Game three of four. Toronto v Cleveland. Wednesday June 30th.
Pre-game: Jays looking for their first win tonight send out Jesse Litsch. Well let’s see. Pitchers so far have been fine for almost two weeks, but they can’t hit as well at least not in this league. How does the manager get a whole team to hit? Well that is why Cito and his coaches are paid big bucks. They will say the games have been close and Jays on the wrong end of one run games, true fact but does not hide the fact that Jays team should be hammering the Cleveland pitchers and getting back on track.
I think like many fans that if the Jays are going to be this bad, let’s at least see some of the AAA players here getting some experience rather than players like Hill (yes) Lind, (yes) Wells, (yes) Bautista, going through the motions in this slump. Give them two weeks off, send them anywhere but the ballpark, they can come back in August and let’s see some heart, energy, speed! HA! And players really trying hard every at bat, every hit and every play in the field.
Lineups: Toronto: Lewis, Gonzalez, Bautista, Wells, Buck, Overbay, Hill, Green, Hoffpauir.
Cleveland: Crowe, Choo, Santana, Hafner, Kearns, Peralta, LaPorta, Hernandez, Donald.
Pitching: Litsch v Aaron Laffey for Cleveland has not won a game this season, perfect time for him to see the Jays tonight. Evidently had a new baby yesterday so you know the baseball gods are shining on him, what chance for the Jays have with those odds? Litsch? Who knows who will appear tonight, and it really doesn’t matter unless he pitches a perfect game if his hitters do not get any runs for him.
Top 1st: Lewis singles to left. One on for Gonzalez grounds to Hernandez at second throw to Donald on to first LaPorta, yes indeed yet another double play ball. That is how it goes with this team. They never give themselves chance to even up the odds by bunting (horrors) or even taking a couple of pitches to let Lewis steal. What is the point of having that speed if he is not enabled to use it? How many times has he lead off with a double in the last week to be part of a double play ball by the next hitters? Far too many. Please next Manager be someone who has more than one hitting strategy. Bautista strikes out.
Bottom 1st: Crowe strikes out. Choo, 2-2 count, there it goes, gets hold of this one and another home run for Choo into right field. Cleveland rolling along 1-0. Santana with one down doubles to right. Hafner ever dangerous, Litsch has to be careful, here he is not 3-0 down, strikes him out. Two down for Kearns, wild pitch by Litsch, Santana moves up to third. Kearns grounds to Green playing second to give Hill a rest I guess, throw to Overbay to end the inning with no further damage.
Top 2nd: Wells leading off, grounds to third Peralta throw to first base LaPorta for first down Buck fly ball to Choo in right field. Two down for Overbay strikes out. Easy inning for Laffey.
Bottom 2nd: Peralta pops up to Green at second, one down. LaPorta lines to Gonzalez at short two down. Hernandez fly ball to Lewis in left for third out. Good three up and down inning for Litsch.
Top 3rd: Hill DH tonight lines out to Choo in right field. One down for Green strikes out. At least he has an excuse. Hoffpauir fly ball to Choo in right. This guy should definitely not be in the lineup. The good news today though is that Travis is starting on the Gulf coast. That would be huge if he could come back. Meantime we have to suffer with this underachieving group.
Bottom 3rd: Donald lines out to Wells in centre. One down for Crowe grounds to Green at second throw to Overbay, two down. Choo grounds to Overbay at first for third out. Litsch is doing his part very well so far tonight. One run should be ok for most teams to overcome.
Top 4th: Lewis grounds to Hernandez at second throw to LaPorta at first for the out. One down for Gonzalez. Doubles to left. Jays second hit of the night. One on, one down for Bautista fly ball to Crowe for second out. Wells fly ball to Choo in right. Jays once again cannot move a guy 90 feet.
Bottom 4th: Santana grounds to Overbay at first, throw to Litsch to make the out himself. I wouldn’t trust them either Jesse. Hafner fly ball to Wells in centre.Two down. Kearns grounds to Green throw to Overbay to end this one. Another excellent inning by Jesse..
Top 5th: Buck strikes out. One down for Overbay pops up to Donald at short, two down for Hill doubles to left. Two down one on and in scoring position. Green full count and takes the walk. Two on two down for Hoffpauir, another walk to load the bases this time. Hill moves to third, Green to second and Jays have yet another great opportunity. Lewis with bases loaded, all we need is a base hit Fred. Strikes out. Do we laugh or cry at this team ?
Bottom 5th: Peralta fly ball to Lewis in left, one down. LaPorta full count and ball four. Hernandez lines back to Litsch throw to Overbay to get LaPorta and inning-ending double play. Perfect Jesse.
Top 6th: You have this feeling that one day, in the far away distant future, that this team is going to break out and score 20, but right now a base hit will do. Gonzalez leading off fly ball to Choo in right. One down for Bautista, grounds to Peralta at third, throw to LaPorta at first. Two down for Wells. Vernon lines out to Choo in right. Both pitchers doing well but praying for some runs to give them room to make an error.
Bottom 6th: Donald grounds to short, safe at first. Crowe lines to Gonzalez at short. Choo full count and walks, two on one down for Santana, does it again, singles to right, here comes Donald from second. 2-0 Indians. Choo moves up to second on the play going to third. Santana at first. Bautista’s throw to Hoffpauir at third gets him, another assist for Jose. Hafner fly ball to Lewis in left but Cleveland gets another.
Top 7th: Jays still scoreless. Buck leading off singles to right. One on for Overbay grounds to first and safe at first. Buck to third, Two on with runner at third with NO outs, surely they can do it this time. They have three shots at it. That’s it for Laffey though, nice outing and in the running for his first win of the season to go along with his new baby. Herrmann now pitching. Hill with the runner 90 feet away, why don’t you try a bunt here Aaron? Something different from the usual outs and who knows Buck might score. Hill pops up to Hernandez at second for the first out. Two more tries guys. There we go, Green singles to centre and the new kid on the block shows the vets how it is done, Here comes Buck to score, Jays finally get a run. But can they get another? One run is not enough now. 2-1 score. McDonald pinch-running for Overbay at second. That assumes a lot such as a hit to get him in. Two chances. Lind now pinch-hitting for Hoffpauir. Cito really working overtime here, but to be fair to him for a change I don’t think it will help this team whatever he does right now at least. Lind strikes out. That was definitely worth coming off the bench for. Lewis with two down and two on, strikes out. Jays get one back but oh dear the rest of the three outs in the inning were not pretty to see. More chances lost.
Bottom 7th: Litsch has finished for the night, did his job well, but then so did Romero and Morrow but hard to win a game with one run offence. McDonald in at third. Lind in at first, we shall see how that helps. Camp now pitching. Kearns, grounds to third, off the glove of McDonald. Error on the play déjà vu all over again. When it rains it pours for the Jays. Not sure why Cito changed everybody. Peralta with one on, grounds to Gonzalez at short steps on the bag throw to first, double play ball helps McDonald out there. LaPorta with two down now, hammers this to centre. This one is out of here. 3-1 Indians. He loves this team this is his second in two nights and only three on the season. Hernandez. Camp, knocks him down with that pitch, some emotion here from the Jays ? Far too late, this team is the walking zombies. Strikes him out.
Top 8th: The only question now is can the Jays avoid getting swept tomorrow? I doubt it. And would definitely not bet on it. Joe Smith again, third night in a row but why not, he has fooled the Jays hitters each time setting up for Kerry Wood next inning. Gonzalez leading off. 1-2 count. Grounds weakly up the middle throw to first gets Gonzalez. Bautista, 0-3 tonight. Shatters the bat grounds to short, throw to first two down. Wells, two down, 0-3 tonight and he expects fans to vote for him for the All-Star game? Dream on Vernon. In fact I don’t believe any Jays player should be going to the game based on this form. Grounds to short throw to first. Joe Smith more than enough for this team. Bautista and Wells 0-4 tonight.
Bottom 8th: Downs now pitching. Donald leading off. Strikes out. One down for Crowe, fly ball to Bautista in right two down. Choo, full count grounds back up the middle. Santana with one on and two down, strikes out.
Top 9th: Not Kerry Wood, Chris Perez now pitching has six saves, more than enough. Cleveland taking pity on the Jays here and resting Kerry Wood but somehow I don’t think it matters. Marte at first base. Buck, loops it to right one down. McDonald ??? come on Cito get a pinch hitter here. Full count. Fly ball to centre two down for Hill, ah well. Gets a life here pops it up to first Marte drops the ball in foul territory. Make him pay Aaron. Strikes out swinging. Hmm ! Jays lose three in a row to Cleveland !!! and staring at ignominy tomorrow to be swept by a team 20 under .500.
The good: Quick get this one in… Jesse Litsch definitely. I think Nick Green, an RBI, hit and a walk, and did everything needed in the field.
The bad: Where do we start, the whole lineup AND the pinch hitters, that is hard to do. Jays actually outhit Cleveland tonight. I guess we should consider that as good but when you go 1/7 with runners in scoring position and cannot bring in the guy from third with NO outs..
Tomorrow no doubt a players-only, closed door dressing room angst. But this team is down and on the ground. No life, no energy, no hitting, no imagination and definitely no hitting. I don’t think even a win would help them tomorrow. Plus they then fly to New York… this could get very ugly before they next win a game next week.
Tomorrow’s game is early at midday, anything to shake up the routine, who knows what it will take to get them hitting (with runners in scoring position).
Seattle beating up on the Yankees tonight but that is small solace for this sad team, they know that New York will be out for blood when they get there.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Jays continue downward spiral of futility wasting great pitching effort by Morrow
Jays v Indians. Game two of four. Tuesday June 29.
Jays have to step it up bigtime tonight. That was embarrassing loss last night, a game Jays should have and could won. Leaving runners at third with one out, mentally out of the game, getting flat footed and giving up suicide squeeze. Jays eight games out now and sinking. In my book they need a blowout to get them back on track. Problem with the Jays as that they are so one-dimensional with the big bat that they don’t have any small ball skills to get that one run that they need.
Lineups: Toronto. Lewis, Gonzalez, Bautista, Wells, Lind, Hill, Overbay, Molina, McDonald. One good change by Cito to sit Hoffpauir, just doesn’t have it for this level.
Cleveland: Crowe, Choo, Santana, Hafner, Peralta, Duncan, LaPorta, Nix, Hernandez.
Pitching: Carmona v Morrow.
Top 1st: Lewis leading off. Good start singles to left, Gonzalez, here we go again, grounds to short, throw to second on to first for double play. If Jays had a running game Lewis could be running. As for a bunt? What’s that? Especially for someone like Gonzalez who is struggling right now. We can only hope that the new Manager will at least be a more aggressive manager than Cito. The lack of those plays cost them the game last night. Bautista now with two down. Full count. Ball four. Wells, grounds first pitch back to Carmona, same old same old Jays tonight. So very predictable. Throw to first for third out. They get two on but that’s it. How many first innings has Vernon swung at the first pitch this season? How about 99%? Carmona 13 pitches.
Bottom 1st: Crowe leading off. Grounds to Hill, throw to Overbay, one down. Choo, fly ball to centre Vernon has it for second out. Santana singles into right. Two down one on for Hafner, doubles to right, Santana thinks about coming home but Bautista’s arm gets respect. Two in scoring position two down for Peralta. Oh my, grounds to third McDonald. Throws the ball to first gets away from Overbay and bounces into the crowd, two runs score. When did Johnny Mc. last make an error? Not this season. That is his first but a lousy time to make it. 2-0 Indians. Duncan, full count. Ball four but maybe a little semi-intentional there with first base open. LaPorta strikes out looking on three pitches. Nice inning by Morrow but he had to battle his own defense as did Romero last night. 22 pitches after getting first two outs in four pitches. That’s an extra inning of pitches following the McDonald error.
Top 2nd: Jays should have some incentive here to get a few runs. Time for a big inning. Few and far between recently. Lind, one of the biggest culprits, grounds very weakly to short, throw to first one down. Seems to have given up, he has looked totally lost at bat for the whole season. Hill, grounds weakly to third, throw to first two quick outs. Cito still maintain these two together in the lineup which have been automatic outs for far too long. Once again they have only one tool no small game for either of them. Overbay. 3-0 count. Walks on a full count. Molina, with two down. Full count. Grounds to short throw to first to get Molina. Morrow not getting any help here from his hitters or his defense. Pitch count 34.
Bottom 2nd: Nix leading off. Grounds to Gonzalez at short, throw to Overbay to get first out. Hernandez, strikes out. Crowe, lines it to centre, bounces over the wall. Choo, singles to right, here comes Crowe, beats the throw by Bautista to score the run, 3-0 Cleveland. Santana, grounds it to Gonzalez, long throw to Overbay for the third out. Pitch count 36.
Top 3rd: Jays hitters have scored one run in the last eleven innings, don’t blame the pitchers here. Plus how many errors in the last few games? McDonald leading off owes his pitcher one. Strikes out looking but that was awful low. Lewis, 2-2 count. Lines it the other way this time but Duncan in left field runs it down to make the catch. Two down for Gonzalez. Grounds back to Carmona throw to first, for third out, too easy for Indians right now. No energy or fight in these Jays. 47 pitches by Carmona.
Bottom 3rd: Hafner leading off. Grounds back to Morrow throw to Overbay for the out, yes Brandon you have to do it all yourself tonight. Peralta, high fly ball to left, Lewis makes the catch two down. Duncan 0-2 and strikes out on three. Three up and down for Morrow. 47 pitches.
Top 4th: Twelve innings for one run and counting. Hitless in fact since Lewis lead off single in the first inning. Bautista leading off, full count. Lines it to in centre for first out. Wells, takes first pitch strike. Gets a break here, grounds to third off the glove to short, long off balance throw wild away from the bag at first. One on one down for Lind, grounds first pitch (!) back to Carmona, throw to second on to first and Jays hit the futility basement here on top of Lind. Can you believe this bush league play? Lind didn’t even give Vernon a chance to steal here. Pathetic. Lind is fast becoming a one season wonder like Kelly Gruber. 59 pitches for Carmona.
Bottom 4th: I feel so sorry for Jays pitchers. LaPorta, grounds back to Morrow throw to Overbay one down. Nix, strikes out two down. Hernandez, lines to Lewis in left for third out. Morrow pitch count 60.
Top 5th: Jays get one run in first inning yesterday and nothing since. Hill leading off. Grounds to short, throw to first one down. Overbay, 0-2 count, bounces to Carmona, throw to first, two down. Molina, grounds to Peralta at third, throws to first to end this one. Pitch count 70.
Bottom 5th: Morrow hardly had time to sit there. Crowe leading off. Strikes out, one down for Choo. Full count. Strikes out swinging at ball four. Santana, with two down. 3-0 count. Walks, Hafner, doubles off the wall in centre, here comes Santana, 4-0 Cleveland. Peralta grounds to third, McDonald throw to first. In my book Morrow has pitched very well tonight. Has been hurt by his team’s defense and lack of run support.
Top 6th: McDonald grounds to Hernandez at third, throw to first base LaPorta. Lewis singles to left. Gonzalez singles to left, Lewis to second. Bautista hit by pitch, Bases are loaded. Lewis to third, Gonzalez to second. And once again only one down. Familiar story though. Wells pops up to second base Nix. Two down for Lind. Finally, Lind singles to right, here comes Lewis, here comes Gonzalez. Jays get two back. 4-2 Cleveland. Hill with two down and two on. Chance to do some damage Aaron. No, fly ball to Crowe in centre. Once again Jays big bats blow it but at least they get on the board after 14 scoreless innings.
Bottom 6th: Duncan strikes out. LaPorta first pitch swinging, gets hold of this one out of here in centre, 5-2 Cleveland. Nix doubles to centre. Hernandez strikes out. Crowe grounds to Hill throw to Overbay for the out. Morrow 96 pitches. How big is that first inning now with McDonald error leading to 18 more pitches. That is almost two innings.
Top 7th: Overbay walks, lead off guy on base. Molina, singles to left, Overbay to second, two on for McDonald, strikes out. Arguing the call, just not his night tonight No hits and his fielding error cost Morrow and the Jays. Still upset in the dugout slamming his bat around. I think he was remembering his first strikeout in the third which did look awfully low from here. Plus of course his error. Just not his night. Sipp now pitching. Lewis grounds to third throw to first to get Lewis runners move up. Gonzalez, ball gets away and here comes the runner Overbay 5-3 Cleveland. Wells moves to third. Jays find a way to score a run here without hitting. That should be useful. Full count, ball four. Gonzalez walks. Two on two down. That’s it for Sipp. Joe Smith now pitching. Bautista, 1-2 count. Pops it up in shallow right, Choo drops the ball. Lost it in the sky. Molina scores 5-4 game. Wells now with two on. Chance to tie this one up. Grounds to short flip to second for the out. But Jays get two one on a wild pitch and another on a dropped ball but this team right now will take them anyway they are given them. Thank you very much.
Bottom 7th: That’s it for Morrow. That first inning error by McDonald hurt him bigtime in at least 15 pitches and cots him a possible win. Purcey now to hold them. Choo leading off. Lines it hard at Hill, does not make any mistake here. One down for Santana, strikes out swinging high. Hafner, pops it up to Molina for third out. Nice inning by Purcey.
Top 8th: Can Jays build on their momentum? Rafael Perez pitching. Lind leading off, has he been inspired by that last hit? Strikes out swinging. I guess not. Hill, another ofer night for Hill. Lines it to second for the out. 0-4 for Hill tonight. Two down for Overbay. Grounds to second throw to first. Jays heading for second straight one run loss here.
Bottom 8th: Frasor now pitching. Peralta leading off. Kerry Wood warming up in bullpen. Strikes out. One down. Duncan he is one BIG guy standing there. Just checked he is 6’5”, that bat looks like a tooth pick. Full count. Strikes out swinging. LaPorta, that was a one terrible swing. 2-2 count. Grounds to Overbay throw to Frasor for the out at first.
Top 9th: Molina leading off. Kerry Wood pitching so Cito may feel it doesn’t really matter who is out there. Third straight game to save. Marte at first. Hits him on the back, Jose doesn’t mind, he is on base, probably a pinch runner here as Buck is on deck for McDonald. Yes Nick Green pinch running for Molina. Whoa… Buck showing bunt ???? Wow. Taking it off now and takes second strike. Strikes out. One down for Lewis with Green at first. Fred 2-4 tonight. But this is the big at bat. Grounds to second steps on the bag and throw to first, yes yet another double play ball to end this one.
Jays lose two in a row to the worst team in the AL.
The bad, no, the very bad: Two runs for the Jays on a wild pitch and dropped ball, that is hardly offensive power.. Lousy defense continues for the Jays, tonight from McDonald and it may well be his first error of the season but it cost Morrow the game. Jays grounds into three more double plays tonight. One day Cito has to start the runners, or at least give the guy on first a chance to run by not swinging at those first pitches. Two great pitching efforts by Romero and Morrow but nothing to show for it.
What makes it worse is this is a team of Jays hitters that a week or so ago lead in so many offensive categories should be beating up on bigtime and not only getting wins but big scores.
The good. Morrow a fine outing but ruined by his teammates
Good news? Yankees lose to Seattle in New York. And of course someone has to lose at Fenway with Tampa playing Boston. Jays need all the help and luck they can get right now.
But they all know that this should have been a week to make up some ground on those teams above them, instead they are playing their worst baseball of the season despite getting great pitching.
Jays have to step it up bigtime tonight. That was embarrassing loss last night, a game Jays should have and could won. Leaving runners at third with one out, mentally out of the game, getting flat footed and giving up suicide squeeze. Jays eight games out now and sinking. In my book they need a blowout to get them back on track. Problem with the Jays as that they are so one-dimensional with the big bat that they don’t have any small ball skills to get that one run that they need.
Lineups: Toronto. Lewis, Gonzalez, Bautista, Wells, Lind, Hill, Overbay, Molina, McDonald. One good change by Cito to sit Hoffpauir, just doesn’t have it for this level.
Cleveland: Crowe, Choo, Santana, Hafner, Peralta, Duncan, LaPorta, Nix, Hernandez.
Pitching: Carmona v Morrow.
Top 1st: Lewis leading off. Good start singles to left, Gonzalez, here we go again, grounds to short, throw to second on to first for double play. If Jays had a running game Lewis could be running. As for a bunt? What’s that? Especially for someone like Gonzalez who is struggling right now. We can only hope that the new Manager will at least be a more aggressive manager than Cito. The lack of those plays cost them the game last night. Bautista now with two down. Full count. Ball four. Wells, grounds first pitch back to Carmona, same old same old Jays tonight. So very predictable. Throw to first for third out. They get two on but that’s it. How many first innings has Vernon swung at the first pitch this season? How about 99%? Carmona 13 pitches.
Bottom 1st: Crowe leading off. Grounds to Hill, throw to Overbay, one down. Choo, fly ball to centre Vernon has it for second out. Santana singles into right. Two down one on for Hafner, doubles to right, Santana thinks about coming home but Bautista’s arm gets respect. Two in scoring position two down for Peralta. Oh my, grounds to third McDonald. Throws the ball to first gets away from Overbay and bounces into the crowd, two runs score. When did Johnny Mc. last make an error? Not this season. That is his first but a lousy time to make it. 2-0 Indians. Duncan, full count. Ball four but maybe a little semi-intentional there with first base open. LaPorta strikes out looking on three pitches. Nice inning by Morrow but he had to battle his own defense as did Romero last night. 22 pitches after getting first two outs in four pitches. That’s an extra inning of pitches following the McDonald error.
Top 2nd: Jays should have some incentive here to get a few runs. Time for a big inning. Few and far between recently. Lind, one of the biggest culprits, grounds very weakly to short, throw to first one down. Seems to have given up, he has looked totally lost at bat for the whole season. Hill, grounds weakly to third, throw to first two quick outs. Cito still maintain these two together in the lineup which have been automatic outs for far too long. Once again they have only one tool no small game for either of them. Overbay. 3-0 count. Walks on a full count. Molina, with two down. Full count. Grounds to short throw to first to get Molina. Morrow not getting any help here from his hitters or his defense. Pitch count 34.
Bottom 2nd: Nix leading off. Grounds to Gonzalez at short, throw to Overbay to get first out. Hernandez, strikes out. Crowe, lines it to centre, bounces over the wall. Choo, singles to right, here comes Crowe, beats the throw by Bautista to score the run, 3-0 Cleveland. Santana, grounds it to Gonzalez, long throw to Overbay for the third out. Pitch count 36.
