help. 3-1 count. You don’t want to walk this guy and put two on. Swings and misses, full count. Strikes out swinging over great pitch inside. Two down for Mora. 1-2 count, grounds to Scutaro flip to Hill at second for third out. This game is extra innings.

Top 10th: Jays record not so good with the extra innings in last week or so and 4-7 overall.Time to change that. Bautista to leadoff, can he get on for the top of the order? Brian Bass now pitching. Yes Jose, singles past diving Roberts into gap in right centre, Scutaro with one on. Bunting ? yes but lousy bunt, foul. 1-1. Perfect this time dead in front of plate. Bautista at second. However they still have to bring the guy in here. Hill grounds to third, throw to first Bautista safe at third but two down. Lind, grounds to Roberts at second, throw to first for third out. Jays waste another great opportunity. Can’t keep hoping to get away with this.
Bottom 10th: Orioles 3-3 in extra innings. League now pitching, if he is wild then this one is over. Wieters, grounds to Rolen covering in front of Scutaro ! great range Scott and throw to Millar, gold glove play, one down for pinch hitter Salazar, free swinging here, 0-2 count, strikes out, two down. Top of the order again, Roberts grounds back to League throw to Millar for third out, Nice pitching Brandon.

Top 11th: 9-7 to Boston in Fenway in the 7th. Boston had been winning 9-0 at one stage. Izturis in at short, Bass still out there, Rolen at bat. Full count. Perfect, a dribbler up third base line, goes five feet but enough for Rolen to get safe at first, no chance of a throw for Mora. Scott will take it. Vernon with one on, strikes out, one down for Rios. Oh boy Rolen in pickoff they have him hung up, no, the ball is dropped by Wieters and Rolen safe back at first. Huge…. Make them pay here Alex. Full count. Overbay on deck. Singles off the glove of diving Mora into shallow left. Rolen was running on the play, easy to third, Alex safe at first, one down for Overbay. 2-2 count. Lyle fouling them off here. Oh man, strikes out at one in the dirt. Two down for Barajas, take your time Rod here. Grounds it at Mora off his glove again but plenty of time to get Barajas at first. Jays just unable to hit with runners in scoring position. 3/12 tonight alone.
Bottom 11th: League out for another. Jones at bat. strikes out on three pitches. Markakis, doubles to the wall in left centre. Huff intentional walk. Wigginton with two on and one down. YES, YES, Scotty, great play Wigginton grounds to third, Rolen tags Markakis going by throws to Overbay to get Wigginton, double play, great play.

Top 12th: Now Jays should be boosted by that play and come out fired up, and score five. Bautista to lead off. Hendrickson now pitching strikes out. Scutaro one down. Singles into right centre. One on for Hill, come on Aaron just a hit here. Don’t worry about home runs. Fly ball to centre, Scutaro cannot move. Two down for Lind. Scutaro going and safe at second on the throw. Come on Adam. Grounds to Roberts throw to first for third out. This is not meant to be tonight. Jays 3/15 with runners in scoring position, you will not win many games with stats like that.
Bottom 12th: Carlson, in his 44th game, that’s a lot of pitching. Scott, 0-2 strikes out swinging nice pitching Jesse. Mora this is it, home run to right, Alex doesn’t even jump for it. Over the Orioes dugout. Orioles win this one 4-3 but Jays have only themselves to blame tonight. You can’t hope to win a game 3/15 runners in scoring position. This is a season long deficiency. This should be number one priority for Cito and his hitting coaches in the spring in Dunedin. Jays also now 4-8 in extra innings games.

Tomorrow the last game of the first half of season and Jay will be trying to get to .500. The way they are playing that will be a difficult task for them.