Eveland masterful today with a gem.

Jays v Tigers (Game 7 !! this spring)

Jays have played Tigers seven times this spring none have been rained out….Go figure.

Today Dana Eveland and Rick Porcello and the weather is great, still lots of cloud around but hot with the sun. Afetr the last weekend very welcome.

Dana Eveland is te story of this one he has excellent outing, really very good six scoreless innings. Four hits one walk and eight strikeouts.
Starting with leadoff double first pitch to Inge but he pitched out of trouble and continued that throughout the six innings.
His ERA dropping from 1.69 before the game in five games and sixteen innings now at 1.23 in twenty two innings. His nineteen strikeouts are far and away the best for Jays this spring. He has played himself onto this team and really given Cito something to think about now re rotation. What I liked was his unflappability throughout and obvious confidence.

Johnny Mac. still playing at short and in fact we didn’t even see Alex today on the field. Johnny Mac was also the Jay to get it going for the Jays in bottom of the sixth to get Jays first hit off Porcello who had looked equally as good as Eveland. Bautista followed it up with hit of his own and Aaron made no mistake with his double that scored both Johnny Mac and Bautista for Jays to take the lead.

The Jays goat today was Figueroa on his throw to first, trying for the double play but a wild throw sailing past first base and enabling runner to move to second which lead next hit to the Tigers tying run. Should have held on to it. To make his day worse he ground into double play to end Jays rally in the eighth with go-ahead run at third.

Travis today another bad day at the office missing a catchable ball in left at the wall and hitless. Jeremy Reed meanwhile a single in his only at bat.

This game was very fast over in 2.18. Jim Leyland indicating to Cito they had had enough after nine and electing not to go to extra innings today. Too bad as we have been starved of home baseball with this schedule and the rainouts and it was great weather for a change. Maybe Leyland had used up all the pitchers he brought today. Game is tied 2-2. Pitchers game today, the Jays hitters had a rough day but to be fair they were facing excellent Tigers pitching.

Other news. No Lyle at first base today, he was a late scratch so must be making sure that knee is fit or he has been traded? No John Buck catching but he has had family issues since the weekend.

Jesse Carlson out there for an inning. Looked good and recovered from injury. Accardo followed and gave up two hits and one earned run. Did not look as sharp as he had earlier.
Jays closer today Valdez had an excellent inning. Jays are getting a good look at him this spring this is his seventh game appearance. He was throwing most of his pitches in the mid 90’s. One to watch this season in the minors.

Joel Zulmaya provided some excitement clocking 100mph with several of his pitches in his two thirds of an inning and I was looking forward to Travis facing him but Jim Leyland pulls him with Travis in the on-deck circle. Valverde pitched the eighth but gave up the two hits before the double play by Figueroa.

One more home game if we don’t count the Bright House game on Wednesday. Jays finish the spring against both last season’s World Series teams so that should give them a reality check of where they stand. Two tough games v Phillies and then the Yankees.