Jays lose another but show great fight despite another poor performance by Tallet.

Game two. Toronto v Tampa.

Jays need a win tonight from Tallet and he has to have (much) better control than his last several games. He cannot continue to walk hitters and expect to stay in the rotation. And with this Rays team of speedsters he will have a rough night if he pitches the way he did in last two starts.

Lineups: Toronto: Scutaro, Hill, Lind, Rolen, Wells, Millar, Rios, Bautista, Chavez and Tallet pitching.
Tampa: Upton, Crawford, Longoria, Pena. Zobrist, Burrell, Kapler, Navarro and Kazimir pitching.

The good: Jays hitters fighting back throughout, just came up short. Multiple hit games from Scutaro, Hill, Rolen, Wells, and Millar. Rolen continuing his hitting streak to 25 games now. Hayhurst, Carlson and Frasor holding them to two runs. RBIs from seven different players. All of this to my mind is cause for praise. The Jays are NOT playing badly, They could have easily won the series in New York, and could have had the first two here. Last night the game goes to extra innings, tonight they just came up short but had to fight back several times. This will turn and with many more games against Tampa and Yankees I see them winning more than losing especially when they start to get back some of the injured players. Tomorrow the closer and Halladay pitching, he is overdue for a gem and with Jays hitters hitting the way they did tonight it could be a welcome win.

The bad: BJ Ryan released. The reason I say that is BJ gave the Toronto fans so much to cheer about whilst he was here and before his injury and surgery. Maybe he should not have come back so soon last season, maybe take more time like Marcum and McGowan. He pushed himself continually and it was painful to see such a proud guy struggle and with little sympathy from his Manager which runs counter to the way he treats his struggling hitters such as Rios and Wells. There was little sympathy for BJ, at least none shown in the media or in the actions of the Manager. I hope BJ does come back with another team and regain even some of his lost speed and control. Thank you BJ for many great memories and saves.
The even worse Tallet who was horrible again from the very first inning walk to Upton and didn’t give Jays hitters much of a chance to enjoy tonight, constantly coming from behind. On a day when BJ Ryan was released, Tallet should be looking over his shoulder with pitching like this. And I have not even mentioned his mental errors with Crawford. Another very bad day at the office for Tallet.

Top 1st: Scutaro,grounds to Zobrist at second, throw to Pena at first, one down for Hill. Fly ball to centre Upton. Two down for Lind. Whoa Adam, same pitch same hit but this one carries out of here, five rows back in centre left. 1-0 Jays. Am always amazed at Lind’s power, great swing but has more power behind it than Hill’s hit. Rolen on his 24 game hit streak. Long fly ball, but right at Kapler in right field for third out.
Bottom of 1st: Upton, walks him. Come on Brian, that was the one thing you did not want to do, you are in trouble now with this guy on base and Crawford at bat. Soft liner into left over head of Scutaro. Two on no outs, watch for the double steal here. Longoria, pops up to Rios in shallow right, both runners hold. One down for Pena, lines to Rios in right, two down, Upton moves to third on the play. Zobrist, 3-0 count, come on Brian, not again. Throws over to first, Here comes Upton, and steals home. Beats throw by Millar. You could see that coming a mile away, fooled Tallet on the throw to first. Tallet should know that Upton is the guy to watch even if Crawford goes. Strikes him out but a huge mental error by Tallet costs him. 1-1 game.

Top 2nd: Wells, that’s the way Vernon, turns on this one and it is out of here line drive to left. Number nine. 2-1 Jays. Millar first pitch singles up the middle, they are all over Kazimir now. Rios what can he do? Ball gets away and Millar safe at second. Good hustle Kevin. That ball only went six feet behind Navarro. Strikes out, come on Alex have to move him over at least. One down. Bautista, strikes out, Chavez, fly ball to Kapler,
Bottom 2nd: Burrell, doubles into right corner, Bartlett, fly ball to Wells, Burrell to third. See how easy it is Alex ???? Execution. One down. Kapler, full count, singles into right, just poked his bat out to push it over heard of Millar, Burrell scores 2-2. Execution, the name of the game. Navarro with one down and one on. singles into centre, that was number nine guy. Tallet not fooling anyone tonight. Upton two on one down lots of options for Joe Maddon. Runners going singles into left and run scores, 3-2 Rays. Hit and run perfectly executed. Crawford at bat and watch for the double steal Brian, strikes out, two down. Longoria, grounds to Rolen throw to Hill for third out. But Maddon is giving Cito a text book lesson on how to play aggressive ball. 42 pitches to Tallet.