Top 3rd: Jays hitters have scored one run in the last eleven innings, don’t blame the pitchers here. Plus how many errors in the last few games? McDonald leading off owes his pitcher one. Strikes out looking but that was awful low. Lewis, 2-2 count. Lines it the other way this time but Duncan in left field runs it down to make the catch. Two down for Gonzalez. Grounds back to Carmona throw to first, for third out, too easy for Indians right now. No energy or fight in these Jays. 47 pitches by Carmona.
Bottom 3rd: Hafner leading off. Grounds back to Morrow throw to Overbay for the out, yes Brandon you have to do it all yourself tonight. Peralta, high fly ball to left, Lewis makes the catch two down. Duncan 0-2 and strikes out on three. Three up and down for Morrow. 47 pitches.
Top 4th: Twelve innings for one run and counting. Hitless in fact since Lewis lead off single in the first inning. Bautista leading off, full count. Lines it to in centre for first out. Wells, takes first pitch strike. Gets a break here, grounds to third off the glove to short, long off balance throw wild away from the bag at first. One on one down for Lind, grounds first pitch (!) back to Carmona, throw to second on to first and Jays hit the futility basement here on top of Lind. Can you believe this bush league play? Lind didn’t even give Vernon a chance to steal here. Pathetic. Lind is fast becoming a one season wonder like Kelly Gruber. 59 pitches for Carmona.
Bottom 4th: I feel so sorry for Jays pitchers. LaPorta, grounds back to Morrow throw to Overbay one down. Nix, strikes out two down. Hernandez, lines to Lewis in left for third out. Morrow pitch count 60.
Top 5th: Jays get one run in first inning yesterday and nothing since. Hill leading off. Grounds to short, throw to first one down. Overbay, 0-2 count, bounces to Carmona, throw to first, two down. Molina, grounds to Peralta at third, throws to first to end this one. Pitch count 70.
Bottom 5th: Morrow hardly had time to sit there. Crowe leading off. Strikes out, one down for Choo. Full count. Strikes out swinging at ball four. Santana, with two down. 3-0 count. Walks, Hafner, doubles off the wall in centre, here comes Santana, 4-0 Cleveland. Peralta grounds to third, McDonald throw to first. In my book Morrow has pitched very well tonight. Has been hurt by his team’s defense and lack of run support.
Top 6th: McDonald grounds to Hernandez at third, throw to first base LaPorta. Lewis singles to left. Gonzalez singles to left, Lewis to second. Bautista hit by pitch, Bases are loaded. Lewis to third, Gonzalez to second. And once again only one down. Familiar story though. Wells pops up to second base Nix. Two down for Lind. Finally, Lind singles to right, here comes Lewis, here comes Gonzalez. Jays get two back. 4-2 Cleveland. Hill with two down and two on. Chance to do some damage Aaron. No, fly ball to Crowe in centre. Once again Jays big bats blow it but at least they get on the board after 14 scoreless innings.
Bottom 6th: Duncan strikes out. LaPorta first pitch swinging, gets hold of this one out of here in centre, 5-2 Cleveland. Nix doubles to centre. Hernandez strikes out. Crowe grounds to Hill throw to Overbay for the out. Morrow 96 pitches. How big is that first inning now with McDonald error leading to 18 more pitches. That is almost two innings.
Top 7th: Overbay walks, lead off guy on base. Molina, singles to left, Overbay to second, two on for McDonald, strikes out. Arguing the call, just not his night tonight No hits and his fielding error cost Morrow and the Jays. Still upset in the dugout slamming his bat around. I think he was remembering his first strikeout in the third which did look awfully low from here. Plus of course his error. Just not his night. Sipp now pitching. Lewis grounds to third throw to first to get Lewis runners move up. Gonzalez, ball gets away and here comes the runner Overbay 5-3 Cleveland. Wells moves to third. Jays find a way to score a run here without hitting. That should be useful. Full count, ball four. Gonzalez walks. Two on two down. That’s it for Sipp. Joe Smith now pitching. Bautista, 1-2 count. Pops it up in shallow right, Choo drops the ball. Lost it in the sky. Molina scores 5-4 game. Wells now with two on. Chance to tie this one up. Grounds to short flip to second for the out. But Jays get two one on a wild pitch and another on a dropped ball but this team right now will take them anyway they are given them. Thank you very much.
Bottom 7th: That’s it for Morrow. That first inning error by McDonald hurt him bigtime in at least 15 pitches and cots him a possible win. Purcey now to hold them. Choo leading off. Lines it hard at Hill, does not make any mistake here. One down for Santana, strikes out swinging high. Hafner, pops it up to Molina for third out. Nice inning by Purcey.
Top 8th: Can Jays build on their momentum? Rafael Perez pitching. Lind leading off, has he been inspired by that last hit? Strikes out swinging. I guess not. Hill, another ofer night for Hill. Lines it to second for the out. 0-4 for Hill tonight. Two down for Overbay. Grounds to second throw to first. Jays heading for second straight one run loss here.
Bottom 8th: Frasor now pitching. Peralta leading off. Kerry Wood warming up in bullpen. Strikes out. One down. Duncan he is one BIG guy standing there. Just checked he is 6’5”, that bat looks like a tooth pick. Full count. Strikes out swinging. LaPorta, that was a one terrible swing. 2-2 count. Grounds to Overbay throw to Frasor for the out at first.
Top 9th: Molina leading off. Kerry Wood pitching so Cito may feel it doesn’t really matter who is out there. Third straight game to save. Marte at first. Hits him on the back, Jose doesn’t mind, he is on base, probably a pinch runner here as Buck is on deck for McDonald. Yes Nick Green pinch running for Molina. Whoa… Buck showing bunt ???? Wow. Taking it off now and takes second strike. Strikes out. One down for Lewis with Green at first. Fred 2-4 tonight. But this is the big at bat. Grounds to second steps on the bag and throw to first, yes yet another double play ball to end this one.
Jays lose two in a row to the worst team in the AL.
The bad, no, the very bad: Two runs for the Jays on a wild pitch and dropped ball, that is hardly offensive power.. Lousy defense continues for the Jays, tonight from McDonald and it may well be his first error of the season but it cost Morrow the game. Jays grounds into three more double plays tonight. One day Cito has to start the runners, or at least give the guy on first a chance to run by not swinging at those first pitches. Two great pitching efforts by Romero and Morrow but nothing to show for it.
What makes it worse is this is a team of Jays hitters that a week or so ago lead in so many offensive categories should be beating up on bigtime and not only getting wins but big scores.
The good. Morrow a fine outing but ruined by his teammates
Good news? Yankees lose to Seattle in New York. And of course someone has to lose at Fenway with Tampa playing Boston. Jays need all the help and luck they can get right now.
But they all know that this should have been a week to make up some ground on those teams above them, instead they are playing their worst baseball of the season despite getting great pitching.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Jays inability to hit wastes a good effort by Romero
Toronto v Cleveland . Monday June 28.
Preview: This of course is a series that Jays should win but not only win a sweep would not be out of order against an Indians team 27-47 this season and dead last in the AL but we all know that it could be the reverse with the Jays and they could just as easily get swept here. They are playing very badly and are ripe for a lousy series in Cleveland. Let’s see what they have tonight.
Lineups: Jays: Lewis, Gonzalez, Bautista, Wells, Lind, Hill, Overbay, Buck, Hoffpauir.
Indians: Crowe, Choo, Santana, Kearns, Hafner, Peralta, LaPorta, Nix, Hernandez.
Pitching: Westbrook v Romero.
Top 1st: Lewis leading off grounds back to pitcher Westbrook throw to first base LaPorta. One down. Gonzalez, that’s better doubles to left. Bautista with runner in scoring position doubles to centre, here comes Gonzalez and Jays are off and running 1-0 and this is how it should be tonight, they need a major breakout game. Wells with one on and Bautista at second, singles to left, Bautista to third. Lind with runner at third and only one out pops it up to Peralta at third, two down. Wells to second. Hill fly ball to Crowe in centre and so the sad saga with Lind and Hill continues.
My guess is that both are going to get very hot after the All-Star break and have a great half but the problems is the Jays will be so far out of it by then that it really doesn’t matter. Both of these two have to hit when it counts and right now there is a huge gap in the middle of this lineup. Westbrook 23 pitches but should have been much more. Let’s hope it doesn’t matter tonight.
Bottom 1st: Crowe leading off strikes out. Choo fly ball to Lewis in left, two down. Santana doubles to centre. Kearns singles to right and just like that here comes Santana beats the throw to tie this game up 1-1. Kearns goes to second on the throw home. Hafner grounds back to Romero throw to Overbay but this game is all tied up. Romero has to smarten up this is not an easy win for him. He still has to pitch. Far too nonchalant this inning. 28 pitches, that is not acceptable Ricky, get focused here
Top 2nd: Overbay leading off. 2-2 count, Full count. grounds to third throw to first one down. Buck, 2-2 count. gets a life here as it drops in left field foul. Now full count. Strikes out but a good at bat for Lyle took ten pitches to get him. Hoffpauir, I for one cannot wait until Travis is back and Bautista takes back third. Hoffpauir just not up to it yet. Strikes out swinging at one way outside and I really mean way outside. 47 pitches.
Bottom 2nd: Has Romero got the message? Peralta leading off. Grounds back to Romero great athletic leap by Ricky to get and throw him out at first. Very nice play. One down for LaPorta, singles into left. Nix, singles past diving Hoffpauir, the last few games the ball seems to be following Hoffpauir around. Two on one down for Hernandez, full count, Romero definitely not on tonight. Ball four to load bases with one out, come on Ricky this is Cleveland. You are taking them far too easy. Should be dominating them. Crowe for second time tonight. That’s better, grounds to Gonzalez, shovels it to Hill, throw to Overbay double play ball rescues him here.
Top 3rd: - Lewis leading off, grounds to Hernandez at short, throw to first base LaPorta. One down. Gonzalez strikes out. Two down two out, Bautista, full count. Strikes out. Quick inning for Westbrook. 60 pitches.
Bottom 3rd: Choo leading off. Loops it into shallow centre. One on for Santana, grounds to Hill flip to Gonzalez over to Overbay, double play ball to help Romero here, two down. Kearns grounds to Hoffpauir at third throw to Overbay for third out. Perhaps now Ricky can settle down here. 54 pitches.
Top 4th: Wells leading off. 3-0 count. Doubles into left field corner. Lind with runner in scoring position. Grounds back to Westbrook throws to second to get Vernon scrambling back. One down with Lind at first. Adam has to be able to move Vernon over in that situation, try bunting Adam if your hitting is out to lunch. Hill now grounds to short over to second on to first but not in time to get Hill. Two down and still only at first base. Going backwards after that double by Vernon. Overbay, first pitch ??? lines it to right. Pathetic hitting display by Lind, Hill and Overbay, no other way to describe that inning after Vernon gets to lead off double. Come on. 72 pitches.
Bottom 4th: Hafner leading off. Jays pitchers must just sigh each inning with such terrible hitting support from their team mates, strikes out on three pitches. Peralta, fly ball to Wells in right centre, two down. Laporta, 3-1 ball four, two down runner at first, grounds to Hoffpauir throw not in time. Two on two down for Hernandez, 2-0 count. Grounds to Gonzalez, flip to Hill for the third out. 72 pitches.
Top 5th: Buck leading off, fly ball to Kearns in left field one down for Hoffpauir grounds to Peralta at third, throw to LaPorta at first, two down. Lewis, 2-2 count. Ball three. Walks him. One on for Gonzalez. Lines it to Peralta at third makes a fine catch to end this one. 86 pitches. Maybe one more inning ?
Bottom 5th: Crowe leading off, grounds back to Romero’s arm, bounces to Overbay to make the out Ricky waves off the trainer and Cito. Choo grounds to Hill at second throw to Overbay two down. Santana, 2-2 count ball three. Walks him. One on two down. Kearns, grounds to Hoffpauir at third, throw to Hill at second to get Santana for third out. 84 pitches.
Top 6th: Bautista leading off. Swinging bunt in front of home plate. Westbrook throw to first one down. Wells 2-2 tonight. Grounds back to Westbrook throw to first two down. Lind, 0-13, singles into right centre. Finally. Problem is Jays are getting player on with two down. Hill with two down. Lines it to Choo in right for third out. I really think Cito should split Lind and Hill, both are awful right now, Until they get going, don’t put them together and give automatic outs. Westbrook on 105 pitches. That may be it for him.
Bottom 6th: Hafner hits him on the first pitch. Peralta, 2-2 count. Doubles over the head of Lewis into left centre, two on with no outs. Romero in trouble here. Ja Porta, grounds to Hill looks at third and throws to first for the out. One down two on. Nix, already 2-2 tonight. Suicide squeeze and Hafner scores easily.2-1 Indians. Runner safe at first, still only one down. Hernandez pops it up to Bautista for second out. Crowe, pops it up to Hill for third out. Jays playing catch up yet again and so far not looking as if they can catch up. 100 pitches. That could be it for Ricky but only himself to blame for that poor start to the game.
Top 7th: Jays running out of at bats now. Overbay leading off, singles into centre right, this part is easy, it is getting runner home that is the Jays difficulty. Smith and Perez have been working in bullpen. That is it for Westbrook. Now Indians bullpen to hold the lead. Joe Smith now pitching, one on for Buck, 0-2, strikes out, one out one on for Hoffpauir. No pinch hitter Cito ? Ha! Lines it to short Hernandez, babe in the woods against Smith. Two down and that’s it for Smith. Rafael Perez now pitching. 2-0 count. Grounds to second throw to first for the out wasting yet another leadoff runner.
Bottom 7th: Romero still out there. Choo pops it up to shallow right but Gonzalez makes a great running behind the back catch. One down Santana, lines this one high to left but Lewis has it at the wall, two down. Kearns grounds back to Romero underhand throw to Overbay for third out, Quick inning for Ricky but he still needs runs to win this thing. Can his teammates do it for him? So far a loud no way.
Top 8th: Six more outs to do this thing if Jays do not want to be embarrassed tonight. Gonzalez leading off. Chris Perez pitching, has six saves this season, setting up for Kerry Wood to save this one in the ninth. Gonzalez Strikes out swinging, one down. Bautista calls time not given it but ball anyway. Singles into left. Wells now. One on one down. Vernon grounds to second throw to the bag, over to first double play ball.
Bottom 8th: Romero out of the game. Downs now pitching. Hafner leading off. Singles into right. One on for Peralta, oh no here comes Cito. Two pitches come on Cito? Camp now pitching. Cito playing the percentages here and he does not have great record this season. Lifts it into left to Lewis for the out, one down. LaPorta, doubles off the wall in left. Camp in deep trouble here. Nix, with two in scoring position. Strikes out swinging on three pitches. Two outs and two on for Hernandez. Cito out there again. Who knows. Back to the dugout. Camp knows what he has to do grounds to Hill. On his knees throw to Overbay for third out. Camp does the job and Cito won his gamble this time.
Top 9th: Jays now just have to beat Kerry Wood. Six out of nine saves. Lind leading off. Strikes out swinging. I think the day might come when Cito has to pinch hit for Lind. Hill, 0-3 tonight. Fly ball to left two down, another 0-4 night for Hill. Overbay with two down. 2-2 count. Singles into right, way to go Lyle. Prolonging it at least. Pinch runner for Lyle, Nick Green. Buck, with two down. 2-2 count. Wild pitch ball gets away Green to second, full count. strikes out swinging. Jays lose a stinker to the worst team in the league.
Jays out played, out managed, out pitched and out hit by Cleveland tonight, and this is against a team 20 games under .500. That tells the sorry story of the Jays right now. Winning run a suicide bunt, a play that is not even in the Jays repertoire, Jays don’t even steal second these days.
Jays have to regroup and fast overnight before their great pitching starts to turn. Two runs yesterday, one run tonight. Will not win many games that way.
Does Cito shake up the team? or shrug it off? And give the “team building this year ” mantra? That does not explain the Hill and Lind drought. Maybe at least move Overbay into fifth spot to back up Vernon. Other wise the pitchers will be going around Vernon to get to Lind.
The very bad: Top of the 1st Lind and Hill, with runner at third and only one down and both unable to bring him in. 4th inning. Lind, Hill and Overbay, no other way to describe that inning after Vernon gets to lead off double. Jays only run five minutes into the game and then nothing. 2/6 with runners in scoring position. But 0/6 after the first two hits.
The good: Romero and that is it tonight once he settled after that first long inning. At least he kept them in the game but two runs was one too many for Jays hitters tonight.
Preview: This of course is a series that Jays should win but not only win a sweep would not be out of order against an Indians team 27-47 this season and dead last in the AL but we all know that it could be the reverse with the Jays and they could just as easily get swept here. They are playing very badly and are ripe for a lousy series in Cleveland. Let’s see what they have tonight.
Lineups: Jays: Lewis, Gonzalez, Bautista, Wells, Lind, Hill, Overbay, Buck, Hoffpauir.
Indians: Crowe, Choo, Santana, Kearns, Hafner, Peralta, LaPorta, Nix, Hernandez.
Pitching: Westbrook v Romero.
Top 1st: Lewis leading off grounds back to pitcher Westbrook throw to first base LaPorta. One down. Gonzalez, that’s better doubles to left. Bautista with runner in scoring position doubles to centre, here comes Gonzalez and Jays are off and running 1-0 and this is how it should be tonight, they need a major breakout game. Wells with one on and Bautista at second, singles to left, Bautista to third. Lind with runner at third and only one out pops it up to Peralta at third, two down. Wells to second. Hill fly ball to Crowe in centre and so the sad saga with Lind and Hill continues.
My guess is that both are going to get very hot after the All-Star break and have a great half but the problems is the Jays will be so far out of it by then that it really doesn’t matter. Both of these two have to hit when it counts and right now there is a huge gap in the middle of this lineup. Westbrook 23 pitches but should have been much more. Let’s hope it doesn’t matter tonight.
Bottom 1st: Crowe leading off strikes out. Choo fly ball to Lewis in left, two down. Santana doubles to centre. Kearns singles to right and just like that here comes Santana beats the throw to tie this game up 1-1. Kearns goes to second on the throw home. Hafner grounds back to Romero throw to Overbay but this game is all tied up. Romero has to smarten up this is not an easy win for him. He still has to pitch. Far too nonchalant this inning. 28 pitches, that is not acceptable Ricky, get focused here
Top 2nd: Overbay leading off. 2-2 count, Full count. grounds to third throw to first one down. Buck, 2-2 count. gets a life here as it drops in left field foul. Now full count. Strikes out but a good at bat for Lyle took ten pitches to get him. Hoffpauir, I for one cannot wait until Travis is back and Bautista takes back third. Hoffpauir just not up to it yet. Strikes out swinging at one way outside and I really mean way outside. 47 pitches.
Bottom 2nd: Has Romero got the message? Peralta leading off. Grounds back to Romero great athletic leap by Ricky to get and throw him out at first. Very nice play. One down for LaPorta, singles into left. Nix, singles past diving Hoffpauir, the last few games the ball seems to be following Hoffpauir around. Two on one down for Hernandez, full count, Romero definitely not on tonight. Ball four to load bases with one out, come on Ricky this is Cleveland. You are taking them far too easy. Should be dominating them. Crowe for second time tonight. That’s better, grounds to Gonzalez, shovels it to Hill, throw to Overbay double play ball rescues him here.
Top 3rd: - Lewis leading off, grounds to Hernandez at short, throw to first base LaPorta. One down. Gonzalez strikes out. Two down two out, Bautista, full count. Strikes out. Quick inning for Westbrook. 60 pitches.
Bottom 3rd: Choo leading off. Loops it into shallow centre. One on for Santana, grounds to Hill flip to Gonzalez over to Overbay, double play ball to help Romero here, two down. Kearns grounds to Hoffpauir at third throw to Overbay for third out. Perhaps now Ricky can settle down here. 54 pitches.
Top 4th: Wells leading off. 3-0 count. Doubles into left field corner. Lind with runner in scoring position. Grounds back to Westbrook throws to second to get Vernon scrambling back. One down with Lind at first. Adam has to be able to move Vernon over in that situation, try bunting Adam if your hitting is out to lunch. Hill now grounds to short over to second on to first but not in time to get Hill. Two down and still only at first base. Going backwards after that double by Vernon. Overbay, first pitch ??? lines it to right. Pathetic hitting display by Lind, Hill and Overbay, no other way to describe that inning after Vernon gets to lead off double. Come on. 72 pitches.
Bottom 4th: Hafner leading off. Jays pitchers must just sigh each inning with such terrible hitting support from their team mates, strikes out on three pitches. Peralta, fly ball to Wells in right centre, two down. Laporta, 3-1 ball four, two down runner at first, grounds to Hoffpauir throw not in time. Two on two down for Hernandez, 2-0 count. Grounds to Gonzalez, flip to Hill for the third out. 72 pitches.
Top 5th: Buck leading off, fly ball to Kearns in left field one down for Hoffpauir grounds to Peralta at third, throw to LaPorta at first, two down. Lewis, 2-2 count. Ball three. Walks him. One on for Gonzalez. Lines it to Peralta at third makes a fine catch to end this one. 86 pitches. Maybe one more inning ?
Bottom 5th: Crowe leading off, grounds back to Romero’s arm, bounces to Overbay to make the out Ricky waves off the trainer and Cito. Choo grounds to Hill at second throw to Overbay two down. Santana, 2-2 count ball three. Walks him. One on two down. Kearns, grounds to Hoffpauir at third, throw to Hill at second to get Santana for third out. 84 pitches.
Top 6th: Bautista leading off. Swinging bunt in front of home plate. Westbrook throw to first one down. Wells 2-2 tonight. Grounds back to Westbrook throw to first two down. Lind, 0-13, singles into right centre. Finally. Problem is Jays are getting player on with two down. Hill with two down. Lines it to Choo in right for third out. I really think Cito should split Lind and Hill, both are awful right now, Until they get going, don’t put them together and give automatic outs. Westbrook on 105 pitches. That may be it for him.
Bottom 6th: Hafner hits him on the first pitch. Peralta, 2-2 count. Doubles over the head of Lewis into left centre, two on with no outs. Romero in trouble here. Ja Porta, grounds to Hill looks at third and throws to first for the out. One down two on. Nix, already 2-2 tonight. Suicide squeeze and Hafner scores easily.2-1 Indians. Runner safe at first, still only one down. Hernandez pops it up to Bautista for second out. Crowe, pops it up to Hill for third out. Jays playing catch up yet again and so far not looking as if they can catch up. 100 pitches. That could be it for Ricky but only himself to blame for that poor start to the game.
