Finally some hustle and heart as Jays beat Red Sox in extra innings 7-6

Red Sox v Jays. Game one of two game series.
Two game series with Red Sox teams going in opposite directions at this time. Jays also facing a real credibility problem. No one promised a World Series in 2011, BUT they did and continue to promise “Hustle and heart” as the identifier for this team. The current marketing campaign is promoting the same.

Line-ups: Red Sox: Ellsbury, Pedroia, Gonzalez, Youkilis, Ortiz, Drew, Lowrie, Crawford, Saltalamacchia and Lester pitching.
Jays: Escobar, Patterson, Bautista, Encarnacion, (would you pitch to Bautista with Encarnacion on deck, this is crazy) and it matters not that he is at first base tonight, Hill, Rivera, Arencibia, McDonald, Davis and Drabek pitching. Defensively this is better especially with Davis in centre and McDonald at third. But it is the hitting that is the major concern for this team right now.
Jays have three with double figures RBIs, Boston has six. Boston has won their last three, Jays have lost their last three and by big scores. This may not be a pretty series game if you are a Jays fan. The good is that it is only two game series not four.

Top 1st`: Ellsbury, 3-0 count, full count, singles to Bautista in right, Pedroia, Ellsbury stealing and Arencibia drops the ball. No error given to Arencibia but he earned one. 2-2 count, full count. Ball four, two on and no one out. Gonzalez, NICE job by Drabek, pick off Ellsbury at second, Escobar in behind him, one down. Gonzalez strikes out, two down. Youkilis, 2-0 count, Pedroia stealing and safe on high throw by Arencibia. Full count, Great pitch strikes him out to end this one. Only problem is the high pitch count.
Bottom 1st: Escobar, 0-2, full count, ball four. Good start, Patterson, singles to centre on first pitch, Bautista with two on. 2-0 count, I don’t think Jose will get much to hit here with Encarnacion on deck and double play star. 3-0, ball four to load them up, no way was Lester giving Jose a hit here. He will take his chances with Edwin and ground ball 3-1 count, ball four, I can’t believe Lester did not get him. Here comes Escobar and Jays go out 1-0 with bases still loaded for Hill, Lester furious with umpire, grounds to short, throw to second to get Edwin not in time to get Hill. 2-0 Jays. Rivera, runners at the corners. Pops it up to Gonzalez, drops the ball at first !!! Wow. Bautista scores 3-0 Jays. Throw to second to get Hill, two down, Arencibia, 2-2 count, strikes out swinging. 25 pitch count for Lester. Who would have thought that? Lester slamming his glove on the bench over and over.

Top 2nd: Now Drabek has to use this to his advantage. Ortiz, 3-0 count, Drabek not helping himself here. Full count, doubles to right wall. One on for Drew, singles to left, two on nobody out, tying run at the plate already !! Lowrie, 3-1 count, a pitch away from loading the bases. Fouls off ball four. Strikes him out. One down for Crawford, singles to right, here comes Ortiz, 3-1 game. One down two on for Saltalamacchia, 0-2 count, strikes out, number four strike out. Ellsbury, drives it high to centre Davis runs it down for the catch. Pitch count though 48. I think we will see Villanueva by the fifth tonight unless Drabek can settle down here.
Bottom 2nd: Now what does Lester have this inning. Johnny Mac leading off, full count, gets hold of this one and hammers it hard to left but Crawford runs it down for nice catch. Davis lines it the other way to right, Drew makes the catch. Escobar, strikes out to end this one.

Top 3rd: Pedroia, full count, lines it to Bautista in right, one down. Gonzalez, full count, strikes out swinging. Two down for Youkilis, grounds to Macdonald at third long throw which Edwin hangs on to for the out, much better inning for Drabek.
Bottom 3rd: Patterson leading off. Singles back up the middle, 2-2 tonight. Bautista, not sure Patterson will be stealing here but Lester throwing over. Strikes out on high fast ball. One down for Encarnacion, Now Patterson had better steal, or risk double play. Lines it into left corner bounces into the seats for ground rule double. Both runners in scoring position. Hill, pops up to Lowrie at short, two down. Rivera with two in scoring position. Long time since Juan hit one out. 0-2 count, 2-2, Rivera making him work for it at least. Full count, ball four, loads the bases. Rivera has a great at bat. Arencibia bases loaded. Base hit is fine JP. Don’t go for the fences here. 2-1 count, 2-2, grounds to Gonzalez at first. Once again Jays unable to get the runners in. Golden opportunity for three of them.

Top 4th: Ortiz leading off, this one is out of here, lines it high to centre, home run Ortiz, 3-2 Jays. They will begin to regret that last inning lost opportunities. Drew, full count, pops it up long run for Johnny Mac over runs it but dives back to make great catch. Lowrie, with one down. 2-2 count, lines to Escobar throw to first for second out. Crawford, 3-0 count, you don’t want this guy on base Kyle. OH NO’. Bounces to first Encarnacion messes this one up and Crawford safe at first, error number eight for Encarnacion. The only place Jays can hide this guy is DH. Pleaeeease. Saltalamacchia, 3-0 count, there goes Crawford but ball four, Edwin`s error is huge. Top of the line-up again. Ellsbury with two on and two down. Lines it to left here comes throw by Patterson gets Crawford at the plate. Great throw, and gets Edwin off the hook as he taps glove with Paterson in thanks. Pitch count though 86.
Bottom 4th: McDonald lines it to centre, Ellsbury has it for the out, Davis, lines this to left Crawford cannot get to it and look at Davis turn the burners on and gets into third no problem, THAT is hear and hustle Alex. Escobar with one out. Oh boy Davis coming home but picked off, did Escobar miss the sign. 3-1 count. Lines it to second bounces off the glove of Pedroia and Escobar safe, that would have scored Davis. Patterson, there goes Escobar strike three to end this one. Another great opportunity lost.