Top 3rd: Jays will need a few (lot) more runs here to have a chance tonight. Scutaro, high pop up to Bartlett at short. Hill first pitch pop up to Upton, not a good at bat Aaron, in fact it was dumb. Lind now with two down has to take. Second pitch grounds to second, throw to first. Jays are being outplayed tonight and are not playing smart ball. 39 pitches to Kazimir after three.
Bottom 3rd: Tallet has hardly had time to sit. Pena, strikes out. Zobrist, singles into right. Burrell, turns on this one, high fly ball fortunately foul, who woke this guy up last night? He was in a huge slump. Singles into centre. Bartlett, watch the bunt here, grounds to Scutaro nice diving stop but that’s all he can do, bases loaded, one down for Kapler, no need to steal home this time. Need another ground ball here Brian. 3-0 count, you know what’s coming here. Kapler taking all the way. Walks the guy in. 4-2 Rays. Bases still loaded. Here comes Arnsberg. Not sure why, Tallet is just doing his normal frustrating stuff. Navarro, singles into right, another run scores 5-2 Rays. And we are back to Upton for third time this game already. With bases loaded and still only one out. 2-0 count, Cito pacing around the dugout, that is unusual, Tallet is in the doghouse bigtime, call to the bullpen. Hayhurst it is. Full count. Strikes him out. Two down for Crawford with bases still loaded. Umpire takes pity on that pitch for a doubtful strike. Fly ball to Wells for third out but lots of damage done here even with bases left loaded. The way Jays hitters were last inning they are not going to overcome three run deficit without playing smarter baseball.

Top 4th: Rolen, doubles into left, that is called showing leadership, and also number 25 on the hit streak. Wells grounds to Bartlett, and beats out the throw with his great hustle. Millar with two on and no outs. Don’t expect double steal here though. Full count and walks bases loaded. Joe Maddon’s turn to stew….It ‘s ok Joe, it is Alex at bat. Another full count. Are you swinging or taking Alex? Grounds to Bartlett, Rolen scores, Millar out at second, no double play. 5-3 Rays. Bautista with two on and one down. Will Alex steal second? Walks him, bases loaded for Chavez. Big chance here friends. Hickey out to talk to Kazimir. Must have had the same dinner as Tallet.Fly ball to Kapler. Vernon does not go. Did not tag in time. Scutaro with bases loaded and two down. Lines one into right. That was close inches off the line in right. That would have cleared the bases. Another full count from 0-2. Oh boy, Lady luck. Grounds it off the glove of Pena into right. That was deflected by Pena as Zobrist was covering, runners were going so Pena had moved over. Two runs score 5-5. Hill with two on, lines it into right for third out. What a crazy game. This one is all tied up again.
Bottom 4th: Tallet out there again, you have had one life tonight Brian. Don’t blow this chance. Longoria at bat. Doubles into right corner as Rios misplays the bounce. Pena, hit bastmen, Oh come on Brian. Cito does not know whether to cry or laugh. Two on and no outs after coming back to tie the game. Zobrist first pitch. There it goes, home run to right and just like that Jays are behind three again, that is pitiful. 8-5 Rays. Finally Cito is out, that was three hitters too late Cito and he knows it, Tallet should never have gone back out. Hayhurst was ready. Eleven yes eleven hits and eight runs to Tallet, and two walks, that will give you a headache when you see your ERA Brian. Hayhurst, Not sure why Tallet stays on the bench here, none of your teammates want to see you right now Brian. They gave you the lead twice and came back from three down. Burrell, grounds to Scutaro, throw to Millar for first out of the inning. Bartlett fly ball to Wells. Kapler with two down. Singles to Wells. Navarro with two hits already tonight. Strikes out this time.

Top 5th: Lind, strikes out. Rolen, who started the comeback last inning. Lifts one into centre, Upton cannot hold on to it. Rolen safe at first. Wells, fouls out to Pena, two down for Millar strikes out.
Bottom 5th: Upton 3-0 and walks on four pitches. You just can’t do that with this team especially Upton and Crawford. Crawford fly ball to Bautista in left. Longoria grounds to Scutaro on to Hill throw to Millar, double play.

