Jays lose to Tigers 5-1

Jays v Tigers, yes for the sixth time this month.

Jays send Rzepczynski to the mound today. Starting to get into their rotation positions?
Mike McCoy leading off, good choice Cito, this kid hustles, good speed. Johnny Mac to follow for the big bats. Lind, Wells, Ruiz, Reed, Encarnacion, Snider and Molina. Should be very interesting. Reed trying hard to knock Travis out of lineup and Encarnacion first game since wrist reconstruction. Plus we have McCoy and Johnny Mac looking at that utility position? Cito using this game today for some serious competition.

First inning.Good start, Mike McCoy back in lineup after his injury walks, Johnny Mac. He has been batting way down the lineup all spring; he will like this, also takes a walk, two on and no outs. Here we go Cito sending them double steal and both safe and in scoring position for Lind. Strikes out. Now Vernon, that’s the way Vernon, sac fly to bring in McCoy Jays 1-0 lead. Cito playing all the options and why not with two speedsters. Ruiz grounds out to end the inning. Willis pitching for the Tigers a little control problem that first inning. But with two on and no out at second and third, Cito will not be too happy with just one run.

Rzepczynski, he with the 4.91 ERA but has pitched well. Leadoff Thomas is hit, oh no Raburn walks, come on Marc. Guillen safe but get leadoff Raburn. One down two on for Cabrera, doubles them both in. Just like that. 2-1 Tigers. Laird and Ramirez go quietly as Marc recovers. But shaky start for both pitchers.

Second inning. Reed goes quickly, now Encarnacion, cautious taking pitches and walks, come on Travis. Not this time grounds out moves runner over but two down. Molina another ground out. Jays leave another on. Marc now one hit to Kelly but Ramirez, Inge and Santiago go quietly. Scoreless inning.
Top 3rd. Top of the order again. McCoy Johnny Mac gets a single but that’s it, left out there.
Bottom 3rd. Baltimore beating up on the Yankees 4-0 and that’s it for Aceves. Six hits and shower time. Meantime another walk to Raburn. His second today. But no damage done here.

Top of 4th. Yankees now down 7-0 against the Orioles. After only three innings and they have most of the first team out there, at least the starting infield. A-Rod 0-2 and two strikeouts. We love it.
Encarnacion meantime at bat for second time after his walk in the second, singles and steals second. Travis my man. No not this time. Jays 0-3 RISP. But this is very interesting as it means that if Encarnacion is fit, then Bautista will be in the outfield, leaving just one position. Does Cito go with Travis? Does he put Lind out there and Ruiz DH, or does he give Jeremy Reed a shot? Choices choices… Travis you have to step it up bigtime.

Bottom 4th. Rzepczynski gives up another to Santiago. 3-1 Detroit.
Top 5th. Coke now pitching, Jays 3M’s Molina, McCoy and McDonald, go quietly one, two, three.
Bottom 5th Schimpf now at second for McCoy and Diaz at SS for Johnny Mac. Rzepczynski goes the fifth without a run.

Top 6th Zumaya now pitching for Tigers. Not sure which is worse today runners in scoring position 0-3 Jays or Tigers 1-6.Neither good. Jays need some hits here. Walks Lind but that’s it and Jays go to the bottom of the 6th. Changes for the Jays: Mastroianni for Vernon in centre, David Cooper at first for Ruiz, they like Cooper here former first round draft pick. Roenicke now pitching for Rzepczynski. Two fly ball outs and strikeout and faces the minimum three. Good inning work.

Top 7th: Valverde pitching for Detroit. Eric Hinske has his first home run for Atlanta.Marco Scutaro a two run triple for Boston to take his average to .171in 27 at bats poor Marco having rough time trying to adjust to his new team.Encarnacion strikes out, Tarvis strikes out for second time today.
Bottom 7th: Downs now in for Jays. Replacements Mathews for Reed, Ochinko for Encarnacion, Aguila for Travis,and catching Jeroloman replacing Molina also hitless today. Guillen a two run double ruining Scott’s great ERA. One strikeout and three hits. First earned runs in six spring games. No one is perfect. Even halladay hada rough outing this week for the Phillies.

Fu-Te Ni now pitching for Tigers. From Taiwan made his debut last season, three scoreless innings against the Phillies earlier this week.
Top 8th: Diaz walks but that’s it for Jays who go scoreless again. Ni now has his ERA down to 4.66 from 18.00 in his first game, he has brought it down in every time he has pitched in his seven games this spring.
Bottom 8th. Jason Frasor now trying to forget his last bad outing and reduce his ERA 8.31 and give Jays bats a chance in their last crack next inning. Three ground outs and a single and 6.75 the right direction Jason.

Top 9th last chance for Jays young bats. No, Perry closes this one out and Jays lose 5-1. The good news is they don’t have to see Detroit again this spring.

Summary I think Cito can be very happy with Encarnacion and providing no after effects of today he will probably be at third. Pitching I don’t think he will be too upset about anyone today and in fact pleased with Frasor’s good outing. Downs was due for a run against him. He will not be happy with the 0-6 runners in scoring position. This is beginning to look like last season.

Now I think remaining issue appears to be what to do with the outfield? Bautista will now be out there with Vernon. Which leaves Travis, Joey Gathright, Jeremy Reed ? or… none of whom are really grabbing that spot as theirs. Does he move Adam Lind into left and bring in Randy Ruiz as DH plus McCoy as utility with Johnny Mac ? Stay tuned.