Top 7th: Jays running out of at bats now. Overbay leading off, singles into centre right, this part is easy, it is getting runner home that is the Jays difficulty. Smith and Perez have been working in bullpen. That is it for Westbrook. Now Indians bullpen to hold the lead. Joe Smith now pitching, one on for Buck, 0-2, strikes out, one out one on for Hoffpauir. No pinch hitter Cito ? Ha! Lines it to short Hernandez, babe in the woods against Smith. Two down and that’s it for Smith. Rafael Perez now pitching. 2-0 count. Grounds to second throw to first for the out wasting yet another leadoff runner.
Bottom 7th: Romero still out there. Choo pops it up to shallow right but Gonzalez makes a great running behind the back catch. One down Santana, lines this one high to left but Lewis has it at the wall, two down. Kearns grounds back to Romero underhand throw to Overbay for third out, Quick inning for Ricky but he still needs runs to win this thing. Can his teammates do it for him? So far a loud no way.
Top 8th: Six more outs to do this thing if Jays do not want to be embarrassed tonight. Gonzalez leading off. Chris Perez pitching, has six saves this season, setting up for Kerry Wood to save this one in the ninth. Gonzalez Strikes out swinging, one down. Bautista calls time not given it but ball anyway. Singles into left. Wells now. One on one down. Vernon grounds to second throw to the bag, over to first double play ball.
Bottom 8th: Romero out of the game. Downs now pitching. Hafner leading off. Singles into right. One on for Peralta, oh no here comes Cito. Two pitches come on Cito? Camp now pitching. Cito playing the percentages here and he does not have great record this season. Lifts it into left to Lewis for the out, one down. LaPorta, doubles off the wall in left. Camp in deep trouble here. Nix, with two in scoring position. Strikes out swinging on three pitches. Two outs and two on for Hernandez. Cito out there again. Who knows. Back to the dugout. Camp knows what he has to do grounds to Hill. On his knees throw to Overbay for third out. Camp does the job and Cito won his gamble this time.
Top 9th: Jays now just have to beat Kerry Wood. Six out of nine saves. Lind leading off. Strikes out swinging. I think the day might come when Cito has to pinch hit for Lind. Hill, 0-3 tonight. Fly ball to left two down, another 0-4 night for Hill. Overbay with two down. 2-2 count. Singles into right, way to go Lyle. Prolonging it at least. Pinch runner for Lyle, Nick Green. Buck, with two down. 2-2 count. Wild pitch ball gets away Green to second, full count. strikes out swinging. Jays lose a stinker to the worst team in the league.
Jays out played, out managed, out pitched and out hit by Cleveland tonight, and this is against a team 20 games under .500. That tells the sorry story of the Jays right now. Winning run a suicide bunt, a play that is not even in the Jays repertoire, Jays don’t even steal second these days.
Jays have to regroup and fast overnight before their great pitching starts to turn. Two runs yesterday, one run tonight. Will not win many games that way.
Does Cito shake up the team? or shrug it off? And give the “team building this year ” mantra? That does not explain the Hill and Lind drought. Maybe at least move Overbay into fifth spot to back up Vernon. Other wise the pitchers will be going around Vernon to get to Lind.
The very bad: Top of the 1st Lind and Hill, with runner at third and only one down and both unable to bring him in. 4th inning. Lind, Hill and Overbay, no other way to describe that inning after Vernon gets to lead off double. Jays only run five minutes into the game and then nothing. 2/6 with runners in scoring position. But 0/6 after the first two hits.
The good: Romero and that is it tonight once he settled after that first long inning. At least he kept them in the game but two runs was one too many for Jays hitters tonight.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Jays worst game of the season as Hoffpauir, Hill, Gonzalez and Frasor throw this one away
Game three of series Toronto v Phillies Sunday June 27.
Lineups: Phillies: Rollins, Utley, Werth, Howard, Victorino, Francisco, Ibanez, Valdez, Sardinha.
Jays: McDonald, Gonzalez, Bautista, Wells, Lind, Hill, Overbay, Molina, Hoffpauir.
Pitching: Cecil v Moyer. Could go either way with these two. Moyer 47 amazing.
Top 1st: Rollins, singles in to left field Johnny Mc. playing left today. One on for Utley, bunting ? no. 2-2 count, strikes out. One down. Werth, grounds to Gonzalez, on to Hill on to Overbay double play ball. Nice start for Cecil. 12 pitches.
Bottom 1st: Johnny Mc. leading off today. Gets hold of this one, great hit Johnny Mc to the wall in left to make the catch, he smoked that one. Just a little higher and that was out. Gonzalez 1-2 count. Pops it up to Howard at first for second out. Bautista, grounds to third throw to first for quick inning by Moyer but not a very patient top three of the order for Jays. 9 pitches.
Top 2nd: Howard leading off. Walks, Victorino singles to left, Francisco singles to left here comes Howard.1-0 Phillies. Runners at first and second for Ibanez no outs. Cecil in a mess here. 0-2 count and strikes out on three pitches. One down for Valdez, grounds to Hoffpauir, lousy rushed throw to Hill pulls him off the bag, but Aaron gets Francisco. That should have been double play and out of the inning. Runners at first and third, Sardinha, doubles to left, here comes Victorino. Oh what a mess bungles the throw to cutoff, and Valdez scores. Cecil let down here by defense. Rollins, singles into shallow right, Sardinha scores 4-0 Phillies. Not the pitcher guys, look at the guy at third today. Utley full count. Pops up to Gonzalez. Not your fault Brett. You should have been out of this many pitches ago. 38 pitch count.
Bottom 2nd: Jay hitters need to give young Cecil some run support here and to offset that awful defense. Wells leading off, leadership here Vernon. This will do grounds to third, but shortstop Rollins makes the throw wide of first tough throw. Vernon safe at first. Lind now down to .205, ouch. With a swing like that I can see why, way off the ball, 0-2 count. Lines this on to the wall, Werth runs it down to rob Lind of a double and more a reflex stab with this glove but the ball stuck. Sometimes the baseball gods favour one side over the other. Jays not getting any breaks so far today. Hill. Drives it up the middle, score would be 4-2 by now. But two on and one down for Overbay. Singles to first throw to second to get Hill, no he doesn’t Hill safe on the throw. Vernon safe at third and Lyle at first, Bases loaded for Molina. The gods smiled. 1-2 count. Strikes out. Hoffpauir with bases loaded, the guy who started this mess, you owe Cecil here bigtime. 2-0 count. Pops it to third for final out leaving the bases loaded. Not sure this kid is ready for the big-time Cito. The only good thing is that Jays hitters (some of them at least) are hitting Moyer hard. 29 pitch count.
Top 3rd: Werth, strikes out swinging. Howard, lines it to second, Hill, an amazing catch, dives full length to get this one, highlight reel catch. Two down. Victorino, grounds to Gonzalez, throw to Overbay, three up and down for Cecil very nice, and with some help this time from his defense. 47 pitches but that was a nine pitch inning.
Bottom 3rd: Johnny Mc. leading off. Pops it into shallow centre for the out. Gonzalez, doubles this one into left, off the glove of third base. Bautista, grounds first pitch to third, throw to first two down. Gonzalez has to hold. Wells, That’s the way Vernon hammers this one into left field seats. 4-2 game. Lind strikes out swinging but Jays are back in this thing. 44 pitches.
Top 4th: Francisco leading off grounds to Hoffpauir at third, throw to Overbay, one down. Ibanez singles to Wells in centre. Valdez, NO not again, grounds to Gonzalez, throw to Hill drops the ball, runners safe instead of double play. Lightning strikes twice. Second time error on Hill this time. Sardinia, strikes out looking, Cecil has to do it himself here, two down for Rollins. 2-2 already today. 3-1 count here, be careful Brett. Singles up the middle to Wells here comes one run. 5-2 Phillies. Utley, with runners at first and third. singles into right. 6-2 Phillies. Werth, wild pitch, runners move to second and third. Casey Janssen warming up in bullpen. 2-2 count. strikes out swinging. I like Cecil he is so cool under pressure. Not his fault today. 79 pitches.
By my reckoning four runs have scored as result of errors by Hoffpauir and Hill and countless number of itches count. They both owe him big-time.
Bottom 4th: Hill leading off, can help his pitcher here. Not like that, weak grounder to third, throw to first, Hill out by a mile. Overbay, strikes out looking. Lyle you won’t get many hits looking at the ball. Molina, that’s better, hammers it off the wall in left but long single for Molina. Speed kills but not with Jose. One on for Hoffpauir has done nothing with the bat since he came up from Vegas, makes one wonder when Cito should have kept Encarnacion here. At least he could hit. Pops up for the second time today, Francisco in left makes easy catch. Cecil doesn’t stand a chance with this crew today.
Top 5th: Howard leading off doubles to centre wall. Victorino, doubles off the wall in left, here comes Howard, 7-2 Phillies. Francisco, 2-2 count. Fly ball to Wells, Victorino has to hold, one down. Ibanez. Grounds to Hill who does manage to stop this one, throw to Overbay for second out. Victorino to third. Here comes Cito, that’s it for Cecil but he was the victim today of his own team. Janssen now pitching, Valdez with two down and runner at third. Pops it up to Bautista for third out.
Bottom 5th: Let’s see what this group can do now? Not much to date beyond Vernon. McDonald, 0-2 count. Lines it to left to Werth to make the catch. Always makes it look dramatic but this one not a difficult catch. One down for Gonzalez. pops it up to second two down. Bautista, strikes out swinging on three. Awful, awful. 77 pitches for Moyer.
Top 6th: Rollins, full count grounds to Overbay flip to Janssen for second out. Utley not liking some of the calls here, just get on with it guy. 2-2 now. Grounds to Overbay steps on first for the out.
Bottom 6th: Can this underachieving team find it here? Wells leading off. Vernon the only one today to do much with the bat so far. Not this time strikes out swinging. One down for Lind, grounds first pitch to second throw to first for the second out. Hill, first pitch pops up to second. Werth almost collides with Utley at second base, that’s what I mean about the dramatics, nowhere near right field.That was Utley's ball. That was very poor from Hill and Lind, three pitches three outs, which should never ever happen at this level. I can see why Cito has pushed them down the order, may be not far enough.
Top 7th: Frasor now pitching. Werth leading off. 0-3 today, lines it to Bautista in right, 0-4 for Werth. Howard. NO again, grounds to Gonzalez, throw to Overbay, called SAFE Overbay foot came off the bag. Error on Gonzalez. Victorino, well let’s hope they get all this garbage out of their systems here in one game. These are all mental errors. Lousy defense singles up the middle two on one down. Here we go again. Francisco, 3-1, Frasor rated by that as well he should be. Doubles it off the wall in left, here comes one run. 8-2 Phillies. Ibanez one down and two in scoring position. 3-1 count. Full count. Ball four high to load the bases. Valdez, swinging wildly at first pitch, looks like a Blue Jay out there. Didn’t he know that has just walked? Grounds to Hill, throw to second ball goes into left field two runs score 10-2. Second error today and another double play ball muffed by defensive error. I don’t believe it, grounds back to Frasor, throws it away at third, run scores. 11-2 Phillies. Why are you going to Hoffpauir anyway? Go for the double play at second and first. fly ball to McDonald on left. Two down, now Cito is out there. Settle this group down bush league play by the Jays today. No guess who Tallet ??? You are joking Cito, this is not funny. Runners at first and third, Utley, and hits him. Bases loaded. What did you expect Cito. Last time he gave up a home run. Werth, you know he is salivating at bases loaded. 0-4 pops up first pitch to Molina, 0-5 day for Werth and Jays escape this one.
Bottom 7th: Lots of empty seats now. Phillies fans have had enough. Let’s see if Jays have any spine today. Moyer still out there should be able to finish Jays off today. Bullpen getting a day off. Charlie Manuel bringing in the reserves here, Gload for Howard, Castro at second. Overbay leading off. 2-2. Has not swung the bat yet. Full count. Strikes out. One down. Molina, strikes out looking. Two down for Hoffpauir the guy who started this horror show with his defensive error. Singles into left. With two down and a nine run deficit. Needed that with the bases loaded Jarrett in the second inning. McDonald, not a great day for him and totally lost in left, has no arm and no speed to get to the balls. Grounds to short throw to second to get Hoffpauir.
Top 8th: Not many left in the bullpen so I guess we have Tallet for another. Lewis in left for McDonald. McDonald at short. Gonzalez sitting about time Cito. Wise in centre for Vernon. Gload leading off strikes out swinging. One down. Victorino, strikes out, two down. Francisco, doubles into left field. Ibanez, pops it up to Wise in centre to end this one.
Bottom 8th: Herndon, now pitching. I don’t think it will change much here, Jays are down and out today. Lewis leading off. Grounds first pitch to second throw to first one down, one pitch. Bautista, singles into left, the hits are coming now when all out of reach. Wise with first at bat today. Grounds back to Herndon, off his glove but enough time to get runner at second, No double play needed anyway. Wise safe at first, two down Lind, 0-3 today and average now just above .200. 2-2 count. Full count. Wise running but ball four, semi-intentional to start again with Hill. Two on for Hill, chance to redeem his worst game of the season so far, Just does not have it anymore which must be big worry for Jays management who have long term investment in Hill and Lind, both underperforming all season long so far. Hill pops it up in front of home plate. Says it all.
Top 9th: Purcey to finish this one. Valdez leading off. Golfs it high to third, Hoffpauir makes the catch. One down. Sardinha, strikes out swinging, he wants out on the town. Two down for Rollins, grounds to McDonald throw to Overbay to finally end this one. Jays have to bat but…
Bottom 9th: Danys Baez pitching. Facing Overbay, grounds to second, off glove of Castro into right. That was a Jay’s play, error on the play. Molina, grounds to short on to second on to first double play. Two down for Hoffpauir the guy who started this mess today. Fitting to end it. 3-0 count. Ball four. Hoffpauir walks. McDonald, 0-4 today and more in left field. Just not his position. Grounds weakly back to Baez throw to first to end this. I believe this is the worst defensive display I have seen from this Jays side all season long.
The good: Vernon home run and strange as it seems I would rate Cecil pitching well, it was his defense and total lack of any offense that beat him today.
The bad: Where do we start? Hoffpauir, Hill, two errors, Gonzalez, Frasor, all throwing his thing away. But also the bats. Second inning bases loaded and Molina and Hoffpauir again, could not score.
Overall this entire lineup looked very anemic today. The top three are not going to scare many pitchers.
Yes thank you my eagle eyed friend Charlie not Jerry Manuel. Sorry about that. A mental block.
Jays off to Cleveland but management must be very concerned about this team. Hill and Lind at the top of their list.
Hill now with his glove as well as his bat, what is wrong with him?
Lind, is totally clueless in his pitch selection now, his confidence has obviously gone. He swings at pitches way outside. And goes after those he should take.
As if that was not enough Jays need a solid third baseman. We don’t realize how good Rolen was until we see Hoffpauir out there. The holes in this lineup are beginning to show.
Lineups: Phillies: Rollins, Utley, Werth, Howard, Victorino, Francisco, Ibanez, Valdez, Sardinha.
Jays: McDonald, Gonzalez, Bautista, Wells, Lind, Hill, Overbay, Molina, Hoffpauir.
Pitching: Cecil v Moyer. Could go either way with these two. Moyer 47 amazing.
Top 1st: Rollins, singles in to left field Johnny Mc. playing left today. One on for Utley, bunting ? no. 2-2 count, strikes out. One down. Werth, grounds to Gonzalez, on to Hill on to Overbay double play ball. Nice start for Cecil. 12 pitches.
Bottom 1st: Johnny Mc. leading off today. Gets hold of this one, great hit Johnny Mc to the wall in left to make the catch, he smoked that one. Just a little higher and that was out. Gonzalez 1-2 count. Pops it up to Howard at first for second out. Bautista, grounds to third throw to first for quick inning by Moyer but not a very patient top three of the order for Jays. 9 pitches.
Top 2nd: Howard leading off. Walks, Victorino singles to left, Francisco singles to left here comes Howard.1-0 Phillies. Runners at first and second for Ibanez no outs. Cecil in a mess here. 0-2 count and strikes out on three pitches. One down for Valdez, grounds to Hoffpauir, lousy rushed throw to Hill pulls him off the bag, but Aaron gets Francisco. That should have been double play and out of the inning. Runners at first and third, Sardinha, doubles to left, here comes Victorino. Oh what a mess bungles the throw to cutoff, and Valdez scores. Cecil let down here by defense. Rollins, singles into shallow right, Sardinha scores 4-0 Phillies. Not the pitcher guys, look at the guy at third today. Utley full count. Pops up to Gonzalez. Not your fault Brett. You should have been out of this many pitches ago. 38 pitch count.
Bottom 2nd: Jay hitters need to give young Cecil some run support here and to offset that awful defense. Wells leading off, leadership here Vernon. This will do grounds to third, but shortstop Rollins makes the throw wide of first tough throw. Vernon safe at first. Lind now down to .205, ouch. With a swing like that I can see why, way off the ball, 0-2 count. Lines this on to the wall, Werth runs it down to rob Lind of a double and more a reflex stab with this glove but the ball stuck. Sometimes the baseball gods favour one side over the other. Jays not getting any breaks so far today. Hill. Drives it up the middle, score would be 4-2 by now. But two on and one down for Overbay. Singles to first throw to second to get Hill, no he doesn’t Hill safe on the throw. Vernon safe at third and Lyle at first, Bases loaded for Molina. The gods smiled. 1-2 count. Strikes out. Hoffpauir with bases loaded, the guy who started this mess, you owe Cecil here bigtime. 2-0 count. Pops it to third for final out leaving the bases loaded. Not sure this kid is ready for the big-time Cito. The only good thing is that Jays hitters (some of them at least) are hitting Moyer hard. 29 pitch count.
Top 3rd: Werth, strikes out swinging. Howard, lines it to second, Hill, an amazing catch, dives full length to get this one, highlight reel catch. Two down. Victorino, grounds to Gonzalez, throw to Overbay, three up and down for Cecil very nice, and with some help this time from his defense. 47 pitches but that was a nine pitch inning.
Bottom 3rd: Johnny Mc. leading off. Pops it into shallow centre for the out. Gonzalez, doubles this one into left, off the glove of third base. Bautista, grounds first pitch to third, throw to first two down. Gonzalez has to hold. Wells, That’s the way Vernon hammers this one into left field seats. 4-2 game. Lind strikes out swinging but Jays are back in this thing. 44 pitches.
Top 4th: Francisco leading off grounds to Hoffpauir at third, throw to Overbay, one down. Ibanez singles to Wells in centre. Valdez, NO not again, grounds to Gonzalez, throw to Hill drops the ball, runners safe instead of double play. Lightning strikes twice. Second time error on Hill this time. Sardinia, strikes out looking, Cecil has to do it himself here, two down for Rollins. 2-2 already today. 3-1 count here, be careful Brett. Singles up the middle to Wells here comes one run. 5-2 Phillies. Utley, with runners at first and third. singles into right. 6-2 Phillies. Werth, wild pitch, runners move to second and third. Casey Janssen warming up in bullpen. 2-2 count. strikes out swinging. I like Cecil he is so cool under pressure. Not his fault today. 79 pitches.
By my reckoning four runs have scored as result of errors by Hoffpauir and Hill and countless number of itches count. They both owe him big-time.
Bottom 4th: Hill leading off, can help his pitcher here. Not like that, weak grounder to third, throw to first, Hill out by a mile. Overbay, strikes out looking. Lyle you won’t get many hits looking at the ball. Molina, that’s better, hammers it off the wall in left but long single for Molina. Speed kills but not with Jose. One on for Hoffpauir has done nothing with the bat since he came up from Vegas, makes one wonder when Cito should have kept Encarnacion here. At least he could hit. Pops up for the second time today, Francisco in left makes easy catch. Cecil doesn’t stand a chance with this crew today.
Top 5th: Howard leading off doubles to centre wall. Victorino, doubles off the wall in left, here comes Howard, 7-2 Phillies. Francisco, 2-2 count. Fly ball to Wells, Victorino has to hold, one down. Ibanez. Grounds to Hill who does manage to stop this one, throw to Overbay for second out. Victorino to third. Here comes Cito, that’s it for Cecil but he was the victim today of his own team. Janssen now pitching, Valdez with two down and runner at third. Pops it up to Bautista for third out.
Bottom 5th: Let’s see what this group can do now? Not much to date beyond Vernon. McDonald, 0-2 count. Lines it to left to Werth to make the catch. Always makes it look dramatic but this one not a difficult catch. One down for Gonzalez. pops it up to second two down. Bautista, strikes out swinging on three. Awful, awful. 77 pitches for Moyer.
Top 6th: Rollins, full count grounds to Overbay flip to Janssen for second out. Utley not liking some of the calls here, just get on with it guy. 2-2 now. Grounds to Overbay steps on first for the out.
Bottom 6th: Can this underachieving team find it here? Wells leading off. Vernon the only one today to do much with the bat so far. Not this time strikes out swinging. One down for Lind, grounds first pitch to second throw to first for the second out. Hill, first pitch pops up to second. Werth almost collides with Utley at second base, that’s what I mean about the dramatics, nowhere near right field.That was Utley's ball. That was very poor from Hill and Lind, three pitches three outs, which should never ever happen at this level. I can see why Cito has pushed them down the order, may be not far enough.
Top 7th: Frasor now pitching. Werth leading off. 0-3 today, lines it to Bautista in right, 0-4 for Werth. Howard. NO again, grounds to Gonzalez, throw to Overbay, called SAFE Overbay foot came off the bag. Error on Gonzalez. Victorino, well let’s hope they get all this garbage out of their systems here in one game. These are all mental errors. Lousy defense singles up the middle two on one down. Here we go again. Francisco, 3-1, Frasor rated by that as well he should be. Doubles it off the wall in left, here comes one run. 8-2 Phillies. Ibanez one down and two in scoring position. 3-1 count. Full count. Ball four high to load the bases. Valdez, swinging wildly at first pitch, looks like a Blue Jay out there. Didn’t he know that has just walked? Grounds to Hill, throw to second ball goes into left field two runs score 10-2. Second error today and another double play ball muffed by defensive error. I don’t believe it, grounds back to Frasor, throws it away at third, run scores. 11-2 Phillies. Why are you going to Hoffpauir anyway? Go for the double play at second and first. fly ball to McDonald on left. Two down, now Cito is out there. Settle this group down bush league play by the Jays today. No guess who Tallet ??? You are joking Cito, this is not funny. Runners at first and third, Utley, and hits him. Bases loaded. What did you expect Cito. Last time he gave up a home run. Werth, you know he is salivating at bases loaded. 0-4 pops up first pitch to Molina, 0-5 day for Werth and Jays escape this one.