Top 6th: Rios leading off pops up to Bartlett. Bautista doubles to centre. Chavez at bat. Wild pitch by Kazmir, Bautista to third. Chavez grounds to Bartlett, throw to Pena Bautista scores. 8-6 Rays. Scutaro fly ball to right field Kapler.

Bottom 6th: Pena doubles to right. Zobrist walks. Burrell pops up to Scutaro throw to Hill, Pena out. Double play. Zobrist at first. Bartlett with two down doubles to left, Zobrist scores and 9-6 Rays again but that could have been a lot worse if Pena had still been on second. Kapler pops up to Hill.

Top 7th: Hill doubles to centre, good start Aaron. Lind grounds to Pena flip to Kazmir, Hill moves to third. Balfour now pitching. Rolen, singles to centre, here comes Hill. 9-7 Rays. Wells grounds to Longoria throw Wells to first, Rolen out. Millar doubles to left Vernon scores, 9-8 Rays and Jays within one again. Rios, singles to centre, Millar scores all the way from second, great hustling there Kevin. Game is tied up again 9-9. What a great comeback. Bautista strikes out.Bottom 7th: Carlson pitching, Navarro doubles to left. Upton pops up to Millar. Crawford with Navarro at second. One down. Strikes him out, two down. Longoria intentional walk. Pena with two on and two down. Grounds to Scutaro playing the shift throws to Millar for third out.

Top 8th: Chavez to lead off ? Bradford pitching. Chavez the only Jay without a hit tonight. Has a chance here to change that. Grounds to Longoria, out at first. Scutaro 1-4 tonight, singles up the middle, one on one down for Hill. Also 1-4. Started the three run last inning comeback with a double, bounces one to Longoria at third and beats out the throw. Nice hustle Aaron. That’s it for Mr. sidearmer Bradford. Lind at bat. Randy Choate pitching. Lefty lefty. Fools him on that one 0-2. 2-2, Full count. fly ball to left, two down. That’s it for Choate. Joe Nelson now pitching, Rolen 3-4 tonight, but arguably none bigger than this at bat. Strikes out. 29 hits in this game so far.
Bottom 8th: Frasor pitching. Zobrist at bat. Full count come on Jason, don’t lose him here. Grounds to Hill throw to Millar for the first out. Burrell, another full count, Frasor playing with fire. Strikes him out. That was big. Two down for Bartlett, oh boy an escape there as he hits one high into left just foul. 2-2 count. Just outside full count for third time. Low and walks him. I think Frasor had some bad luck there on a couple that looked good strikes. Gross pinch hitting. 2-0 count. Bartlett stealing and safe at second. Good throw but wrong side of bag. 2-2 full count. Walks him. Two on two down and pinch hitter Willy Aybar. Arnsberg to give him some info. First pitch swing fly ball out to Wells. Nice pitching by Frasor.

Top 9th: Nice sight to see Scott Downs down there in bullpen. Howell pitching for Rays. Wells to lead off 2-4 tonight. Hernandez now catching, Gross in left. 0-2 count. Strikes out looking. Millar, 2-3 with a walk. Strikes out. Two down for Rios. 1-4 tonight. Need a hit here Alex. Grounds to third, throw to first.
Bottom 9th: Frasor still out there. Upton sixth time tonight. Downs warming up. Another full count. you don’t want this guy on base Jason, strikes him out. One down for Crawford. Grounds to Scutaro great play to save a double but throw late. Not going to beat Crawford. Now Jason watch this guy. You need a ground ball fast. Longoria, there goes Crawford, throw late. Now Frasor has to worry about him stealing third as well.Full count on Longoria. Strikes him out. Whoa. He is making a habit of this, not sure our nerves can take much more. Here comes Cito, and here comes Downs. Two down with Crawford at second. Great to see Scott out there although would prefer it to be a save situation and not a hold. Pena at bat. There goes Crawford on first pitch and safe at third with no throw. 2-2 ,Crawford halfway down the line. Careful Scott, full count. Walks him. They have to watch Crawford, he is getting further and further down the line each time, ignore him at your peril. Here comes Arnsberg. Zobrist with two on but only Crawford matters here with two down. Singles to right and this game is over. Jays lose another heartbreaker 10-9. Tallet put them in far too deep a hole.