Jays lose heartbreaker in extra innings.

Jays v Tampa in Port Charlotte.


Jays lineup: Davis, Thames, Lawrie, Snider, Rivera, Cooper, Molina, Diaz, Hechavarria and Rzepczynski pitching. Loads of speed and youth in this lineup. Lawrie definitely earning his time, as with Thames and young Jonathan Diaz. Will be interesting to see how they do against Tampa who just broke their long losing streak yesterday to win only their second game of the spring. Jays will want to start another one for them.
Facing Shields today Rzepczynski, and looking to get that ERA down from 9.00.

OH WOWEEEE ! what a great start as Rajai Davis goes deep to left off Shields for his first home run as a Jay. Wind is blowing out there today in left, but Davis takes advantage. 1-0 Jays in the first. Thames and Lawrie strike out swinging, Snider continues his form with a double to right sending his average to .500. Rivera could not bring him in but Jays are off to a great start. Rzepczynski walks Elliot Johnson on four balls and then strikes out Joyce on three pitches and then walks Kelly Shoppach before getting Kotchman. ERA 5.79 after two.
Hechavarria gets his first rbi. Rough for Shields who threw nothing but strikes for his 3.1 innings only one ball but left 2-0 down.

In the 4th Octavio Dotel of the 22.50 ERA and two horrible outings replacing Rzepczynski, pressure on Octavio, three strikes and he could be toast. Needs a good outing to hang on. Gets Joyce swinging on three pitches. But walks Shoppach and wild pitch gets two in scoring position and only one out but rescued by Rivera in right who nails Shoppach at home plate for great double play. Dotel ERA drops to 15.00 and maybe another shot.

Casey Janssen, in the 5th wow !!! seven pitches, seven strikes, three up and down. Casey is one focused guy this spring, he wants that bullpen job. Keeps his ERA at 0.00.
In bottom of the 6th David Purcey walks the first batter on four pitches but not helped by Diaz error on the missed catch enables Rodriguez to get to third and then he loads the bases without throwing a strike.
Mills replaces Purcey. Gets Shoppach on three pitches. But bases still loaded and then gets Kotchman to ground into a double play. That was pressure pitching, well done Brad. Purcey owes you bigtime today.

In the bottom of the 9th Rommie Lewis gets the first two and replaced by Winston Abreu who gives up the triple and tying run. Mike Hinckley gets the extra inning and could not hold it. Disappointing 3-2 loss for the Jays.

The very good: Rajai leadoff home run. Rzepczynski very efficient 19 pitches and that includes two walks, after three hitless innings and gets his ERA down to a more respectable 4.76. Rivera in right with great throw to the plate in the 4th to double up Shoppach and end inning to get Dotel out of trouble. Casey Janssen three up and down and how. Brad Mills replacing Purcey with bases loaded. Gets Shoppach on three pitches and with bases still loaded gets Kotchman to ground into a double play. Excellent... Mills gives up a home run to Dan Johnson in the next inning but at least the bases were not loaded. In his third inning of work he gets two more on but is saved by yet another double play. Four double plays today.

Good: Hits spread around Jays hitters today. Cooper, Diaz and Rivera singles. Molina and Snider and Tolisano doubles.

The not so good: Hechavarria picked off at first. Jays trying to take advantage of his throwing nothing but strikes, free swinging in the 3rd to give Shields an easy four pitch inning. Jonathan Diaz missed catch and the error in the 6th. Gose and Jason Lane both striking out with two in scoring position. Gose also left Jeroloman at third base in the top of the 9th. Jays hitters go 0-8 with runners in scoring position. Diaz not his day with failed bunt in the top of the 9th on top of his earlier error. Jays leave 15 on base today. Winston Abreu who gives up the triple and tying run gets Beckham but the damage is done and a great game for the Jays wasted. Should John Farrell have pulled Rommie Lewis for Abreu with two out in the 9th ? 20/20 no way.

The awful: Purcey couldn’t throw strikes in first 12 pitches to walk three and load the bases.