Bottom 7th: Lots of empty seats now. Phillies fans have had enough. Let’s see if Jays have any spine today. Moyer still out there should be able to finish Jays off today. Bullpen getting a day off. Charlie Manuel bringing in the reserves here, Gload for Howard, Castro at second. Overbay leading off. 2-2. Has not swung the bat yet. Full count. Strikes out. One down. Molina, strikes out looking. Two down for Hoffpauir the guy who started this horror show with his defensive error. Singles into left. With two down and a nine run deficit. Needed that with the bases loaded Jarrett in the second inning. McDonald, not a great day for him and totally lost in left, has no arm and no speed to get to the balls. Grounds to short throw to second to get Hoffpauir.
Top 8th: Not many left in the bullpen so I guess we have Tallet for another. Lewis in left for McDonald. McDonald at short. Gonzalez sitting about time Cito. Wise in centre for Vernon. Gload leading off strikes out swinging. One down. Victorino, strikes out, two down. Francisco, doubles into left field. Ibanez, pops it up to Wise in centre to end this one.
Bottom 8th: Herndon, now pitching. I don’t think it will change much here, Jays are down and out today. Lewis leading off. Grounds first pitch to second throw to first one down, one pitch. Bautista, singles into left, the hits are coming now when all out of reach. Wise with first at bat today. Grounds back to Herndon, off his glove but enough time to get runner at second, No double play needed anyway. Wise safe at first, two down Lind, 0-3 today and average now just above .200. 2-2 count. Full count. Wise running but ball four, semi-intentional to start again with Hill. Two on for Hill, chance to redeem his worst game of the season so far, Just does not have it anymore which must be big worry for Jays management who have long term investment in Hill and Lind, both underperforming all season long so far. Hill pops it up in front of home plate. Says it all.
Top 9th: Purcey to finish this one. Valdez leading off. Golfs it high to third, Hoffpauir makes the catch. One down. Sardinha, strikes out swinging, he wants out on the town. Two down for Rollins, grounds to McDonald throw to Overbay to finally end this one. Jays have to bat but…
Bottom 9th: Danys Baez pitching. Facing Overbay, grounds to second, off glove of Castro into right. That was a Jay’s play, error on the play. Molina, grounds to short on to second on to first double play. Two down for Hoffpauir the guy who started this mess today. Fitting to end it. 3-0 count. Ball four. Hoffpauir walks. McDonald, 0-4 today and more in left field. Just not his position. Grounds weakly back to Baez throw to first to end this. I believe this is the worst defensive display I have seen from this Jays side all season long.
The good: Vernon home run and strange as it seems I would rate Cecil pitching well, it was his defense and total lack of any offense that beat him today.
The bad: Where do we start? Hoffpauir, Hill, two errors, Gonzalez, Frasor, all throwing his thing away. But also the bats. Second inning bases loaded and Molina and Hoffpauir again, could not score.
Overall this entire lineup looked very anemic today. The top three are not going to scare many pitchers.
Yes thank you my eagle eyed friend Charlie not Jerry Manuel. Sorry about that. A mental block.
Jays off to Cleveland but management must be very concerned about this team. Hill and Lind at the top of their list.
Hill now with his glove as well as his bat, what is wrong with him?
Lind, is totally clueless in his pitch selection now, his confidence has obviously gone. He swings at pitches way outside. And goes after those he should take.
As if that was not enough Jays need a solid third baseman. We don’t realize how good Rolen was until we see Hoffpauir out there. The holes in this lineup are beginning to show.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Jays win with the home runs behind great pitching Marcum and bullpen
Game two of three Jays v Phillies. Saturday June 26.
Jays want to win this one to even up the series and they have Marcum their best pitcher this afternoon.
Lineups: Phillies: Rollins, Victorino. Utley, Howard, Werth, Ibanez, Gload, Schneider, Castro.
Jays: Lewis, Gonzalez, Bautista, Wells, Lind, Hill, Overbay, Buck, Hoffpauir.
Top 1st: Rollins leading off. Grounds to Hill, throw to Overbay one down, Victorino, 2-2 count. strikes out swinging. Two down, Utley, singles to right. Howard, full count. walks him. Two on for Werth. Long inning for Marcum 24 pitches already. Strikes out. He needed that.
Bottom 1st: Hamels pitching. Lewis leading off, 3-0 count, full count, ball four. Lewis on first. Will Cito get something going here with a steal? Gonzalez, bunting? ha, no way. 2-0 count. 3-1, ball four, Hamels cannot find the strike zone, that’s fine with me. Bautista, great time to hit one out Jose. Conference on the mound. Pops it up to first, one down for Wells. Pops up to Werth in right. Two down for Lind. Awful, strikes out swinging on three pitches. That is not good to get first two on and then not move them ninety feet with three at bats. 20 pitch inning for Hamels.
Top 2nd: Ibanez, One down. Gload, Fly ball to Lewis in left two down. Schneider grounds to Overbay 31 pitches, Marcum needed that six pitch inning to get back on track. But can his teammates get their bats going?
Bottom 2nd: Hill, 0-2 pops it up to second for first out. Overbay, bounces slow roller to third and beats out the throw, well any way they can get on is fine with me. Buck, one on one down. That’s better connects on this one no doubt high into left field seats 2-0 Jays, finally a run in this place. Hoffpauir joining the party singles into gap in centre, Lewis again with one on this time. Singles to left, two on, four hits in a row. Gonzalez, strikes out swinging. Well I guess we were told about his bat. Two down, Bautista, 2-0 count. 3-0, full count, strikes out.
Top 3rd: Castro, grounds to Hoffpauir, throw to Overbay one down. Rollins, 3-0 count, singles into centre. One on one down. Victorino, golfs it to Bautista in right. Two down for Utley. There goes Rollins hit and run as Utley singles into right. Rollins moves to third. Howard with two on. 0-2 count, I feel sorry for Marcum with Hoffpauir playing way back off third Rollins is halfway home here. 2-2 count. Marcum being cautious with Howard. Grounds up the line, Marcum makes it himself and flips to Overbay for third out. No damage this inning.
Bottom 3rd: Wells leading off pops up to Gload at first. One down for Lind, grounds to Utley throw to Gload at first. Two down for Hill, that’s better Aaron, great swing, gets hold of this one high fly ball into left corner for home run, listen to those Jays fans.3-0 Jays. Overbay walks. Two down one on for Buck. Pitch high and outside, now down in the dirt, Hamels all over the place now. Pops up to Ibanez in left.
Top 4th: Werth leading off, 2-2 count. Strikes out long Werth disagrees but he would. Ibanez, 0-2 and strikes out swinging on three pitches, two down. Gload, doubles to the wall in centre right. Schneider lines out to Hill at second.
Bottom 4th: Hoffpauir fly ball to Werth in right. Lewis, grounds to Utley at second wild throw and Fred moves to second. Gonzalez, FINALLY gets hold of one and this one is out of here into left seats. 5-0 Jays. Bautista pops up first pitch to left. Wells, pops up to Utley at second.
Top 5th: Castro, grounds to Hoffpauir, throw to Overbay. One down for Rollins. Strikes out swinging, two down. Victorino. Grounds to Overbay throw to Marcum for the out at first.
Bottom 5th: Figueroa now pitching. Overbay leading off. Grounds to Utley at second throw to first, one down. Hill, 2-2 count. Strikes out swinging. Two down for Overbay, grounds to second throw to first for the out.
Top 6th: Utley grounds to Overbay, flip to Marcum to make the out at first. One down for Howard. Full count. This one is out of here lines it to centre over the fence 5-1 Phillies. Werth 0-2 count. Strikes out swinging, third time today for Werth. Two down for Ibanez. Jays bullpen working. Fly ball to Bautista in right for third out.
Bottom 6th: Buck leading off. Full count. Strikes out swinging. One down for Hoffpauir, full count, strike three looked low from here. But good at bat by Hoffpauir. Two down for Lewis. 2-0 count, now full count. Ball four. On base every at bat today. Gonzalez, should be hot now. Pops up to Victorino in shallow centre.
Top 7th: Downs pitching. Gload grounds to Hill, throw to Overbay, one down. Sardinha pinch hitting for Schneider, strikes out. Castro, fly ball to Bautista for third out, eight pitches nice Scott.
Bottom 7th: Danys Baez now pitching. Bautista leading off. Pops it up to catcher, one down. Wells, it would be nice to see this guy get in a good groove, this will do singles the opposite field in to right. One on one down for Lind. Lind strikes out. Hill, there goes Vernon, steals second. Hill hit by a pitch. Two on, two down for Overbay, fly ball to Victorino.
Top 8th: Rollins leading off, grounds to Gonzalez at shirt, throw to Overbay. One down. Victorino grounds to Hoffpauir throw to Overbay. Utley with two down. 2-2 count. Lifts it into shallow left for Gonzalez to make nice running catch for third out. Who will do the ninth? Frasor ?
Bottom 8th: Zagurski pitching. Crowd emptying out. Ye of little faith. Buck leading off. Full count. Ball four to get on base. Hoffpauir, loads of empty blue seats now. Fly ball to centre for first out. Lewis. Grounds to second, run down but get them both. To end the inning.
Top 9th: Shawn Camp pitching. Howard leading off. Full count. Fly ball to Lewis in left for one down. Werth, will he strikeout four times? No grounds first pitch to Gonzalez throw to Overbay and 0-4 night for him. Ibanez, with two down. 0-2 count. Pops up to Wells in shallow centre, Jays win big today. 5-1. Tomorrow Cecil pitching.
The excellent: Has to be Marcum today, produced big outing when it was needed the most after last night’s drubbing. But let’s give Buck, Hill and Gonzalez stars also with their home runs and of course the bullpen of Downs and camp- three scoreless innings to close this one out.
The bad: No, not today.
Jays want to win this one to even up the series and they have Marcum their best pitcher this afternoon.
Lineups: Phillies: Rollins, Victorino. Utley, Howard, Werth, Ibanez, Gload, Schneider, Castro.
Jays: Lewis, Gonzalez, Bautista, Wells, Lind, Hill, Overbay, Buck, Hoffpauir.
Top 1st: Rollins leading off. Grounds to Hill, throw to Overbay one down, Victorino, 2-2 count. strikes out swinging. Two down, Utley, singles to right. Howard, full count. walks him. Two on for Werth. Long inning for Marcum 24 pitches already. Strikes out. He needed that.
Bottom 1st: Hamels pitching. Lewis leading off, 3-0 count, full count, ball four. Lewis on first. Will Cito get something going here with a steal? Gonzalez, bunting? ha, no way. 2-0 count. 3-1, ball four, Hamels cannot find the strike zone, that’s fine with me. Bautista, great time to hit one out Jose. Conference on the mound. Pops it up to first, one down for Wells. Pops up to Werth in right. Two down for Lind. Awful, strikes out swinging on three pitches. That is not good to get first two on and then not move them ninety feet with three at bats. 20 pitch inning for Hamels.
Top 2nd: Ibanez, One down. Gload, Fly ball to Lewis in left two down. Schneider grounds to Overbay 31 pitches, Marcum needed that six pitch inning to get back on track. But can his teammates get their bats going?
Bottom 2nd: Hill, 0-2 pops it up to second for first out. Overbay, bounces slow roller to third and beats out the throw, well any way they can get on is fine with me. Buck, one on one down. That’s better connects on this one no doubt high into left field seats 2-0 Jays, finally a run in this place. Hoffpauir joining the party singles into gap in centre, Lewis again with one on this time. Singles to left, two on, four hits in a row. Gonzalez, strikes out swinging. Well I guess we were told about his bat. Two down, Bautista, 2-0 count. 3-0, full count, strikes out.
Top 3rd: Castro, grounds to Hoffpauir, throw to Overbay one down. Rollins, 3-0 count, singles into centre. One on one down. Victorino, golfs it to Bautista in right. Two down for Utley. There goes Rollins hit and run as Utley singles into right. Rollins moves to third. Howard with two on. 0-2 count, I feel sorry for Marcum with Hoffpauir playing way back off third Rollins is halfway home here. 2-2 count. Marcum being cautious with Howard. Grounds up the line, Marcum makes it himself and flips to Overbay for third out. No damage this inning.
Bottom 3rd: Wells leading off pops up to Gload at first. One down for Lind, grounds to Utley throw to Gload at first. Two down for Hill, that’s better Aaron, great swing, gets hold of this one high fly ball into left corner for home run, listen to those Jays fans.3-0 Jays. Overbay walks. Two down one on for Buck. Pitch high and outside, now down in the dirt, Hamels all over the place now. Pops up to Ibanez in left.
Top 4th: Werth leading off, 2-2 count. Strikes out long Werth disagrees but he would. Ibanez, 0-2 and strikes out swinging on three pitches, two down. Gload, doubles to the wall in centre right. Schneider lines out to Hill at second.
Bottom 4th: Hoffpauir fly ball to Werth in right. Lewis, grounds to Utley at second wild throw and Fred moves to second. Gonzalez, FINALLY gets hold of one and this one is out of here into left seats. 5-0 Jays. Bautista pops up first pitch to left. Wells, pops up to Utley at second.
Top 5th: Castro, grounds to Hoffpauir, throw to Overbay. One down for Rollins. Strikes out swinging, two down. Victorino. Grounds to Overbay throw to Marcum for the out at first.
Bottom 5th: Figueroa now pitching. Overbay leading off. Grounds to Utley at second throw to first, one down. Hill, 2-2 count. Strikes out swinging. Two down for Overbay, grounds to second throw to first for the out.
Top 6th: Utley grounds to Overbay, flip to Marcum to make the out at first. One down for Howard. Full count. This one is out of here lines it to centre over the fence 5-1 Phillies. Werth 0-2 count. Strikes out swinging, third time today for Werth. Two down for Ibanez. Jays bullpen working. Fly ball to Bautista in right for third out.
Bottom 6th: Buck leading off. Full count. Strikes out swinging. One down for Hoffpauir, full count, strike three looked low from here. But good at bat by Hoffpauir. Two down for Lewis. 2-0 count, now full count. Ball four. On base every at bat today. Gonzalez, should be hot now. Pops up to Victorino in shallow centre.
Top 7th: Downs pitching. Gload grounds to Hill, throw to Overbay, one down. Sardinha pinch hitting for Schneider, strikes out. Castro, fly ball to Bautista for third out, eight pitches nice Scott.
Bottom 7th: Danys Baez now pitching. Bautista leading off. Pops it up to catcher, one down. Wells, it would be nice to see this guy get in a good groove, this will do singles the opposite field in to right. One on one down for Lind. Lind strikes out. Hill, there goes Vernon, steals second. Hill hit by a pitch. Two on, two down for Overbay, fly ball to Victorino.
Top 8th: Rollins leading off, grounds to Gonzalez at shirt, throw to Overbay. One down. Victorino grounds to Hoffpauir throw to Overbay. Utley with two down. 2-2 count. Lifts it into shallow left for Gonzalez to make nice running catch for third out. Who will do the ninth? Frasor ?
Bottom 8th: Zagurski pitching. Crowd emptying out. Ye of little faith. Buck leading off. Full count. Ball four to get on base. Hoffpauir, loads of empty blue seats now. Fly ball to centre for first out. Lewis. Grounds to second, run down but get them both. To end the inning.
Top 9th: Shawn Camp pitching. Howard leading off. Full count. Fly ball to Lewis in left for one down. Werth, will he strikeout four times? No grounds first pitch to Gonzalez throw to Overbay and 0-4 night for him. Ibanez, with two down. 0-2 count. Pops up to Wells in shallow centre, Jays win big today. 5-1. Tomorrow Cecil pitching.
The excellent: Has to be Marcum today, produced big outing when it was needed the most after last night’s drubbing. But let’s give Buck, Hill and Gonzalez stars also with their home runs and of course the bullpen of Downs and camp- three scoreless innings to close this one out.
The bad: No, not today.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Phillies v Jays. Game one. Friday June 25.
Of course it is not the first time they have seen Halladay since he left. Jays hitters hit him around in Dunedin at Bright House Field ( see blog March 31 ) Doc was losing 4-0 by the end of the first.This is payback time for Halladay.
Lineups: Phillies: Rollins, Polanco, Utley, Howard, Werth,Ibanez, Victorino, Gload, Schneider.
Jays: Lewis, Gonzalez, Bautista, Wells, Lind, Hill, Overbay, Buck, Hoffpauir.
Pitching: Litsch v Halladay.
Top 1st: Rollins full count and walks. Not the start Jesse wanted. Polanco grounds to Gonzalez throw to Hill on to Overbay at first, Double play ball. Utley pops up to Gonzalez at short to end the inning.
Bottom 1st: Lewis leading off, strikes out. Gonzalez pops up to Utley at second. Bautista pops up to Rollins at short.
Top 2nd: Howard lines to Wells in centre for first out. Werth lines this to the wall in right centre. Lewis misjudges the bounce off the wall, back into the outfield. Werth heading for third, just beats the throw at third, that would have been embarrassing. Ibanez with one down and one on, grounds back to Litsch, throw to Overbay, no chance for EWerth to come in. Victorino walks.Gload singles to left, here comes Werth, 1-0 Phillies. Vicotorino all the way to third. Schneider grounds back to pitcher Litsch throw to Overbay for third out..
Bottom 2nd: Wells fly ball to Werth in right for the out. Lind pops to Utley at second, two down. Hill same play, pops to Utley for third out.
Top 3rd: Rollins 3-0 count and walks on four pitches. Polanco grounds to Hill throw to Gonzalez on to Overbay, Another double play to rescue Litsch. Utley grounds to Overbay for the third out.
Bottom 3rd:.Overbay leading off singles to right. Buck one on grounds to Utley at second throw to first baseman Gload, double play ball. Hoffpauir grounds to Rollins throw to first base Gload.
Top 4th: Howard leading off, fly ball to Lind in left, one down. Werth singles to left.One on one down for Ibanez, singles to right, Werth moves up to third. Victorino, grounds to Hill, throw to Overbay for the second out. Werth scores 2-0 Phillies. Gload fly ball to Lewis in right.
Bottom 4th: Lewis leading off, strikes out. One down for Gonzalez, grounds Rollins at shirt, throw to first Gload. Two down. Bautista doubles to centre. One on for Wells, fly ball to Werth in right. 50 pitches for Halladay.
Top 5th: Schneider leading off, singles to right. Rollins 3-0 count and walks on four pitches, Schneider moves up to second. Litsch in trouble again. Polanco grounds to short, safe at first to load the bases, Schneider moves to third, Rollins to second. Utley with bases loaded and nobody out. Utley singles to Wells. Here comes Schneider followed by Rollins. Two runs score, 4-0 Phillies.That’s it for Litsch. Purcey now pitching still no one out and Howard at bat. That is TOUGH. 1-2 count. singles to centre, run scores 5-0 Phillies. Werth 2-2 tonight, full count. Ball four. Bases loaded again. Ibanez. lifts it to Hoffpauir, easy out, one down. Victorino. Pops it up to Wells in shallow centre, runner holds. Wise guy. Two down for Gload. Long fly ball off glove of Wells, three runs score, 8-0 Phillies. That is tough for Purcey. Schneider, with two down. 2-2 count. Grounds to Hill throw to Overbay for the out. Don’t blame Purcey there. Vernon just overran that ball. One he should have had and out of the inning at 5. Now Jays have major catch up to do.
Bottom 5th: Lind leading off, lines it to third, one down. Hill, that’s the way Aaron, lines it to left, dropped by Ibanez at the wall, no error given (home scorer) Overbay, with runner at second. Singles to left, Hill to third. Two on for pinch runner ????? for Lyle ,. Come on Cito. Your team will just love you for that gesture. What message is that sending? And to the fans. Wise at first. Buck, with two on. Wise takes second. Full count. Strikes out. Hoffpauir, another full count, Halladay not really dominating here. Grounds to first for the out.
Top 6th: Lind now at first. Casey Janssen pitching. Rollins leading off. Strikes him out swinging very nice Casey, you have not given up. Polanco, grounds to Hill, throw to Lind at first, for out number two. Utley, with two down. grounds to Lind at first, easy pickings for Casey here. Three up and down and nothing out of the infield.
Bottom 6th: Lewis, grounds first pitch back to Halladay. One down. Gonzalez 0-2 tonight Singles into centre. Bautista, Oh boy here we go again with Cito, Johnny Mc. now pinch running for Gonzalez, pops it up to first, two down, Wells, 0-2 tonight. Full count, watch this one Vernon down and away? Yes but he leaves it alone, nice job Vernon. Lind with two on. Grounds back to Halladay throw to first for the out.
Top 7th: I wonder if Manuel will pull Halladay now? Casey still out there, Howard. Grunds to Lind throw to Janssen for the out. Werth, hamers this one to centre great running catch by Vernon bangs into the wall but hangs on to it. Highlight reel. Gload, two down. Grounds back up the middle great play by Hill to get to it and throw him out at first. Jays defense dominating here and Casey making short work on the last six Phillies.
Bottom 7th: No, Halladay still out there, he has a manager who plays to win, even with90 pitches, Hill strikes out. Wise, grounds to first, for the second out. Buck, singles to left. Hoffpauir, one on two down. Grounds to third throw to second to get Buck.106 pitches for Halladay.
Top 8th: Oh no, Tallet out there now. Cito really has given up. Hang on here. Victorino, here we go home run to left. 9-0 Phillies. Gload grounds to Hill great play but throw not in time, he could not have done better than that. Schneider, Grounds to Hill throw to second for one but throw wild at first Lind is at first. Runner safe at first. Rollins, full count. Ball four, two on one down for Polanco. Pinch runner Wilson Valdez, for Rollins, the first sign from Manuel that he has the game in order. Polanco grounds to Hoffpauir on to Hill over to Lind that’s a double play.
