Jays lose another one run game to Boston but Litsch pitches well.

Series finale Red Sox v Jays. Sunday July 11th

Last game pre All-Star break and the Jays would love to end on a winning note but Litsch pitching and probably pitching to remain with the club. I for one have no problem with returning to Vegas (along with Tallet) and giving Jesse longer to rehab that arm. If he bombs today it will be real possibility.

Lineups: Red Sox: Scutaro, McDonald, Ortiz, Youkilis, Beltre, Drew, Hall, Nava, Cash.
Jays: Lewis, Gonzalez, Bautista, Wells, Lind, Hill, Overbay, Buck, Encarnacion.
Pitching: Matsuzaka v Litsch.

Problems with the roof again this afternoon, one section is not moving. Weird shadows on the field but the same for both teams. Large crowd but not as large as Saturday. World Cup Final on.
Top 1st: Scutaro leading off strikes out. McDonald grounds back to Litsch throw to Overbay at first. Ortiz fly ball to Lewis for third out. Good start for Litsch, he is very focused so far.
Bottom 1st: Lewis leading off flied out to left fielder Nava. Gonzalez doubles to left. Bautista pops up to Youkilis at first base. Wells grounds to Hill throw to Overbay for the third out.

Top 2nd: Youkilis leading off grounds to Hill throw to Overbay for the out. Beltre fly ball to Lewis. Drew grounds to Overbay, flip to Litsch for the out. to
Bottom 2nd:Lind leading off strikes out. Hill fly ball to McDonald in centre. Overbay grounds to Youkilis at first. Three up and own for Jays.

Top 3rd: Hall leading off grounds to Gonzalez throw to Overbay at first. Nava grounds to Overbay flip to Litsch for the out at first. Cash grounds to Gonzalez at short, throw to Overbay at first.
Bottom 3rd: Buck leading off singles to centre, one down for Encarnacion. Singles to left, Buck to second. Lewis strikes out. Gonzalez fly ball to Drew in right, Buck to third. Bautista with two down and two on strikes out. Both pitchers moving this game along, I think there must be an unwritten agreement by all teams to get home fast on the last day. It would be interesting to see if there are any extra inning games. I doubt it.

Top 4th: Scutaro leading off grounds back to Litsch throw to Overbay at first.
to first baseman Overbay. McDonald pops up to Hill at second. Ortiz at bat, full count and walks. Youkilis flied out to Bautista in right.
Bottom 4th: Wells leading off pops up to Cash. Lind pops up to shortstop Scutaro.
Hill fly ball McDonald in centre. Jays go very quietly and quickly.

Top 5th: Beltre leading off grounds to Gonzalez at short throw to Overbay for the out at first. Drew grounds to Hill throw to Overbay. Hall with two down strikes out. Another good inning for Litsch.
Bottom 5th: Overbay leading off fly ball to Nava in left, one down. Buck strikes out. Encarnacion strikes out. Quick three up and down for Dice-K.

Top 6th: Nava leading off strikes out. One down for Cash strikes out. Two down for Scutaro doubles to centre. McDonald, here we go gets hold of this one and this is out of here, here comes Scutaro, here comes McDonald and Boston first to strike this afternoon 2-0 Boston. Ortiz, with two down, here we go again, no question when Ortiz gets hold of one, this one is into right, second deck shot, back to back home runs and Litsch in trouble for first time today, 3-0 Boston. Jays have been lucky this weekend keeping Ortiz quiet. Youkilis with two down pops up to Overbay for the third out.
Bottom 6th: Patterson in at second base. Hall in at third. Lewis leading off fly ball to Nava in left. Gonzalez singles to centre. Bautista pops up to Drew in right, two down.Wells grounds to Scutaro throw to Patterson at second to get Gonzalez.

Top 7th: Patterson leading off fly ball to Wells in centre, one down. Drew grounds back to Litsch throw to Overbay at first. Hall singles to right. Nava strikes out.
Bottom 7th: Lind leading off singles to centre. Hill, with one on, gets hold of this one, this is out of here, classic Hill home run into left field seats above bullpen. Jays are back in this one. 3-2 Boston. That’s it for Dice-K, only 88 pitches but is the last game and Francona has a large bullpen to use up. Bard now pitching. Overbay leadng off fly ball to McDonald in centre. Buck grounds to Hall at third, throw to Youkilis, two down. Encarnacion singles to centre. Lewis fly ball to McDonald in centre.

Top 8th: Janssen now pitching. Cash leading off singles to centre. Scutaro fly ball to Bautista. One down. McDonald grounds to, Gonzalez Hill on to Overbay, double play ball.
Bottom 8th: Gonzalez leading off grounds to Patterson at second throw to Youkilis. At first one down. Bautista grounds to Scutaro throw to Youkilis. Wells hitlesss again today, he definitely needs a break but will not be getting one as he is going to All-Star game. Vernon strikes out 0-4 today.

Top 9th: Purcey pitching and to close this one out. Ortiz leading off strikes out. One down for Youkilis singles to left. Patterson full count and walks, two on one down. Youkilis at second. Drew grounds to Hill throw to Overbay at first, Youkilis moves to to third, Patterson to second. Two down for Hall who strikes out.
Bottom 9th: Papelbon now pitching. Lind leading off fly ball to Nava in left. One down
Hill fly ball to Drew in right two down. Overbay singles to left. Wise pinch-running for Overbay. Buck pops up to Scutaro at short. Fitting that it is Scutaro, he has been a real pain to Jays this weekend. Jays end the first half on a loss and puts them under .500.

Jays lose another one run game to the Red Sox,that is the fourth one run loss to Boston this season, they are so close. Their luck WILL turn. Jays outhit Red Sox. 8-6. Now a few days to regroup. What will Jays lineup look like on Thursday ?

The good: Litsch had a good outing. Only one walk to go with five strikeouts and seven innings. Much better than many expected. But took the no- hitter into the sixth and of course it was Scutaro who started the damage. Will it be enough to keep Jesse in Toronto? Janssen and Purcey kept the hitters in the game with scoreless innings of relief. Good to see Hill get one out into the seats.
The bad: What is wrong with Wells? In a deep funk, I hope the All-Star game will get him going again.