Bottom 8th: That is it for Halladay. No easy night for him, Manuel keeps him out there for seven. Contreras now pitching. Lewis, lots of blue seats out there, crowd have emptied out there now that Halladay has finished. Long single to centre, one on for Johnny Mc. grounds to third, on to second on to first double play ball. Cito did not start the runner or even try to steal and that was Lewis at first.……. Bautista, lines it to short for the out.
Top 9th: Tallet still out there, Groan. Utley leading off. Full count, pops it up to Johnny Mc. at short, one down. Howard, strikes out swinging, two down. Werth, 3-0, Ball four. Ibanez, needs to make up for that error in left. Strikes out.
Bottom 9th: Herndon pitching, Wells grounds to short, throw to first for the out. Lind, 0-3 tonight. Grounds to second throw to first two down. Hill, lines it to centre for third out.
Jays lose this one 9-0 but it was by no means a lopsided affair. 5-0 would have been better score and take out the three from the dropped catch by Wells and Tallet’s effort it would have indeed been five.
Two totally different style of managing on show tonight and I know which one I like. Jerry Manuel never gives an inch and his best players are out there even in the ninth despite leading 9-0. Cito on the other hand, gives up after five, pulling his starters and not giving his team much support here. Without a running game the double plays continue to add for this team, we can but hope that the new manager will have a different perspective.
Tomorrow another “home” game in Philadelphia with Marcum pitching against Hamels. Does not get easier for Jays hitters.
The good: Janssen, defense by Vernon and Hill. To make a couple of great plays
Bad: Besides Litsch, Cito pinch running for Overbay in the 5th ! Showing the white flag far too early, and sending a horrible message to the team. Hard for him to criticise a player for not running out first when his manager gives up half way through the game. A player gets benched or sent to AAA for lack of effort, no such luck for Cito, not until September at least. Bringing in Tallet ? who responds by giving up home run to the first hitter.
Of course it is not the first time they have seen Halladay since he left. Jays hitters hit him around in Dunedin at Bright House Field ( see blog March 31 ) Doc was losing 4-0 by the end of the first.This is payback time for Halladay.
Lineups: Phillies: Rollins, Polanco, Utley, Howard, Werth,Ibanez, Victorino, Gload, Schneider.
Jays: Lewis, Gonzalez, Bautista, Wells, Lind, Hill, Overbay, Buck, Hoffpauir.
Pitching: Litsch v Halladay.
Top 1st: Rollins full count and walks. Not the start Jesse wanted. Polanco grounds to Gonzalez throw to Hill on to Overbay at first, Double play ball. Utley pops up to Gonzalez at short to end the inning.
Bottom 1st: Lewis leading off, strikes out. Gonzalez pops up to Utley at second. Bautista pops up to Rollins at short.
Top 2nd: Howard lines to Wells in centre for first out. Werth lines this to the wall in right centre. Lewis misjudges the bounce off the wall, back into the outfield. Werth heading for third, just beats the throw at third, that would have been embarrassing. Ibanez with one down and one on, grounds back to Litsch, throw to Overbay, no chance for EWerth to come in. Victorino walks.Gload singles to left, here comes Werth, 1-0 Phillies. Vicotorino all the way to third. Schneider grounds back to pitcher Litsch throw to Overbay for third out..
Bottom 2nd: Wells fly ball to Werth in right for the out. Lind pops to Utley at second, two down. Hill same play, pops to Utley for third out.
Top 3rd: Rollins 3-0 count and walks on four pitches. Polanco grounds to Hill throw to Gonzalez on to Overbay, Another double play to rescue Litsch. Utley grounds to Overbay for the third out.
Bottom 3rd:.Overbay leading off singles to right. Buck one on grounds to Utley at second throw to first baseman Gload, double play ball. Hoffpauir grounds to Rollins throw to first base Gload.
Top 4th: Howard leading off, fly ball to Lind in left, one down. Werth singles to left.One on one down for Ibanez, singles to right, Werth moves up to third. Victorino, grounds to Hill, throw to Overbay for the second out. Werth scores 2-0 Phillies. Gload fly ball to Lewis in right.
Bottom 4th: Lewis leading off, strikes out. One down for Gonzalez, grounds Rollins at shirt, throw to first Gload. Two down. Bautista doubles to centre. One on for Wells, fly ball to Werth in right. 50 pitches for Halladay.
Top 5th: Schneider leading off, singles to right. Rollins 3-0 count and walks on four pitches, Schneider moves up to second. Litsch in trouble again. Polanco grounds to short, safe at first to load the bases, Schneider moves to third, Rollins to second. Utley with bases loaded and nobody out. Utley singles to Wells. Here comes Schneider followed by Rollins. Two runs score, 4-0 Phillies.That’s it for Litsch. Purcey now pitching still no one out and Howard at bat. That is TOUGH. 1-2 count. singles to centre, run scores 5-0 Phillies. Werth 2-2 tonight, full count. Ball four. Bases loaded again. Ibanez. lifts it to Hoffpauir, easy out, one down. Victorino. Pops it up to Wells in shallow centre, runner holds. Wise guy. Two down for Gload. Long fly ball off glove of Wells, three runs score, 8-0 Phillies. That is tough for Purcey. Schneider, with two down. 2-2 count. Grounds to Hill throw to Overbay for the out. Don’t blame Purcey there. Vernon just overran that ball. One he should have had and out of the inning at 5. Now Jays have major catch up to do.
Bottom 5th: Lind leading off, lines it to third, one down. Hill, that’s the way Aaron, lines it to left, dropped by Ibanez at the wall, no error given (home scorer) Overbay, with runner at second. Singles to left, Hill to third. Two on for pinch runner ????? for Lyle ,. Come on Cito. Your team will just love you for that gesture. What message is that sending? And to the fans. Wise at first. Buck, with two on. Wise takes second. Full count. Strikes out. Hoffpauir, another full count, Halladay not really dominating here. Grounds to first for the out.
Top 6th: Lind now at first. Casey Janssen pitching. Rollins leading off. Strikes him out swinging very nice Casey, you have not given up. Polanco, grounds to Hill, throw to Lind at first, for out number two. Utley, with two down. grounds to Lind at first, easy pickings for Casey here. Three up and down and nothing out of the infield.
Bottom 6th: Lewis, grounds first pitch back to Halladay. One down. Gonzalez 0-2 tonight Singles into centre. Bautista, Oh boy here we go again with Cito, Johnny Mc. now pinch running for Gonzalez, pops it up to first, two down, Wells, 0-2 tonight. Full count, watch this one Vernon down and away? Yes but he leaves it alone, nice job Vernon. Lind with two on. Grounds back to Halladay throw to first for the out.
Top 7th: I wonder if Manuel will pull Halladay now? Casey still out there, Howard. Grunds to Lind throw to Janssen for the out. Werth, hamers this one to centre great running catch by Vernon bangs into the wall but hangs on to it. Highlight reel. Gload, two down. Grounds back up the middle great play by Hill to get to it and throw him out at first. Jays defense dominating here and Casey making short work on the last six Phillies.
Bottom 7th: No, Halladay still out there, he has a manager who plays to win, even with90 pitches, Hill strikes out. Wise, grounds to first, for the second out. Buck, singles to left. Hoffpauir, one on two down. Grounds to third throw to second to get Buck.106 pitches for Halladay.
Top 8th: Oh no, Tallet out there now. Cito really has given up. Hang on here. Victorino, here we go home run to left. 9-0 Phillies. Gload grounds to Hill great play but throw not in time, he could not have done better than that. Schneider, Grounds to Hill throw to second for one but throw wild at first Lind is at first. Runner safe at first. Rollins, full count. Ball four, two on one down for Polanco. Pinch runner Wilson Valdez, for Rollins, the first sign from Manuel that he has the game in order. Polanco grounds to Hoffpauir on to Hill over to Lind that’s a double play.
Bottom 8th: That is it for Halladay. No easy night for him, Manuel keeps him out there for seven. Contreras now pitching. Lewis, lots of blue seats out there, crowd have emptied out there now that Halladay has finished. Long single to centre, one on for Johnny Mc. grounds to third, on to second on to first double play ball. Cito did not start the runner or even try to steal and that was Lewis at first.……. Bautista, lines it to short for the out.
Top 9th: Tallet still out there, Groan. Utley leading off. Full count, pops it up to Johnny Mc. at short, one down. Howard, strikes out swinging, two down. Werth, 3-0, Ball four. Ibanez, needs to make up for that error in left. Strikes out.
Bottom 9th: Herndon pitching, Wells grounds to short, throw to first for the out. Lind, 0-3 tonight. Grounds to second throw to first two down. Hill, lines it to centre for third out.
Jays lose this one 9-0 but it was by no means a lopsided affair. 5-0 would have been better score and take out the three from the dropped catch by Wells and Tallet’s effort it would have indeed been five.
Two totally different style of managing on show tonight and I know which one I like. Jerry Manuel never gives an inch and his best players are out there even in the ninth despite leading 9-0. Cito on the other hand, gives up after five, pulling his starters and not giving his team much support here. Without a running game the double plays continue to add for this team, we can but hope that the new manager will have a different perspective.
Tomorrow another “home” game in Philadelphia with Marcum pitching against Hamels. Does not get easier for Jays hitters.
The good: Janssen, defense by Vernon and Hill. To make a couple of great plays
Bad: Besides Litsch, Cito pinch running for Overbay in the 5th ! Showing the white flag far too early, and sending a horrible message to the team. Hard for him to criticise a player for not running out first when his manager gives up half way through the game. A player gets benched or sent to AAA for lack of effort, no such luck for Cito, not until September at least. Bringing in Tallet ? who responds by giving up home run to the first hitter.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Excellent pitching, excellent hitting equals great win for Jays
Game three of series. Cardinals v Jays. Thursday June 24.
Cardinals going for the sweep and have excellent chance with Wainright another excellent pitcher 10-4. On the other hand Morrow has been pitching so very well but with little run support.
Lineups: Cardinals: Lopez, Holiday, Pujols, Rasmus, Freese, Winn, Molina, Schumaker, Miles.
Jays: Cito shakes the order up, Lewis, Gonzalez (!) Bautista, Wells, Lind, Hill, Overbay, Hoffpauir, Molina.
I would have preferred to see Gonzalez move down but at least Cito has moved Hill and Lind. And to my mind, Vernon gets far better protection with Lind behind him. Let’s see how all three will perform tonight. Interesting to compare the two lineups with LaRussa playing Holliday and Pujols his two best hitters at two and three. Makes sense to give them maximum at bats.
Pitching: Wainright v Morrow.
Top 1st: Lopez leading off strikes out. Holliday walks. Pujols one on one down fly ball to Lewis in left, two down for Rasmus. Strikes out.
Bottom 1st: Lewis leading off, strikes out. One down for Gonzalez fly ball to Winn in right Two down. Bautista singles to left. One on for Wells, Yes Vernon, gets hold of this one, No doubt about it, second deck shot in left field for Vernon, here comes Bautista here comes Vernon, 2-0 Jays. Lind, full count, Oh yes indeed, same area, first deck home run for Lind. 3-0 Jays. Getting to Wainright immediately. Hill, strikes out but Jays hitters are in flight which is great news for Morrow and Cito’s new lineup !
Top 2nd: Morrow now with a good lead to work with. Freese grounds to Hill at second, throw to Overbay at first for the out. Winn, same play, grounds to Hill at second, throw to Overbay at first for the second. Molina with two down, grounds to Hoffpauir at third, throw to Overbay for third out. 32 pitches for Morrow.
Bottom 2nd: Overbay leading off full count, bounces one to second Miles knocks it down but no throw. Lyle safe at first error on the play. Hoffpauir, pops it up to Miles at second for the out. Molina, hammers this to left off the wall, a double for Molina, Lyle held up at third. Lewis now with one out and two in scoring position. Fred you have to bring them in here. 0-2 count. This will do, lines it to Winn in right, here comes Lyle and scores 4-0 Jays two down. Molina also tags to come to third on the throw. Gonzalez, 0-2 on the count. Strikes out leaving Molina at third. Why is this guy hitting number two Cito ?
Top 3rd: Morrow has a 4-0 lead now. Could have should have been more but at least they get one more. Schumaker singles first pitch to right. Miles, Schumaker going on first pitch stealing throw by Molina gets him at second. Miles pops it up two down on two pitches, great. Lopez, strikes out. Very nice inning for Morrow. 41 pitches.
Bottom 3rd: Bautista, leading off gets hold of this one high into left just misses foul pole. Wells, gets hold of this one, high into left second home run third deck. 5-0 Jays. Great catch by a small boy, he will love that ball, the day he caught Vernon Wells home run. Lind singles to right. Hill shatters bat which goes flying to Wainright and the ball with it, throws to second to get Lind. Overbay, full count, strikes out looking. 67 pitches.
Top 4th: Holliday leading off. Bounces one back to Morrow, throw to Overbay for first out. Pujols, high, very high, pop up to Hoffpauir at third, two down. Rasmus, strikes out to end the inning, three up and down. 52 pitches for Morrow.
Bottom 4th: Hoffpauir, grounds to short, throw to first one down. Molina, strikes out. Lewis with two down, lines it to Holliday for third out. 75 pitches. Six strikeouts for Wainright.
Top 5th: Freese leading off. Singles to Bautista in right field. Cardinals bullpen working, Salas. Winn, 2-2 count, strikes out. Molina, lines it to Wells in centre, two down. Schumaker, grounds to Hoffpauir at third, throw to Overbay for third out. 68 pitch count.
Bottom 5th: Wainright is finished. Salas now pitching, Gonzalez leading off. Hammers this one, doubles off the wall in centre. Bautista, runner in scoring position. 3-1 count. Ball four. Two on for Vernon 2-2 tonight. Strikes out this time. One down for Lind. Also 2-2 tonight. Grounds to second throw to first to get Lind. Both runners move up. Hill with two in scoring position. Gets hold of this one but long out to Rasmus at centre. Nice try Aaron hit it very hard. Just not getting that one up in the air enough.
Top 6th: Miles, pops it up to Gonzalez in shallow centre. One down for Lopez. Grounds to Overbay at first, two down. Holliday, doubles into left field corner. Pujols, lines it to Hoffpauir, off his glove and both runners safe. Rasmus, two runners on, two down. strikes out. Morrow now with six strikeouts. 87 pitches.
Bottom 6th: Overbay leading off. Lines it to left centre but Rasmus chases it down, nice catch to rob Lyle of a double. Hoffpauir, How does Molina do that split ? his right leg is parallel to the ground. Hoffpauir grounds it to second throw to first two down. Jarrett not having much luck yet in the big leagues. Molina, two down. That’s better singles into left field. One on two down for Lewis. Singles into right. Molina stops at second. Gonzalez, with two on and two down. Pops it up to first. Sorry Cito, I don’t believe Gonzalez should be that high in the order.
Top 7th: Time to get Camp and Downs warming up? that will help pitch count. Freese grounds first pitch to Gonzalez, throw to Overbay one down. Winn, strikes out. Number seven. Two down for Jason LaRue now in for Molina. Grounds to Gonzalez, throw to Overbay for the third out. Good inning for Morrow he might yet get another. Or at least start the eighth. 97 pitch count.
Bottom 7th: Mitchell Boggs now pitching, Bautista leading off. Grounds it hard to third, off the glove of Freese, Jose safe at first, error on play. Wells, no Vernon, first pitch pops up to first. One down. Lind, 2-3 tonight. Strikes out on three pitches outside. Scouts have Adam’s number for now at least, he will adjust. Two down for Hill grounds to Freese throw to first NOT in time. Aaron beats it out, way to go with that hustle. Johnny Mc. pinch runner for Hill. Overbay now, 3-0 count. Walks him to load the bases. Hoffpauir now LONG overdue for a hit Jarrett. Grounds to first flip to Boggs for third out.
Top 8th: Schumaker leading off. Strikes out, number eight. Miles with one down. Grounds to Hoffpauir nice throw to Overbay to get him. Two down, Lopez doubles to the left centre wall. Holliday, that pitch gets the umpire, this is not good he went straight down, hit collar bone area. Staying in the game. Tough guy. Grounds to Gonzalez, throw to Overbay for third out. 112 pitches, that should be it for Morrow, great outing, this is a very tough lineup.
Bottom 8th: Dennys Reyes pitching, Molina leading off, 2-3 tonight. Not this time, grounds to Freese at third throw to first for the out. Lewis, 2-2 count. Grounds to Miles at second throw to first, one down. Gonzalez, 1-4 tonight, pops it up to Winn in shallow right.
Top 9th: Here comes Camp. Needs to close this one out. Pujols leading off. Grounds first pitch to Hoffpauir, throw to Overbay one down. Rasmus, long fly ball to Lewis in left at the wall. Two down two pitches. Freese, 1-2 count. Strikes out. Jays win this one 5-0 and shuts out this very good hitting lineup.
Excellent: Morrow very definitely, followed closely by Vernon finally connecting and for two tonight. Lind also back to back home run with Vernon to get this one going early for Jays.
The good: I think it has to be the Jays series with the Cardinals. Last night’s loss could have gone either way and Jays would have won the series. Jays have had a tough month against excellent teams and pitching and they have held their own. For a team that is rebuilding I think they have overachieved.
The bad: No nothing tonight. Let’s enjoy the win. Tough series against the Phillies this weekend.
Cardinals going for the sweep and have excellent chance with Wainright another excellent pitcher 10-4. On the other hand Morrow has been pitching so very well but with little run support.
Lineups: Cardinals: Lopez, Holiday, Pujols, Rasmus, Freese, Winn, Molina, Schumaker, Miles.
Jays: Cito shakes the order up, Lewis, Gonzalez (!) Bautista, Wells, Lind, Hill, Overbay, Hoffpauir, Molina.
I would have preferred to see Gonzalez move down but at least Cito has moved Hill and Lind. And to my mind, Vernon gets far better protection with Lind behind him. Let’s see how all three will perform tonight. Interesting to compare the two lineups with LaRussa playing Holliday and Pujols his two best hitters at two and three. Makes sense to give them maximum at bats.
Pitching: Wainright v Morrow.
Top 1st: Lopez leading off strikes out. Holliday walks. Pujols one on one down fly ball to Lewis in left, two down for Rasmus. Strikes out.
Bottom 1st: Lewis leading off, strikes out. One down for Gonzalez fly ball to Winn in right Two down. Bautista singles to left. One on for Wells, Yes Vernon, gets hold of this one, No doubt about it, second deck shot in left field for Vernon, here comes Bautista here comes Vernon, 2-0 Jays. Lind, full count, Oh yes indeed, same area, first deck home run for Lind. 3-0 Jays. Getting to Wainright immediately. Hill, strikes out but Jays hitters are in flight which is great news for Morrow and Cito’s new lineup !
Top 2nd: Morrow now with a good lead to work with. Freese grounds to Hill at second, throw to Overbay at first for the out. Winn, same play, grounds to Hill at second, throw to Overbay at first for the second. Molina with two down, grounds to Hoffpauir at third, throw to Overbay for third out. 32 pitches for Morrow.
Bottom 2nd: Overbay leading off full count, bounces one to second Miles knocks it down but no throw. Lyle safe at first error on the play. Hoffpauir, pops it up to Miles at second for the out. Molina, hammers this to left off the wall, a double for Molina, Lyle held up at third. Lewis now with one out and two in scoring position. Fred you have to bring them in here. 0-2 count. This will do, lines it to Winn in right, here comes Lyle and scores 4-0 Jays two down. Molina also tags to come to third on the throw. Gonzalez, 0-2 on the count. Strikes out leaving Molina at third. Why is this guy hitting number two Cito ?
Top 3rd: Morrow has a 4-0 lead now. Could have should have been more but at least they get one more. Schumaker singles first pitch to right. Miles, Schumaker going on first pitch stealing throw by Molina gets him at second. Miles pops it up two down on two pitches, great. Lopez, strikes out. Very nice inning for Morrow. 41 pitches.
Bottom 3rd: Bautista, leading off gets hold of this one high into left just misses foul pole. Wells, gets hold of this one, high into left second home run third deck. 5-0 Jays. Great catch by a small boy, he will love that ball, the day he caught Vernon Wells home run. Lind singles to right. Hill shatters bat which goes flying to Wainright and the ball with it, throws to second to get Lind. Overbay, full count, strikes out looking. 67 pitches.
Top 4th: Holliday leading off. Bounces one back to Morrow, throw to Overbay for first out. Pujols, high, very high, pop up to Hoffpauir at third, two down. Rasmus, strikes out to end the inning, three up and down. 52 pitches for Morrow.
Bottom 4th: Hoffpauir, grounds to short, throw to first one down. Molina, strikes out. Lewis with two down, lines it to Holliday for third out. 75 pitches. Six strikeouts for Wainright.
Top 5th: Freese leading off. Singles to Bautista in right field. Cardinals bullpen working, Salas. Winn, 2-2 count, strikes out. Molina, lines it to Wells in centre, two down. Schumaker, grounds to Hoffpauir at third, throw to Overbay for third out. 68 pitch count.
Bottom 5th: Wainright is finished. Salas now pitching, Gonzalez leading off. Hammers this one, doubles off the wall in centre. Bautista, runner in scoring position. 3-1 count. Ball four. Two on for Vernon 2-2 tonight. Strikes out this time. One down for Lind. Also 2-2 tonight. Grounds to second throw to first to get Lind. Both runners move up. Hill with two in scoring position. Gets hold of this one but long out to Rasmus at centre. Nice try Aaron hit it very hard. Just not getting that one up in the air enough.
Top 6th: Miles, pops it up to Gonzalez in shallow centre. One down for Lopez. Grounds to Overbay at first, two down. Holliday, doubles into left field corner. Pujols, lines it to Hoffpauir, off his glove and both runners safe. Rasmus, two runners on, two down. strikes out. Morrow now with six strikeouts. 87 pitches.
Bottom 6th: Overbay leading off. Lines it to left centre but Rasmus chases it down, nice catch to rob Lyle of a double. Hoffpauir, How does Molina do that split ? his right leg is parallel to the ground. Hoffpauir grounds it to second throw to first two down. Jarrett not having much luck yet in the big leagues. Molina, two down. That’s better singles into left field. One on two down for Lewis. Singles into right. Molina stops at second. Gonzalez, with two on and two down. Pops it up to first. Sorry Cito, I don’t believe Gonzalez should be that high in the order.
Top 7th: Time to get Camp and Downs warming up? that will help pitch count. Freese grounds first pitch to Gonzalez, throw to Overbay one down. Winn, strikes out. Number seven. Two down for Jason LaRue now in for Molina. Grounds to Gonzalez, throw to Overbay for the third out. Good inning for Morrow he might yet get another. Or at least start the eighth. 97 pitch count.
Bottom 7th: Mitchell Boggs now pitching, Bautista leading off. Grounds it hard to third, off the glove of Freese, Jose safe at first, error on play. Wells, no Vernon, first pitch pops up to first. One down. Lind, 2-3 tonight. Strikes out on three pitches outside. Scouts have Adam’s number for now at least, he will adjust. Two down for Hill grounds to Freese throw to first NOT in time. Aaron beats it out, way to go with that hustle. Johnny Mc. pinch runner for Hill. Overbay now, 3-0 count. Walks him to load the bases. Hoffpauir now LONG overdue for a hit Jarrett. Grounds to first flip to Boggs for third out.
Top 8th: Schumaker leading off. Strikes out, number eight. Miles with one down. Grounds to Hoffpauir nice throw to Overbay to get him. Two down, Lopez doubles to the left centre wall. Holliday, that pitch gets the umpire, this is not good he went straight down, hit collar bone area. Staying in the game. Tough guy. Grounds to Gonzalez, throw to Overbay for third out. 112 pitches, that should be it for Morrow, great outing, this is a very tough lineup.
Bottom 8th: Dennys Reyes pitching, Molina leading off, 2-3 tonight. Not this time, grounds to Freese at third throw to first for the out. Lewis, 2-2 count. Grounds to Miles at second throw to first, one down. Gonzalez, 1-4 tonight, pops it up to Winn in shallow right.
Top 9th: Here comes Camp. Needs to close this one out. Pujols leading off. Grounds first pitch to Hoffpauir, throw to Overbay one down. Rasmus, long fly ball to Lewis in left at the wall. Two down two pitches. Freese, 1-2 count. Strikes out. Jays win this one 5-0 and shuts out this very good hitting lineup.
Excellent: Morrow very definitely, followed closely by Vernon finally connecting and for two tonight. Lind also back to back home run with Vernon to get this one going early for Jays.
The good: I think it has to be the Jays series with the Cardinals. Last night’s loss could have gone either way and Jays would have won the series. Jays have had a tough month against excellent teams and pitching and they have held their own. For a team that is rebuilding I think they have overachieved.
The bad: No nothing tonight. Let’s enjoy the win. Tough series against the Phillies this weekend.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Jays waste a gem outing by Romero. Gregg also takes the rap,
Game two of three. Cardinals v Jays. Wednesday June 23.
This will be a very tough one for the Jays tonight, Carpenter undoubtedly one of the best in the NL. It will be interesting to see what Romero brings. The major concerns for Jays though are the lack of run production by Jays hitters. Hill, Lind, Wells, and Overbay. When oh when will they get it going again? Cardinalsvhave Holliday and Pujols at numbers two and three in the lineup, interesting to get both power hitters extra at bats.
Lineups: Cardinals: Lopez, Holliday, Pujols, Stavinoha, Freese, Rasmus, Molina, Winn, Ryan.
Blue Jays: Wise, (playing in left tonight and no Lewis), Hill, Lind, Wells, Gonzalez, Bautista, Overbay, Buck, Hoffpauir.
Pitching: Carpenter v Romero.
Top 1st: Lopez grounds to Hill, bobbles the ball and safe at first, error Hill. Not a good start. Holliday grounds to short,Gonzalez knocks it down but unable to get a throw away safe at first Lopez to second. Two on and no outs. Pujols singles to left, bases are loaded with Lopez at third, Holliday at second. Nobody out. Romero needs a lot of luck here to escape this one. Stavinoha grounds to Overbay throwing home to Buck to get the runner, one down but runners move up. Freese strikes out. Two down for Rasmus full count andstrikes out. Excellent pitching by Romero to get out of bases loaded and no outs against this team.
Bottom 1st: Wise grounds to Pujols steps on third for the out. Hill strikes out. Two down. Lind grounds to first for third out. Three up and down.
Top 2nd: Molina full count and walks. One on for Winn, singles to left, Molina to second. Romero repeating the first inning. Ryan grounds to Hill, flip to Gonzalez over to Overbay double play ball.Molina moves to third. Lopez for his second at bat tonight already. Grounds to Hill throw to Overbay for the third out but Romero is playing with fire here. Cardinals are much too good a team to hope to escape each inning like this.
Bottom 2nd: Wells lines it to right for Winn. One down. Gonzalez 3-0 and walks on four pitches. Bautista fly ball to Rasmus in centre. Two down for Overbay strikes out. 34 pitches for Carpenter. A little too easy for him so far.
Top 3rd: Romero needs to step his game up as well if hopes to stay with Carpenter tonight. Holliday leading off lines out to Bautista in right. Pujols singles to centre 2-2. One on, one down, Stavinoha with one on, strikes out. Two down for Freese, grounds hard to Hill, nice play by Aaron flip to second to get third out. 51 pitches for Romero. Those first two innings used a lot of pitches.
Bottom 3rd: Buck leading off. 1-2 count. Grounds to Frees at third, throw to first, one down. Hoffpauir, doubles down right field line, Hoffpauir has some speed. Wise, strikes out swinging on three pitches. Hill, with one on and two down. 2-0 count. 3-0.Ball four and walks him, two on two down for Lind, strikes out swinging.
Top 4th: Rasmus, pops up to Wells in centre, one down, grounds first pitch to Gonzalez, throw to Overbay, two down for Winn, grounds one past diving Gonzalez into left, safe at first. Ryan grounds first pitch to Gonzalez, flip to Hill to get Winn at second. Nice inning for Romero. 60 pitches.
Bottom 4th: Wells leading off. Lines it into left. Gonzalez, oh boy, first pitch grounds to shirt, throw to second on to first double play ball. That was poor at bat by Gonzalez, didn’t give Vernon a chance even when het gets on base! Bautista, fouling them off here. Perhaps he should be hitting behind Vernon. Seems to have much better pitch selection and judgment than Gonzalez. Full count. Ball four. Two down and one on for Overbay. Nice swing Lyle lines it to left Holliday right at the wall to make the catch. Pitch count 67.
Top 5th: Lopez leading off. First pitch bounces one to Hoffpauir, throw to Overbay one down. Holliday same play, grounds to Hoffpauir, throw to Overbay two down. Pujols, 2-2 tonight. Singles up the middle. One on two down. Stavinoha hit and run there goes Pujols, Stavinoha pops it up to Wells in centre for third out. Another nice inning for Romero. 67 pitches.
Bottom 5th: Buck leading off. Very nice grounds slowly to third and beats the throw. One on for Hoffpauir, 0-2 count, strikes out on three pitches. One down one on for Wise. Fly ball to left wall, Holliday makes the catch. Two down for Hill. Grounds to short throw to second to get Buck. 75 pitch count.
Top 6th: Freese leading off 0-2 count. Count full. Strikes out. Rasmus, flare into shallow centre. One down one on for Molina grounds first pitch to Gonzalez, flip to hill throw to Overbay, double play ball. Very nice play as Hill had Rasmus sliding into him as he made the throw. 75 pitches for Romero.
Bottom 6th: That play should get Jays hitters going here. Lind leading off .208 average. When oh when is Adam going to get it going? Pops this one up to Pujols. One down for Wells. grounds hard to Ryan at short, good play and throw to first to get Vernon. Gonzalez, please not first pitch. Takes it and ball two. High pop up to centre for third out. 85 pitches.
Top 7th: Winn leading off. 2-0 count. Grounds to Hoffpauir, throw to Overbay one down. Ryan, full count, come on Ricky this is number nine guy. Grounds to Gonzalez throw to Overbay, two down for Lopez. Hits him. The sleeve of his shirt. Holliday with one on. 2-0 count. Grounds to Gonzalez, flip to Hill for third out. 92 pitch count. May not get one more inning in.
Bottom 7th: Bautista leading off, we need a big one here Jose. 0-2 count. 2-2, ball three. Ball four. Nice at bat by Jose. Overbay, pops up to Winn in shallow right. Jose has to hold. Buck with one down and one on. Same play fly ball to Winn in right, two down for Hoffpauir. Perhaps he can do something here. Pops it up to Lopez in shallow right for 101 pitches for Carpenter.
Top 8th: Pujols leading off. 3-3 tonight. Doubles into left corner, 4-4. Stavinoha, bunting? Trying but pitch high and ball one. Grounds to Romero, Pujols in run-down one down but Stavinoha to second on the play. Freese with Camp and Downs ready in bullpen. 3-1 count. Full count. Strikes out swinging. Two down. Rasmus, pops up to Wise in left and leaves runner at second. Very nice pitching Ricky. That is probably it for him. 107 pitches. Now if Jays can get one here is should be Gregg and with the bottom three of the order (pinch hitters excepted of course).
Bottom 8th: Top of the Jays order. Carpenter still out there. Wise leading off. 2-2 count and strikes out. Hill, 0-2 count. Strikes out swinging. Lind, last chance to show us something. 0-3 tonight. Pops up into shallow centre. Three up and down.
Top 9th: Gregg is out anyway. Molina, pops up to Overbay as he splits his bat. One down. Winn, 0-2 count. Singles into left. One on one down for Ryan. Lines first pitch to Bautista in right, two down. Lopez. 2-1 count. Strike two, same pitch but not biting, full count. Runner going as Lopez singles up the middle. Here’s trouble now for Gregg. Holliday with two on and two down. 2-1 count. Ball three. You don’t want to load them up with Pujols waiting. Count full. Singles to left. Here comes the Winn and the run. 1-0 Cardinals. Pujols with two on 4-4, high and inside, nasty. Fly ball to Bautista for the out but may be too late for the Jays tonight.
Bottom 9th: Ryan Franklin pitching to save this one. Wells, goes the other way just foul. 2-2 count. Bounces one up the middle and off the glove of Ryan into centre. One on for Gonzalez, oh not again, grounds to third on to second on to first double play ball. Cito HAS to move this guy away from Vernon he is not protecting him at all. Great defense but his bat does not justify number five position. Two down for Bautista, 2-1 count. Ball three. Strike two, full count. Ball four, great at bat by Bautista. Overbay, hitless tonight, good time to get one. Lines it right at Pujols.
Jays hitters (and Gregg of course) ruin a great performance by Romero tonight. Carpenter far too much for Jays hitters tonight. And it does not get easier tomorrow with Wainright already a ten game winner.
The excellent: Romero and that is it.
The bad: Gonzalez hitting into two double plays tonight and the most important one with Vernon on in the ninth. Gregg did not get it done. Jays had only four hits and Vernon’s two hits were wiped out by Gonzalez double plays. Vernon was the only hitter in the top 7 !!! to even get a hit tonight.
Cardinals had eleven hits but the top three had seven of them and there’s one major difference between these two teams.
This will be a very tough one for the Jays tonight, Carpenter undoubtedly one of the best in the NL. It will be interesting to see what Romero brings. The major concerns for Jays though are the lack of run production by Jays hitters. Hill, Lind, Wells, and Overbay. When oh when will they get it going again? Cardinalsvhave Holliday and Pujols at numbers two and three in the lineup, interesting to get both power hitters extra at bats.
Lineups: Cardinals: Lopez, Holliday, Pujols, Stavinoha, Freese, Rasmus, Molina, Winn, Ryan.
Blue Jays: Wise, (playing in left tonight and no Lewis), Hill, Lind, Wells, Gonzalez, Bautista, Overbay, Buck, Hoffpauir.
Pitching: Carpenter v Romero.
Top 1st: Lopez grounds to Hill, bobbles the ball and safe at first, error Hill. Not a good start. Holliday grounds to short,Gonzalez knocks it down but unable to get a throw away safe at first Lopez to second. Two on and no outs. Pujols singles to left, bases are loaded with Lopez at third, Holliday at second. Nobody out. Romero needs a lot of luck here to escape this one. Stavinoha grounds to Overbay throwing home to Buck to get the runner, one down but runners move up. Freese strikes out. Two down for Rasmus full count andstrikes out. Excellent pitching by Romero to get out of bases loaded and no outs against this team.
Bottom 1st: Wise grounds to Pujols steps on third for the out. Hill strikes out. Two down. Lind grounds to first for third out. Three up and down.
Top 2nd: Molina full count and walks. One on for Winn, singles to left, Molina to second. Romero repeating the first inning. Ryan grounds to Hill, flip to Gonzalez over to Overbay double play ball.Molina moves to third. Lopez for his second at bat tonight already. Grounds to Hill throw to Overbay for the third out but Romero is playing with fire here. Cardinals are much too good a team to hope to escape each inning like this.
Bottom 2nd: Wells lines it to right for Winn. One down. Gonzalez 3-0 and walks on four pitches. Bautista fly ball to Rasmus in centre. Two down for Overbay strikes out. 34 pitches for Carpenter. A little too easy for him so far.
Top 3rd: Romero needs to step his game up as well if hopes to stay with Carpenter tonight. Holliday leading off lines out to Bautista in right. Pujols singles to centre 2-2. One on, one down, Stavinoha with one on, strikes out. Two down for Freese, grounds hard to Hill, nice play by Aaron flip to second to get third out. 51 pitches for Romero. Those first two innings used a lot of pitches.
Bottom 3rd: Buck leading off. 1-2 count. Grounds to Frees at third, throw to first, one down. Hoffpauir, doubles down right field line, Hoffpauir has some speed. Wise, strikes out swinging on three pitches. Hill, with one on and two down. 2-0 count. 3-0.Ball four and walks him, two on two down for Lind, strikes out swinging.
Top 4th: Rasmus, pops up to Wells in centre, one down, grounds first pitch to Gonzalez, throw to Overbay, two down for Winn, grounds one past diving Gonzalez into left, safe at first. Ryan grounds first pitch to Gonzalez, flip to Hill to get Winn at second. Nice inning for Romero. 60 pitches.
Bottom 4th: Wells leading off. Lines it into left. Gonzalez, oh boy, first pitch grounds to shirt, throw to second on to first double play ball. That was poor at bat by Gonzalez, didn’t give Vernon a chance even when het gets on base! Bautista, fouling them off here. Perhaps he should be hitting behind Vernon. Seems to have much better pitch selection and judgment than Gonzalez. Full count. Ball four. Two down and one on for Overbay. Nice swing Lyle lines it to left Holliday right at the wall to make the catch. Pitch count 67.
Top 5th: Lopez leading off. First pitch bounces one to Hoffpauir, throw to Overbay one down. Holliday same play, grounds to Hoffpauir, throw to Overbay two down. Pujols, 2-2 tonight. Singles up the middle. One on two down. Stavinoha hit and run there goes Pujols, Stavinoha pops it up to Wells in centre for third out. Another nice inning for Romero. 67 pitches.
Bottom 5th: Buck leading off. Very nice grounds slowly to third and beats the throw. One on for Hoffpauir, 0-2 count, strikes out on three pitches. One down one on for Wise. Fly ball to left wall, Holliday makes the catch. Two down for Hill. Grounds to short throw to second to get Buck. 75 pitch count.
Top 6th: Freese leading off 0-2 count. Count full. Strikes out. Rasmus, flare into shallow centre. One down one on for Molina grounds first pitch to Gonzalez, flip to hill throw to Overbay, double play ball. Very nice play as Hill had Rasmus sliding into him as he made the throw. 75 pitches for Romero.
Bottom 6th: That play should get Jays hitters going here. Lind leading off .208 average. When oh when is Adam going to get it going? Pops this one up to Pujols. One down for Wells. grounds hard to Ryan at short, good play and throw to first to get Vernon. Gonzalez, please not first pitch. Takes it and ball two. High pop up to centre for third out. 85 pitches.
Top 7th: Winn leading off. 2-0 count. Grounds to Hoffpauir, throw to Overbay one down. Ryan, full count, come on Ricky this is number nine guy. Grounds to Gonzalez throw to Overbay, two down for Lopez. Hits him. The sleeve of his shirt. Holliday with one on. 2-0 count. Grounds to Gonzalez, flip to Hill for third out. 92 pitch count. May not get one more inning in.
Bottom 7th: Bautista leading off, we need a big one here Jose. 0-2 count. 2-2, ball three. Ball four. Nice at bat by Jose. Overbay, pops up to Winn in shallow right. Jose has to hold. Buck with one down and one on. Same play fly ball to Winn in right, two down for Hoffpauir. Perhaps he can do something here. Pops it up to Lopez in shallow right for 101 pitches for Carpenter.
Top 8th: Pujols leading off. 3-3 tonight. Doubles into left corner, 4-4. Stavinoha, bunting? Trying but pitch high and ball one. Grounds to Romero, Pujols in run-down one down but Stavinoha to second on the play. Freese with Camp and Downs ready in bullpen. 3-1 count. Full count. Strikes out swinging. Two down. Rasmus, pops up to Wise in left and leaves runner at second. Very nice pitching Ricky. That is probably it for him. 107 pitches. Now if Jays can get one here is should be Gregg and with the bottom three of the order (pinch hitters excepted of course).
Bottom 8th: Top of the Jays order. Carpenter still out there. Wise leading off. 2-2 count and strikes out. Hill, 0-2 count. Strikes out swinging. Lind, last chance to show us something. 0-3 tonight. Pops up into shallow centre. Three up and down.
Top 9th: Gregg is out anyway. Molina, pops up to Overbay as he splits his bat. One down. Winn, 0-2 count. Singles into left. One on one down for Ryan. Lines first pitch to Bautista in right, two down. Lopez. 2-1 count. Strike two, same pitch but not biting, full count. Runner going as Lopez singles up the middle. Here’s trouble now for Gregg. Holliday with two on and two down. 2-1 count. Ball three. You don’t want to load them up with Pujols waiting. Count full. Singles to left. Here comes the Winn and the run. 1-0 Cardinals. Pujols with two on 4-4, high and inside, nasty. Fly ball to Bautista for the out but may be too late for the Jays tonight.
Bottom 9th: Ryan Franklin pitching to save this one. Wells, goes the other way just foul. 2-2 count. Bounces one up the middle and off the glove of Ryan into centre. One on for Gonzalez, oh not again, grounds to third on to second on to first double play ball. Cito HAS to move this guy away from Vernon he is not protecting him at all. Great defense but his bat does not justify number five position. Two down for Bautista, 2-1 count. Ball three. Strike two, full count. Ball four, great at bat by Bautista. Overbay, hitless tonight, good time to get one. Lines it right at Pujols.
Jays hitters (and Gregg of course) ruin a great performance by Romero tonight. Carpenter far too much for Jays hitters tonight. And it does not get easier tomorrow with Wainright already a ten game winner.
The excellent: Romero and that is it.
The bad: Gonzalez hitting into two double plays tonight and the most important one with Vernon on in the ninth. Gregg did not get it done. Jays had only four hits and Vernon’s two hits were wiped out by Gonzalez double plays. Vernon was the only hitter in the top 7 !!! to even get a hit tonight.
Cardinals had eleven hits but the top three had seven of them and there’s one major difference between these two teams.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Jays outhit,outpitched,and out managed by superior team tonight
Game one. Toronto v St. Louis Cardinals. Tuesday June 22. Cardinals are leading their division and a very strong team although under .500 on the road.
Lineups: Cardinals: Lopez, Holliday, Pujols, Ludwick, Freese, Stavinoha, Molina, Winn, Ryan.
Blue Jays: Lewis, Hill, Lind, Wells, Gonzalez, Bautista, Overbay, Buck, Hoffpauir,
Pitching: Jaime Garcia v Cecil. Rookie Garcia is young and a very good pitcher. 6-3 but two earned runs or less in all of his first 32 major league starts and 1.59 ERA. Jays faced Jiminez last week and ruined his record. Perhaps they can do the same tonight. I doubt it though, this is a very, very good team and Jays will be (very) lucky to win one.
Top 1st: Lopez leading off, 2-2 count. Lines it to Wells in centre, one down for Holliday. Singles to right, one on one down for Albert Pujols. Already has 50 RBIs. Strikes out on high ball out of zone. Ludwick, grounds to Hoffpauir at third throw to second to get Holliday. Nice way for Hoffpauir to start his Jays career. 20 pitches for Cecil.
Bottom 1st: Lewis leading off. Bounces one up the middle. One on for Hill, Lewis at first. Throw over and picks Lewis off at first. Not good Fred. Hill 2-2 and strikes out, two down for Lind. Lines it to at second for third out. 13 pitches.
Top 2nd: Freese leading off, 2-2, Cecil working very fast. Strikes out, one down. Stavinoha 0-2, count. Grounds to Gonzalez throw to Overbay for the out. Nice play Alex. Molina, Whoa…. This one is out of here, first pitch over the Jays bullpen into left field seats, 1-0 Cardinals. Winn, fly ball to Bautista in right to end the inning. 32 pitches.
Bottom 2nd: Wells leading off, 4- 41 in last twelve games. Not good Vernon. Grounds behind third. Ryan a long throw but Vernon beats it out. Perhaps that is a good omen. Gonzalez, with one on. Long fly ball to Holliday in left for first out. Bautista one on one down. Yes Jose, this one is OUT of here, into left field seats, 2-1 Jays. Overbay, grounds to Lopez at second, throw to first for the out. Buck long fly ball to Winn in centre for the out, Jays are hammering the ball tonight. 28 pitches.
Top 3rd: Ryan leading off. Cecil has the lead to work with. 0-2 count. Bounces one back to Cecil throw to Overbay, one down. Lopez, grounds to Gonzalez at short, throw to Overbay for second out. Holliday, gets hold of this one and this is out of here in left. 2-2 game. Pujols with two down, pops up to Overbay for third out. 47 pitch count.
Bottom 3rd: Hoffpauir leading off. First pitch swinging (oh no, not another…) pops up to first for the out. That was a great debut, you would have thought he would want to see a pitch or two. Lewis, 3-0 count. Full count, strikes out. Two down for Hill. Grounds to Ryan, throw to first for third out. Three up and down. 40 pitches.
Top 4th: Ludwick, strikes out, one down for Freese, strikes out, two down for Stavinoha, singles to left corner, two down one on for Molina, grounds to Overbay to end the inning. Pitch count 64.
Bottom 4th: Lind leading off. Lines it to centre, Winn makes the catch, one down for Wells, singles to centre, 2-2 tonight. Vernon smartening up here. One on one down for Gonzalez, 2-0 count. full count. Grounds to short on to second over to first for the double play. Pitch count 56.
Top 5th: Winn leading off. This is trouble. Doubles into left field corner. Ryan, bunting, this is NL. Pops it up to Overbay running in to make the catch only a few feet away from the plate. Nice play Lyle. One down for Lopez, grounds to Gonzalez at short, long throw to Overbay for the second out. Runner has to hold. BUT here comes Holliday. 0-2 count. doubles to left, here comes Winn, 3-2 Cardinals. Here comes Pujols, intentional walk. Ludwick, with two on and two down. doubles to left, off glove of Lewis, 4-2 Cardinals. Runners at second and third, call to Jays bullpen. Freese, Camp warming up. Singles up the middle here comes two more, 6-2 Cardinals. Four runs with two out. Not good Brett but this is a very strong lineup. Stavinoha, pops up to Wells in centre for third out. 90 pitch count. Is that his last inning?
Bottom 5th: Jays hitters have to get going here themselves. Bautista leading off. Pops up to Winn in shallow centre, one down for Overbay. Grounds to first for second out. Buck, strikes out on three pitches, Jays fold here. Three up and down. Garcia cruising, pitch count 66, he will probably go all the way at this rate if they need him to.
Top 6th: Camp now in to relieve Cecil. Molina leading off, 2-2 count. Grounds to short, throw to Overbay, one down. Winn, lines it to left for Lewis to make the catch. Two down, Lopez. Grounds to Gonzalez throw to Overbay for third out. Quick inning here but Cardinals looking to get out on the town tonight.
Bottom 6th: Do Jays have any fight in them? Not much so far tonight. Here comes Hoffpauir, that’s better takes three this time and then singles up the middle. One on for Lewis. Bunting ? I doubt it. No, singles first pitch up the middle two on for Hill, 2-0 count. Double steal here Cito? Ha ! 2-2 count. Count full, bounces high to Garcia, no way to get Lewis at second has to go to first to get Hill, runners move up, two in scoring position for Lind, one down. Here comes pitching coach Duncan. If this were 2009 you should be worried but this year to date Adam is a shadow of himself. 2-2 count. Count full. Grounds to Pujols at first, nice play to save it going into right, here comes Hoffpauir to score 6-3. Two down. Wells 2-2 tonight, runner at third, can he bring him in when it counts? 1-2 count on Vernon. Down and away with predictable result, Vernon swings and strikes out. Someone has read the scouting report on Vernon. Jays get one but it should have been more. 89 pitches for Garcia. His longest inning tonight.
Top 7th: Frasor now pitching. Bounces to Hill, is that Aaron's first play tonight ? Throw to Overbay one down. Holliday bounces to Gonzalez, throw to Overbay, two down. Pujols pops it up to Overbay for third out. Three up and down for Frasor, nice inning.
Bottom 7th: That’s it for Garcia. I guess La Russa is taking care of his rookie pitch count this season. New pitcher Kyle McClellan. Gonzalez leading off. Pops up to shallow left for the out. Bautista, one down, WHOA Jose, does it again, HUGE shot, off the third level in left, second home run for Bautista tonight and Jays within two 6-4 game. Overbay lines it to centre two down for Buck. Strikes out.
Top 8th: Frasor still out there. Ludwick, grounds to Hoffpauir at third, throw to Overbay for the first out. Freese, hits him on the helmet, but no problem did not hurt him, just glances off helmet. Pinch hitter Cody Rasmus for Stavinho. Janssen and Purcey up in Jays bullpen. 2-2 count. Full count, oh boy, lines it over the right field fence two run home run for Rasmus, 8-4 Cardinals. Cito leaving Frasor out there. Hmmm. Molina, grounds to Gonzalez, throw to Overbay for second out. Winn with two down. Lines it to centre, Vernon cannot get it, nice dive attempt. Winn on second. Ryan, two down one on. 0-2 count. Grounds to Hill, throw to Overbay for third out but Cito’s gamble with Frasor does not work. Frasor can rarely go two innings Cito you know that.
Bottom 8th: Jays up against it now. Running out of at bats to get four back. Hoffpauir leading off. Rasmus stays in centre. Winn moves to right, Kyle McClellan, grounds to third throw to first, One down for Lewis. Here comes La Russa. That’s it for McClellan. Ex-Jay Trever Miller, lefty- lefty matchup. Lines it to Winn in right. Two down for Hill. Pops up to Rasmus in centre, three up and down. Cardinals have not lost this season leading after eight.
Top 9th: Now who ? Purcey pitching, should be long relief guy in my opinion. Lopez golfs this into Jays bullpen. 9-4 Cardinals. Holliday, strikes out swinging. Pujols grounds to Hoffpauir throw to Overbay for first out. Pinch hitter with two down ? Only La Russa would do that with 9-4 lead. Miles. 0-2 count. Strikes out.
Bottom 9th: Jays need six. Michael Boggs pitching. Not a save situation. Lind leading off. Let’s see the fight. Lines it to Freese at third, one down for Wells, 2-2 count. Full count. Walks him. Boggs not giving him anything to hit. Gonzalez 0-3 tonight. Grounds to short, on to second over to first double play to end this one. No need for that Vernon could have and should have taken second earlier. The boys versus the men tonight and the series.
I don’t see the Jays winning one at all against this team, Cardinals are very, very good all round. Does not get any easier, Carpenter 8-1 tomorrow. Romero will need run support and much more to beat Carpenter.
The excellent: Definitely Bautista, did his bit to keep Jays in the game.
The bad: Lind, Hill, Gonzalez, Overbay, Buck collectively 0-14 although Lind did get an RBI. Wells, gets a couple of hits but none when it mattered with runners in scoring position and continues to get himself out.
Frasor, well some blame has to go to Cito for leaving him in there for a second inning but the home run when Jays had just pulled within two was the killer.
Cito out-managed tonight but not a disgrace LaRussa is in the top three of managers and far more tactical than Cito who tends to leaves things alone. LaRussa meantime never stops managing. Bringing in Rasmus, matching pitchers with hitters. His team will be hard to beat.
Lineups: Cardinals: Lopez, Holliday, Pujols, Ludwick, Freese, Stavinoha, Molina, Winn, Ryan.
Blue Jays: Lewis, Hill, Lind, Wells, Gonzalez, Bautista, Overbay, Buck, Hoffpauir,
Pitching: Jaime Garcia v Cecil. Rookie Garcia is young and a very good pitcher. 6-3 but two earned runs or less in all of his first 32 major league starts and 1.59 ERA. Jays faced Jiminez last week and ruined his record. Perhaps they can do the same tonight. I doubt it though, this is a very, very good team and Jays will be (very) lucky to win one.
Top 1st: Lopez leading off, 2-2 count. Lines it to Wells in centre, one down for Holliday. Singles to right, one on one down for Albert Pujols. Already has 50 RBIs. Strikes out on high ball out of zone. Ludwick, grounds to Hoffpauir at third throw to second to get Holliday. Nice way for Hoffpauir to start his Jays career. 20 pitches for Cecil.
Bottom 1st: Lewis leading off. Bounces one up the middle. One on for Hill, Lewis at first. Throw over and picks Lewis off at first. Not good Fred. Hill 2-2 and strikes out, two down for Lind. Lines it to at second for third out. 13 pitches.
Top 2nd: Freese leading off, 2-2, Cecil working very fast. Strikes out, one down. Stavinoha 0-2, count. Grounds to Gonzalez throw to Overbay for the out. Nice play Alex. Molina, Whoa…. This one is out of here, first pitch over the Jays bullpen into left field seats, 1-0 Cardinals. Winn, fly ball to Bautista in right to end the inning. 32 pitches.
Bottom 2nd: Wells leading off, 4- 41 in last twelve games. Not good Vernon. Grounds behind third. Ryan a long throw but Vernon beats it out. Perhaps that is a good omen. Gonzalez, with one on. Long fly ball to Holliday in left for first out. Bautista one on one down. Yes Jose, this one is OUT of here, into left field seats, 2-1 Jays. Overbay, grounds to Lopez at second, throw to first for the out. Buck long fly ball to Winn in centre for the out, Jays are hammering the ball tonight. 28 pitches.
Top 3rd: Ryan leading off. Cecil has the lead to work with. 0-2 count. Bounces one back to Cecil throw to Overbay, one down. Lopez, grounds to Gonzalez at short, throw to Overbay for second out. Holliday, gets hold of this one and this is out of here in left. 2-2 game. Pujols with two down, pops up to Overbay for third out. 47 pitch count.
Bottom 3rd: Hoffpauir leading off. First pitch swinging (oh no, not another…) pops up to first for the out. That was a great debut, you would have thought he would want to see a pitch or two. Lewis, 3-0 count. Full count, strikes out. Two down for Hill. Grounds to Ryan, throw to first for third out. Three up and down. 40 pitches.
Top 4th: Ludwick, strikes out, one down for Freese, strikes out, two down for Stavinoha, singles to left corner, two down one on for Molina, grounds to Overbay to end the inning. Pitch count 64.
Bottom 4th: Lind leading off. Lines it to centre, Winn makes the catch, one down for Wells, singles to centre, 2-2 tonight. Vernon smartening up here. One on one down for Gonzalez, 2-0 count. full count. Grounds to short on to second over to first for the double play. Pitch count 56.
Top 5th: Winn leading off. This is trouble. Doubles into left field corner. Ryan, bunting, this is NL. Pops it up to Overbay running in to make the catch only a few feet away from the plate. Nice play Lyle. One down for Lopez, grounds to Gonzalez at short, long throw to Overbay for the second out. Runner has to hold. BUT here comes Holliday. 0-2 count. doubles to left, here comes Winn, 3-2 Cardinals. Here comes Pujols, intentional walk. Ludwick, with two on and two down. doubles to left, off glove of Lewis, 4-2 Cardinals. Runners at second and third, call to Jays bullpen. Freese, Camp warming up. Singles up the middle here comes two more, 6-2 Cardinals. Four runs with two out. Not good Brett but this is a very strong lineup. Stavinoha, pops up to Wells in centre for third out. 90 pitch count. Is that his last inning?
Bottom 5th: Jays hitters have to get going here themselves. Bautista leading off. Pops up to Winn in shallow centre, one down for Overbay. Grounds to first for second out. Buck, strikes out on three pitches, Jays fold here. Three up and down. Garcia cruising, pitch count 66, he will probably go all the way at this rate if they need him to.
Top 6th: Camp now in to relieve Cecil. Molina leading off, 2-2 count. Grounds to short, throw to Overbay, one down. Winn, lines it to left for Lewis to make the catch. Two down, Lopez. Grounds to Gonzalez throw to Overbay for third out. Quick inning here but Cardinals looking to get out on the town tonight.
Bottom 6th: Do Jays have any fight in them? Not much so far tonight. Here comes Hoffpauir, that’s better takes three this time and then singles up the middle. One on for Lewis. Bunting ? I doubt it. No, singles first pitch up the middle two on for Hill, 2-0 count. Double steal here Cito? Ha ! 2-2 count. Count full, bounces high to Garcia, no way to get Lewis at second has to go to first to get Hill, runners move up, two in scoring position for Lind, one down. Here comes pitching coach Duncan. If this were 2009 you should be worried but this year to date Adam is a shadow of himself. 2-2 count. Count full. Grounds to Pujols at first, nice play to save it going into right, here comes Hoffpauir to score 6-3. Two down. Wells 2-2 tonight, runner at third, can he bring him in when it counts? 1-2 count on Vernon. Down and away with predictable result, Vernon swings and strikes out. Someone has read the scouting report on Vernon. Jays get one but it should have been more. 89 pitches for Garcia. His longest inning tonight.
Top 7th: Frasor now pitching. Bounces to Hill, is that Aaron's first play tonight ? Throw to Overbay one down. Holliday bounces to Gonzalez, throw to Overbay, two down. Pujols pops it up to Overbay for third out. Three up and down for Frasor, nice inning.
Bottom 7th: That’s it for Garcia. I guess La Russa is taking care of his rookie pitch count this season. New pitcher Kyle McClellan. Gonzalez leading off. Pops up to shallow left for the out. Bautista, one down, WHOA Jose, does it again, HUGE shot, off the third level in left, second home run for Bautista tonight and Jays within two 6-4 game. Overbay lines it to centre two down for Buck. Strikes out.
Top 8th: Frasor still out there. Ludwick, grounds to Hoffpauir at third, throw to Overbay for the first out. Freese, hits him on the helmet, but no problem did not hurt him, just glances off helmet. Pinch hitter Cody Rasmus for Stavinho. Janssen and Purcey up in Jays bullpen. 2-2 count. Full count, oh boy, lines it over the right field fence two run home run for Rasmus, 8-4 Cardinals. Cito leaving Frasor out there. Hmmm. Molina, grounds to Gonzalez, throw to Overbay for second out. Winn with two down. Lines it to centre, Vernon cannot get it, nice dive attempt. Winn on second. Ryan, two down one on. 0-2 count. Grounds to Hill, throw to Overbay for third out but Cito’s gamble with Frasor does not work. Frasor can rarely go two innings Cito you know that.
Bottom 8th: Jays up against it now. Running out of at bats to get four back. Hoffpauir leading off. Rasmus stays in centre. Winn moves to right, Kyle McClellan, grounds to third throw to first, One down for Lewis. Here comes La Russa. That’s it for McClellan. Ex-Jay Trever Miller, lefty- lefty matchup. Lines it to Winn in right. Two down for Hill. Pops up to Rasmus in centre, three up and down. Cardinals have not lost this season leading after eight.
Top 9th: Now who ? Purcey pitching, should be long relief guy in my opinion. Lopez golfs this into Jays bullpen. 9-4 Cardinals. Holliday, strikes out swinging. Pujols grounds to Hoffpauir throw to Overbay for first out. Pinch hitter with two down ? Only La Russa would do that with 9-4 lead. Miles. 0-2 count. Strikes out.
Bottom 9th: Jays need six. Michael Boggs pitching. Not a save situation. Lind leading off. Let’s see the fight. Lines it to Freese at third, one down for Wells, 2-2 count. Full count. Walks him. Boggs not giving him anything to hit. Gonzalez 0-3 tonight. Grounds to short, on to second over to first double play to end this one. No need for that Vernon could have and should have taken second earlier. The boys versus the men tonight and the series.
I don’t see the Jays winning one at all against this team, Cardinals are very, very good all round. Does not get any easier, Carpenter 8-1 tomorrow. Romero will need run support and much more to beat Carpenter.
The excellent: Definitely Bautista, did his bit to keep Jays in the game.
The bad: Lind, Hill, Gonzalez, Overbay, Buck collectively 0-14 although Lind did get an RBI. Wells, gets a couple of hits but none when it mattered with runners in scoring position and continues to get himself out.
Frasor, well some blame has to go to Cito for leaving him in there for a second inning but the home run when Jays had just pulled within two was the killer.
Cito out-managed tonight but not a disgrace LaRussa is in the top three of managers and far more tactical than Cito who tends to leaves things alone. LaRussa meantime never stops managing. Bringing in Rasmus, matching pitchers with hitters. His team will be hard to beat.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Tallet the goat today, implodes yet again to prevent Jays sweep of Giants
Series finale San Francisco Giants and Toronto Sunday June 20 and chance for sweep.
Jays have held their own against Giants this weekend, can they win all three? They have great chance with Marcum pitching. Our seats today are third base second level great seats BUT we have a row of visiting Giants fans sitting right behind us. Fathers Day today.
Cute start to the game with the first pitch event with six children of the players throwing baseballs to their dads. We forget too often that the players are also family men and do not see their family for long stretches from February to September each year. Johnny Mc. back with team after death of his own father this week. This team must be very much part of his family today.
Lineups: Giants: Torres, Sanchez, Huff, Uribe, Burrell, Posey, Renteria, Rowand, Whiteside.
Blue Jays: Lewis, Hill, Lind, Wells, Gonzalez, Bautista, Overbay, Buck, Encarnacion.
Pitching: Sanchez v Marcum.
Top 1st: Torres strikes out one down. Sanchez singles to centre, one on. Huff strikes out..Uribe walked on four pitches, Sanchez to second. Burrell strikes out.
Bottom 1st: Lewis fly ball to Huff in left field. Hill full count and walks. Lind strikes out. Wells strikes out.
Top 2nd: Posey singles to centre. Renteria full count and walks. Posey moves to second. Rowand fly ball to Wells in centre. Whiteside strikes out, two down, Torres strikes out.
Bottom 2nd: Bautista full count and walks ,Gonzalez to second. Overbay 3-0 and walks on four pitches, Bases loaded. Gonzalez to third, Bautista to second. Buck lifts one over the head of first base and drops in fair down the line, here comes Gonzalez, here comes Bautista, 2-0 Jays. Overbay to third. Huge mistake, Renteria Buck was hung out between first and second, Torres throw to first base Posey and to tag by short Renteria, Buck out. One down. Encarnacion strikes out. Lewis 3-0 and walks on four pitches. This is not over yet. Wild pitch by Sanchez, Lewis moves up to second. Hill full count and walks. Lind with two down and two on, strikes out. Jays can’t let a team off the hook like that.
Top 3rd: Sanchez grounds to short Gonzalez throw to Overbay, one down. Huff, hammers this one right down the right field line into the seats, just inside the foul pole, we could see that right down the line, no hooking foul for that one. Home run Huff and Giants get one back 2-1 Jays. Uribe grounds back to Marcum throw to Overbay for second out. Burrell fly ball to Wells.
Bottom 3rd: Wells leading off strikes out. Gonzalez pops up to Uribe at third, two down. Bautista singles to left. Overbay hit by a pitch, Bautista moves up to second. Buck does it again, singles to left, here comes Bautista, 3-1 Jays and all three to Buck so far today. Buck to second. Bautista now pitching. Encarnacion fouls out to third base.
Top 4th: Posey grounds to Encarnacion, long throw to Overbay skips past Lyle, error to Encarnacion, safe at second on Encarnacion's error. Renteria singles to left, Posey to third. Rowand grounds to Encarnacion on to Hill over to Overbay double play ball but Posey scores. 3-2 Jays. Whiteside strikes out.
Bottom 4th: Lewis grounds to pitcher Bautista throw to first base Posey. One down. Hill pops up Huff in left field. Lind doubles to right. Wells grounds to Renteria throw to Posey at first to get Vernon.
Top 5th: Torres full count and walks, one down for Sanchez, strikes out. Huff walks, Torres to second. Uribe pops up to catcher Buck, Torres to third, Huff to second.
intentional walk to Burrell. Posey strikes out.
Bottom 5th: Gonzalez grounds to third base Uribe throw to Posey. Bautista strikes out. Overbay grounds to second base Sanchez throw to Posey at first for third out.
Top 6th: Tallet now pitching. Renteria walks. Not quite what Cito had in mind. Rowand doubles to right, Renteria to third. Whiteside pops up to right field Bautista for the first out. Torres singles to left, Renteria scores, Rowand moves to third. Torres at first. 3-3 game. Sanchez, gets hold of this one, home run to left, here comes Rowand, followed by Torress and finally Sanchez , three run homer and Tallet has opened the doors 6-3 Giants. Huff singles to centre. Tallet can’t get anyone out here. Crowd are baying for Cito, here he comes, that’s it for Tallet Janssen pitching. Uribe doubles to left, here comes Huff, 7-3 Giants. Burrell pops up to first base Overbay only the second out. Wild pitch by Janssen, Uribe to third. Posey strikes out. But the damage has been done bigtime by Giants five runs come around to score in one inning. Not only that we have those Ginats fans now coming alive after being so quiet for most of the game.
Bottom 6th: Mota now pitching. Buck leading off, grounds to third base Uribe throw to Posey. Encarnacion lines out to second base Sanchez. Two down for Lewis, fly ball to Huff in left field.
Top 7th: Renteria grounded out, shortstop Gonzalez to first baseman Overbay. Rowand strikes out. Two down. Whiteside lines this one to centre wall, a triple. Torres grounds Overbay flip to pitcher Janssen for third out.
Bottom 7th: Hill fly ball to center field Rowand. Lind 3-0 and walks on four pitches. Wells pops it up behind home plate to catcher Whiteside. Two down for Gonzalez grounds to, third base Uribe throw to second base Sanchez, Lind out at second.
Top 8th: Purcey now pitching. Sanchez fly ball to left field Lewis. Huff safe at second on Lewis' error. Uribe strikes out. Burrell hammers this one to left into the seats, here comes Huff here comes Burrell. Posey fly ball to Wells for third out but Giants gettwo more. 9-3 Giants.
Bottom 8th: Torres in at left field. Schierholtz in at right field. Ishikawa in at first base.Romo pitching.Bautista popped out to first baseman Ishikawa. Overbay strikes out, two down. Buck singles to centre. Encarnacion fouls out to Ishikawa.
Top 9th: Cito ringing the changes. Johnny Mc leading off. McDonald in as second baseman. Wise in as centre fielder .Green fresh from his signing from the Dodgers yesterday playing at short. Renteria doubles to centre. Rowand grounds to second baseman McDonald to first baseman Overbay, Renteria to third. Whiteside pops up to Green and two down. Torres pops up to first base Overbay. Good inning for Purcey.
Bottom 9th: Affeldt now pitching. Lewis leading off grounds to second. Safe at first, leadoff hitter gets on base. Here comes Johnny Mc. huge cheer when announced. He has had a rough time and probably no greater than right now hitting on Father’s Day. He lines this one to left will it carry? Yes sirree this one is over the fence in left field and Jays first home run today !!! and a two run for Johnny Mc. Crowd is on their feet for Johnny Mc. every single fan is with that guy as he goers around the bases. What a return to the lineup and obviously something for his Dad today. Score 9-5 now. Giants fans have gone very quiet behind me. Lind singles to centre. Wise in the game for Wells. Grounds to Renteria throw to second base Sanchez, Lind out. Green pops up to right field Schierholtz, with two down. Wilson now pitching. Tying run on deck. Overbay strikes out. Almost did it. But Tallet in his one third of an inning did this team in today. 29 pitches for Purcey.
Jays lose big 9-6 but in fact had the tying run on base and that is something to count. Will Cito dump Tallet ? Probably not but expect to see him sitting on the bench for a long while.
The excellent: Marcum gutted his way through this one, did not have his A game. Too many walks (five) with one intentional. Johnny Mc. hitting the two run home run returning after what must have been very unhappy period for him.
The awful: Tallet only one third of an inning but five runs result and that is basically the game.
Jays have held their own against Giants this weekend, can they win all three? They have great chance with Marcum pitching. Our seats today are third base second level great seats BUT we have a row of visiting Giants fans sitting right behind us. Fathers Day today.
Cute start to the game with the first pitch event with six children of the players throwing baseballs to their dads. We forget too often that the players are also family men and do not see their family for long stretches from February to September each year. Johnny Mc. back with team after death of his own father this week. This team must be very much part of his family today.
Lineups: Giants: Torres, Sanchez, Huff, Uribe, Burrell, Posey, Renteria, Rowand, Whiteside.
Blue Jays: Lewis, Hill, Lind, Wells, Gonzalez, Bautista, Overbay, Buck, Encarnacion.
Pitching: Sanchez v Marcum.
Top 1st: Torres strikes out one down. Sanchez singles to centre, one on. Huff strikes out..Uribe walked on four pitches, Sanchez to second. Burrell strikes out.
Bottom 1st: Lewis fly ball to Huff in left field. Hill full count and walks. Lind strikes out. Wells strikes out.
Top 2nd: Posey singles to centre. Renteria full count and walks. Posey moves to second. Rowand fly ball to Wells in centre. Whiteside strikes out, two down, Torres strikes out.
Bottom 2nd: Bautista full count and walks ,Gonzalez to second. Overbay 3-0 and walks on four pitches, Bases loaded. Gonzalez to third, Bautista to second. Buck lifts one over the head of first base and drops in fair down the line, here comes Gonzalez, here comes Bautista, 2-0 Jays. Overbay to third. Huge mistake, Renteria Buck was hung out between first and second, Torres throw to first base Posey and to tag by short Renteria, Buck out. One down. Encarnacion strikes out. Lewis 3-0 and walks on four pitches. This is not over yet. Wild pitch by Sanchez, Lewis moves up to second. Hill full count and walks. Lind with two down and two on, strikes out. Jays can’t let a team off the hook like that.
Top 3rd: Sanchez grounds to short Gonzalez throw to Overbay, one down. Huff, hammers this one right down the right field line into the seats, just inside the foul pole, we could see that right down the line, no hooking foul for that one. Home run Huff and Giants get one back 2-1 Jays. Uribe grounds back to Marcum throw to Overbay for second out. Burrell fly ball to Wells.
Bottom 3rd: Wells leading off strikes out. Gonzalez pops up to Uribe at third, two down. Bautista singles to left. Overbay hit by a pitch, Bautista moves up to second. Buck does it again, singles to left, here comes Bautista, 3-1 Jays and all three to Buck so far today. Buck to second. Bautista now pitching. Encarnacion fouls out to third base.
Top 4th: Posey grounds to Encarnacion, long throw to Overbay skips past Lyle, error to Encarnacion, safe at second on Encarnacion's error. Renteria singles to left, Posey to third. Rowand grounds to Encarnacion on to Hill over to Overbay double play ball but Posey scores. 3-2 Jays. Whiteside strikes out.
Bottom 4th: Lewis grounds to pitcher Bautista throw to first base Posey. One down. Hill pops up Huff in left field. Lind doubles to right. Wells grounds to Renteria throw to Posey at first to get Vernon.
Top 5th: Torres full count and walks, one down for Sanchez, strikes out. Huff walks, Torres to second. Uribe pops up to catcher Buck, Torres to third, Huff to second.
intentional walk to Burrell. Posey strikes out.
Bottom 5th: Gonzalez grounds to third base Uribe throw to Posey. Bautista strikes out. Overbay grounds to second base Sanchez throw to Posey at first for third out.
Top 6th: Tallet now pitching. Renteria walks. Not quite what Cito had in mind. Rowand doubles to right, Renteria to third. Whiteside pops up to right field Bautista for the first out. Torres singles to left, Renteria scores, Rowand moves to third. Torres at first. 3-3 game. Sanchez, gets hold of this one, home run to left, here comes Rowand, followed by Torress and finally Sanchez , three run homer and Tallet has opened the doors 6-3 Giants. Huff singles to centre. Tallet can’t get anyone out here. Crowd are baying for Cito, here he comes, that’s it for Tallet Janssen pitching. Uribe doubles to left, here comes Huff, 7-3 Giants. Burrell pops up to first base Overbay only the second out. Wild pitch by Janssen, Uribe to third. Posey strikes out. But the damage has been done bigtime by Giants five runs come around to score in one inning. Not only that we have those Ginats fans now coming alive after being so quiet for most of the game.
Bottom 6th: Mota now pitching. Buck leading off, grounds to third base Uribe throw to Posey. Encarnacion lines out to second base Sanchez. Two down for Lewis, fly ball to Huff in left field.
Top 7th: Renteria grounded out, shortstop Gonzalez to first baseman Overbay. Rowand strikes out. Two down. Whiteside lines this one to centre wall, a triple. Torres grounds Overbay flip to pitcher Janssen for third out.
Bottom 7th: Hill fly ball to center field Rowand. Lind 3-0 and walks on four pitches. Wells pops it up behind home plate to catcher Whiteside. Two down for Gonzalez grounds to, third base Uribe throw to second base Sanchez, Lind out at second.
Top 8th: Purcey now pitching. Sanchez fly ball to left field Lewis. Huff safe at second on Lewis' error. Uribe strikes out. Burrell hammers this one to left into the seats, here comes Huff here comes Burrell. Posey fly ball to Wells for third out but Giants gettwo more. 9-3 Giants.
Bottom 8th: Torres in at left field. Schierholtz in at right field. Ishikawa in at first base.Romo pitching.Bautista popped out to first baseman Ishikawa. Overbay strikes out, two down. Buck singles to centre. Encarnacion fouls out to Ishikawa.
Top 9th: Cito ringing the changes. Johnny Mc leading off. McDonald in as second baseman. Wise in as centre fielder .Green fresh from his signing from the Dodgers yesterday playing at short. Renteria doubles to centre. Rowand grounds to second baseman McDonald to first baseman Overbay, Renteria to third. Whiteside pops up to Green and two down. Torres pops up to first base Overbay. Good inning for Purcey.
Bottom 9th: Affeldt now pitching. Lewis leading off grounds to second. Safe at first, leadoff hitter gets on base. Here comes Johnny Mc. huge cheer when announced. He has had a rough time and probably no greater than right now hitting on Father’s Day. He lines this one to left will it carry? Yes sirree this one is over the fence in left field and Jays first home run today !!! and a two run for Johnny Mc. Crowd is on their feet for Johnny Mc. every single fan is with that guy as he goers around the bases. What a return to the lineup and obviously something for his Dad today. Score 9-5 now. Giants fans have gone very quiet behind me. Lind singles to centre. Wise in the game for Wells. Grounds to Renteria throw to second base Sanchez, Lind out. Green pops up to right field Schierholtz, with two down. Wilson now pitching. Tying run on deck. Overbay strikes out. Almost did it. But Tallet in his one third of an inning did this team in today. 29 pitches for Purcey.
Jays lose big 9-6 but in fact had the tying run on base and that is something to count. Will Cito dump Tallet ? Probably not but expect to see him sitting on the bench for a long while.
The excellent: Marcum gutted his way through this one, did not have his A game. Too many walks (five) with one intentional. Johnny Mc. hitting the two run home run returning after what must have been very unhappy period for him.
The awful: Tallet only one third of an inning but five runs result and that is basically the game.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Hill the hero today supporting great pitching game by Litsch
Game two of three. Saturday June 19th.
Good win to start the series last night and also to gain ground on two of the teams ahead of them. Jays need to give run support to Litsch though today.
Lineups:
Giants: Torres, Sanchez, Huff, Uribe, Burrell, Sandonoval, Posey, Renteria, Molina.
Jays: Lewis, Hill, Lind, Wells, Gonzalez, Bautista, Overbay, Buck, Encarnacion.
Pitching: Cain v Litsch.
Top 1st: Torres leading off strikes out. One down for Sanchez, hit by pitch.
Huff flied out to right fielder Bautista.Uribe strikes out. 14 pitches.
Bottom 1st: Cain pitching. Lewis, full count much better at bat than last night where he went after early pitches, he is supposed to be leadoff and see some pitches, this time strikes out but eight pitches to do it. Gave Hill and the others a few too look at. Hill, fly ball to left just under that one for second out. Lind DH today. That’s better Adam, singles into centre. Wells, with one on and two down. First pitch, pops up to first. What a lousy at bat Vernon. 13 pitches.
Top 2nd: Burrell, full count. Strikes out swinging. Sandonoval, doubles to the wall in right centre. Posey pops up first pitch to Wells in shallow centre, two down. Renteria grounds to Gonzalez at short, strong throw to Overbay for third out. 10 pitch inning for Jesse now at 24 pitch count.
Bottom 2nd: Gonzalez leading off. Full count. Lines it to Torres catches up with it at the track in centre, that was over his head playing shallow centre. One down. Bautista, high fly ball to left corner for Burrell to make the catch, two down. Jays hitters just missing on these hits. Overbay, strikes out swinging on high fast ball. Pitch count 30.
Top 3rd: Molina, full count, singles into shallow right, just over head of first. One on for Torres, pops up to Gonzalez at short, one down Sanchez, 0-2 count, grounds to Gonzalez throw to Hill to get Molina cannot turn two, ball was bouncing too slowly, Sanchez safe at first. Huff, grounds hard to Overbay nice backhand grab and steps on first for the out. 44 pitches.
Bottom 3rd: Buck grounds to third, long throw gets him. One down. Encarnacion, singles into centre, carries on from last night’s heroics. Lewis, grounds to short, Renteria steps on second, throw to first double play ball. 41 pitches for Cain.
Top 4th: Uribe leading off, 3-1 count. Pops it up to Overbay, Lyle having trouble with the sun. Makes the catch. Singles to shallow right centre over head of Hill. Sandoval, that’s the way, grounds to Overbay throw to Gonzalez back to Lyle, double play ball. Nice quick 8 pitch inning for Litsch. 52 pitches.
Bottom 4th: Top of the order second time through. Hill leading off. 2-2 count. Full count. Pops it up to Torres in shallow centre for the out. Lind, pops it up to second, two down. Wells, first pitch ??? Not this time. 3-0 count. There’s a strike Vernon still has nor swung, pops it up to second for third out on his first swing. I think you do better without swinging Vernon. Average continues to fall. Definitely in a slump for him. 56 pitches for Cain.
Top 5th: Game not even an hour yet both pitchers are moving fast helped by some awful swinging. Posey, wowee, grounds to short Gonzalez makes a diving catch and from one knee throws along strike to Overbay for the out. Man that was great play. Not only robbing Posey of a double but also the throw. Renteria grounds to Hill throw to Overbay for out number two. Molina, 2-2 count. Full count. fly ball to Wells in centre. 66 pitches for Litsch.
Bottom 5th: Time Jays hitters zeroed in on Cain here. Gonzalez leading off. Grounds off the glove of Cain to short throw to first gets him. One down. Bautista, 2-2 Cain wanted that pitch. Grounds to short, long throw to first for the out. Two down for Overbay, gets hold of this one, classic Lyle swing to centre and bounces over the wall for ground rule double. Buck, two down with Lyle in scoring position. Fly ball to centre to end this one. 71 pitches for Cain.
Top 6th: Torres bunting but foul, trying anything here to get on. Grounds to Gonzalez throw to Overbay for the first out. Sanchez, pops this one up Overbay very nice backward running catch behind first in foul territory. Two down for Huff, pops it up to Lewis in right another nice running catch. Great defence for Litsch today. 76 pitches. Cito will be happy with this six innings work today.
Bottom 6th: Encarnacion, first pitch pop up gets away with it as ball into crowd. Fly ball to right centre, one down for Lewis, singles into centre. Only the fourth hit today by Jays hitters. Hill, having a bad day with the bat so far. One down one on. Pops this one up to shallow centre, two down. Lind, first pitch pulls it to Huff in right for third out. Hitting is definitely not on today for the Jays. 82 pitches for Cain. Matching Litsch player by player and pitch for pitch.
Top 7th: Uribe leading off. Cito has to be wary of Jesse’s injury and not overdo it today. Full count. Grounds back to Litsch, throw to first for the out. Burrell, huge swing but off the end of his bat to Lewis in shallow left. Two down. Sandoval, 2-2 count. strikes out but Buck drops the tip. Full count. Jays bullpen working. Fouling off four pitches here. Fly ball to Wells in centre for the out but a ten pitch out, that is costly at this stage of the game. Might be last inning for Litsch if only his hitters could give him some support here. 94 pitches.
Bottom 7th: Wells leading off, another awful game for him today grounds first pitch to Sandoval at third, throw to first for the out. Gonzalez, strikes out, two down for Bautista. 3-1 count. Ball four. First walk for Cain today but Jays hitters have not been looking for them swinging at anything in sight. Overbay, one of the few to actually hit Cain today. 0-2 count, pops it up to shallow left for third out. 95 pitches.
Top 8th: Camp now pitching. Buster Posey leading off what a great throwback baseball name, grounds to Encarnacion at third throw to Overbay, one down. Renteria, bunting but foul, this is trouble, doubles into the right field corner, one on one down. Molina, WHOAeee. Lines this one all the way to the wall in centre right an amazing catch by Bautista. That robbed Giants of a run. Torres with two down. Intentional walk here. Cito gambling. Sanchez with two on and two down. Grounds to Gonzalez throw to Hill a second for third out. Gamble paid off.
Bottom 8th: Jays have to get a couple here, this is where a bit more patience earlier would have paid off seeing Cain out of the game But here he is Buck leading off. Huge pop up to short for the out. 14 fly balls for Cain today. Encarnacion, fly ball to left, two down. Gregg and Downs up in bullpen. That is very optimistic. Lewis, 3-0 count, where were these counts earlier ? Ball four. Either Cain is tiring or Jays have finally got the message here. Hill another ofer day 0-3. YES indeed. That’s better Aaron, finally a good swing and this one is out of here in his usual spot over Jays bullpen in left. 2-0 Jays. . . Lind singles to right. That’s it for Cain, pitched very well but one hitter too much.113 pitches a bit too much today. Casilla now pitching to Wells with one on. Doesn’t really matter what Vernon does here but he also has another ofer day. Break his duck, singles first pitch to left. Gonzalez with two on. Wise pinch running for Lind at second. Just lifts it over the head of second base and here comes Wise 3-0 Jays. Bautista with two on, wild pitch gets away from Molina, and both runners move to second and third with two down. 3-0 count, in danger of loading them up. 3-1 and pops it up to right for the out.
Top 9th: Ever dangerous Huff leading off, Pops up to Encarnacion at short. Uribe, 0-2 huge swings, grounds to Encarnacion at third, throw to Overbay for the second out. Schierholtz pops it up to Encarnacion. Jays win 3-0.Great win today.
Excellent: Litsch for seven. Great defense for Jays today, Gonzalez and Bautista in particular, Hill two run home run. Camp holding Giants in the eighth and getting the win, Gregg for the save.
The bad: Nothing today.
Good win to start the series last night and also to gain ground on two of the teams ahead of them. Jays need to give run support to Litsch though today.
Lineups:
Giants: Torres, Sanchez, Huff, Uribe, Burrell, Sandonoval, Posey, Renteria, Molina.
Jays: Lewis, Hill, Lind, Wells, Gonzalez, Bautista, Overbay, Buck, Encarnacion.
Pitching: Cain v Litsch.
Top 1st: Torres leading off strikes out. One down for Sanchez, hit by pitch.
Huff flied out to right fielder Bautista.Uribe strikes out. 14 pitches.
Bottom 1st: Cain pitching. Lewis, full count much better at bat than last night where he went after early pitches, he is supposed to be leadoff and see some pitches, this time strikes out but eight pitches to do it. Gave Hill and the others a few too look at. Hill, fly ball to left just under that one for second out. Lind DH today. That’s better Adam, singles into centre. Wells, with one on and two down. First pitch, pops up to first. What a lousy at bat Vernon. 13 pitches.
Top 2nd: Burrell, full count. Strikes out swinging. Sandonoval, doubles to the wall in right centre. Posey pops up first pitch to Wells in shallow centre, two down. Renteria grounds to Gonzalez at short, strong throw to Overbay for third out. 10 pitch inning for Jesse now at 24 pitch count.
Bottom 2nd: Gonzalez leading off. Full count. Lines it to Torres catches up with it at the track in centre, that was over his head playing shallow centre. One down. Bautista, high fly ball to left corner for Burrell to make the catch, two down. Jays hitters just missing on these hits. Overbay, strikes out swinging on high fast ball. Pitch count 30.
Top 3rd: Molina, full count, singles into shallow right, just over head of first. One on for Torres, pops up to Gonzalez at short, one down Sanchez, 0-2 count, grounds to Gonzalez throw to Hill to get Molina cannot turn two, ball was bouncing too slowly, Sanchez safe at first. Huff, grounds hard to Overbay nice backhand grab and steps on first for the out. 44 pitches.
Bottom 3rd: Buck grounds to third, long throw gets him. One down. Encarnacion, singles into centre, carries on from last night’s heroics. Lewis, grounds to short, Renteria steps on second, throw to first double play ball. 41 pitches for Cain.
Top 4th: Uribe leading off, 3-1 count. Pops it up to Overbay, Lyle having trouble with the sun. Makes the catch. Singles to shallow right centre over head of Hill. Sandoval, that’s the way, grounds to Overbay throw to Gonzalez back to Lyle, double play ball. Nice quick 8 pitch inning for Litsch. 52 pitches.
Bottom 4th: Top of the order second time through. Hill leading off. 2-2 count. Full count. Pops it up to Torres in shallow centre for the out. Lind, pops it up to second, two down. Wells, first pitch ??? Not this time. 3-0 count. There’s a strike Vernon still has nor swung, pops it up to second for third out on his first swing. I think you do better without swinging Vernon. Average continues to fall. Definitely in a slump for him. 56 pitches for Cain.
Top 5th: Game not even an hour yet both pitchers are moving fast helped by some awful swinging. Posey, wowee, grounds to short Gonzalez makes a diving catch and from one knee throws along strike to Overbay for the out. Man that was great play. Not only robbing Posey of a double but also the throw. Renteria grounds to Hill throw to Overbay for out number two. Molina, 2-2 count. Full count. fly ball to Wells in centre. 66 pitches for Litsch.
Bottom 5th: Time Jays hitters zeroed in on Cain here. Gonzalez leading off. Grounds off the glove of Cain to short throw to first gets him. One down. Bautista, 2-2 Cain wanted that pitch. Grounds to short, long throw to first for the out. Two down for Overbay, gets hold of this one, classic Lyle swing to centre and bounces over the wall for ground rule double. Buck, two down with Lyle in scoring position. Fly ball to centre to end this one. 71 pitches for Cain.
Top 6th: Torres bunting but foul, trying anything here to get on. Grounds to Gonzalez throw to Overbay for the first out. Sanchez, pops this one up Overbay very nice backward running catch behind first in foul territory. Two down for Huff, pops it up to Lewis in right another nice running catch. Great defence for Litsch today. 76 pitches. Cito will be happy with this six innings work today.
Bottom 6th: Encarnacion, first pitch pop up gets away with it as ball into crowd. Fly ball to right centre, one down for Lewis, singles into centre. Only the fourth hit today by Jays hitters. Hill, having a bad day with the bat so far. One down one on. Pops this one up to shallow centre, two down. Lind, first pitch pulls it to Huff in right for third out. Hitting is definitely not on today for the Jays. 82 pitches for Cain. Matching Litsch player by player and pitch for pitch.
Top 7th: Uribe leading off. Cito has to be wary of Jesse’s injury and not overdo it today. Full count. Grounds back to Litsch, throw to first for the out. Burrell, huge swing but off the end of his bat to Lewis in shallow left. Two down. Sandoval, 2-2 count. strikes out but Buck drops the tip. Full count. Jays bullpen working. Fouling off four pitches here. Fly ball to Wells in centre for the out but a ten pitch out, that is costly at this stage of the game. Might be last inning for Litsch if only his hitters could give him some support here. 94 pitches.
Bottom 7th: Wells leading off, another awful game for him today grounds first pitch to Sandoval at third, throw to first for the out. Gonzalez, strikes out, two down for Bautista. 3-1 count. Ball four. First walk for Cain today but Jays hitters have not been looking for them swinging at anything in sight. Overbay, one of the few to actually hit Cain today. 0-2 count, pops it up to shallow left for third out. 95 pitches.
Top 8th: Camp now pitching. Buster Posey leading off what a great throwback baseball name, grounds to Encarnacion at third throw to Overbay, one down. Renteria, bunting but foul, this is trouble, doubles into the right field corner, one on one down. Molina, WHOAeee. Lines this one all the way to the wall in centre right an amazing catch by Bautista. That robbed Giants of a run. Torres with two down. Intentional walk here. Cito gambling. Sanchez with two on and two down. Grounds to Gonzalez throw to Hill a second for third out. Gamble paid off.
Bottom 8th: Jays have to get a couple here, this is where a bit more patience earlier would have paid off seeing Cain out of the game But here he is Buck leading off. Huge pop up to short for the out. 14 fly balls for Cain today. Encarnacion, fly ball to left, two down. Gregg and Downs up in bullpen. That is very optimistic. Lewis, 3-0 count, where were these counts earlier ? Ball four. Either Cain is tiring or Jays have finally got the message here. Hill another ofer day 0-3. YES indeed. That’s better Aaron, finally a good swing and this one is out of here in his usual spot over Jays bullpen in left. 2-0 Jays. . . Lind singles to right. That’s it for Cain, pitched very well but one hitter too much.113 pitches a bit too much today. Casilla now pitching to Wells with one on. Doesn’t really matter what Vernon does here but he also has another ofer day. Break his duck, singles first pitch to left. Gonzalez with two on. Wise pinch running for Lind at second. Just lifts it over the head of second base and here comes Wise 3-0 Jays. Bautista with two on, wild pitch gets away from Molina, and both runners move to second and third with two down. 3-0 count, in danger of loading them up. 3-1 and pops it up to right for the out.
Top 9th: Ever dangerous Huff leading off, Pops up to Encarnacion at short. Uribe, 0-2 huge swings, grounds to Encarnacion at third, throw to Overbay for the second out. Schierholtz pops it up to Encarnacion. Jays win 3-0.Great win today.
Excellent: Litsch for seven. Great defense for Jays today, Gonzalez and Bautista in particular, Hill two run home run. Camp holding Giants in the eighth and getting the win, Gregg for the save.
The bad: Nothing today.
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