Top 5th: Maybe last inning for Drabek. Pedroia leading off. 2-2 count, full count ball four, leadoff guy on base, it has been that type of night for Drabek, struggling from the first Gonzalez gets hold of this one and lines it into left field seats, two run home run and Boston takes the lead. 4-3. Youkilis with no outs here. Lines it to Davis for the first out of the inning. Ortiz, 2-2 tonight. Singles up the middle. Frasor warming up, ok. No Villanueva. Drew with runner on first. Grounds to short throw to second on to first not in time for the out, it is that kind of night for the hapless Jays again. Drew 0-2 count, pops it up to Bautista for third out and that will be it for Drabek, 109 pitches. still very much a work in progress. He has to be able to get beyond the fifth inning ! and also to give up a three run lead to Boston is not very smart.
Bottom 5th: Jays behind for first time in the game, let’s see what they have tonight, Bautista leading off, fouls it off his foot, Jose in pain here, I hope that is not serious, there she goes no question into left field bullpen. 4-4 game. Encarnacion grounds to Lowrie at short, bobbles it but plenty of time to get Edwin who was definitely not hustling there to first, one down for Hill having another rough night. 2-2 count, grounds to Lowrie at short, throw to first, two down. Rivera, lines it to Crawford in left who makes the catch. Lester on 96 pitches.

Top 6th: Frasor now pitching, Crawford, strikes out swinging on three pitches. Saltalamacchia full count, strikes out looking, two down. Top of the order Ellsbury, strikes out the side. Very nice inning Jason.
Bottom 6th: Arencibia leading off. Bottom of Jays order 1-6 tonight. NOW that is much better JP, great upper-cut swing and into left field seats home run Arencibia. 5-4 Jays. Johnny Mac. 3-1 count, ball four, Lester unsettled here. Hill warming up in Boston bullpen. Davis one on and nobody out. Johnny Mac running but bunt fouled off. 0-2 count now. 2-2 count, Lester distracted by Johnny Mac. Strikes out swinging, one down for Escobar. Wow off his foot, his ankle, that hurts and that is it for Lester. Escobar limping off, definitely in pain. Cooper in to run for him, not good at all. Patterson, lines it to centre Ellsbury makes the catch, McDonald to third on play. Bautista now with two on and two down. Hill almost hits him inside. Not this time Jose, grounds to short, throw to second to get Cooper. Jays go ahead BUT at what cost of Escobar is now on DL.

Top 7th: Johnny Mac goes to short, Cooper to first and Edwin to third. Just cannot escape him can we. Frasor for second inning work here, not his bag. Pedroia leading off. Singles back up the middle. That`s it for Frasor, just that one hitter I guess. Rzepeczynski now pitching. Gonzalez, NO !!! they have Pedroia picked off and Cooper drops the ball at first. Pedroia safe at second, error to Cooper. They can’t keep giving these things to a team like Boston. Full count. Grounds to short, great diving play by Johnny Mac to save a run here. No chance for an out though. Youkilis with two on and nobody out. Grounds to Edwin at third, throw to Hill at second to get one, no chance for two. Ortiz with two on and one down. PERFECT grounds back to Rzepeczynski, throws to Hill at second, on to Cooper double play ball to end this one. Very nice.
Bottom 7th; Now can Jays add to this one run. Encarnacion leading off. 0-2 count, lines it to Youkilis diving catch for the out. Hill not a great night, full count, horrible swing, misses badly on a changeup, strikes out. Rivera with two down, that’s it for pitcher Hill. Aceves now pitching. Hits him the third Jays player hit tonight. Arencibia with Rivera at first, make him pay JP. 2-0 count.3-1 ball four, two on two down for Johnny Mac. Full count, ball flour, bases loaded for Davis. Lines it to Drew in right. Jays leave three more out there.

Top 8th: Rzepeczynski still out there, Drew leading off. Doubles to the wall in centre. Pinch runner Iglesias, Crawford grounds to Cooper flip to Rzepczynski, one down but runner to third. Saltalamacchia lines it to left here comes the run 5-5 game. Ellsbury singles to centre, two on two down that’s it for Rzepczynski. Rauch now to face Pedroia. Darnell McDonald pinch running for Saltalamacchia. 2-2 count. Grounds to Encarnacion steps on third for the out to end the inning but Boston has tied this one up.
Bottom 8th: Bard now pitching. Varitek catching. Cooper leading off. Full count, WOWEEEE great swing and this one is out of here home run for David, finally his first in the majors into right centre. 6-5 game, that made up for his error. Patterson, strikes out, Bautista with one down. Pops it up into right very high but not the distance. Two down for Encarnacion, pops it up to third.

Top 9th: Francisco pitching for the save. Gonzalez, oh boy, lines it into left field, over the fence, home run for Gonzalez, 6-6 game. Second home run for Gonzalez tonight. Youkilis, strikes out swinging. Ortiz, grounds to McDonald, throw to Cooper two down. Drew singles to Bautista in right. Iglesias with two down. Strikes out but yet another wild pitch, how many of these have we seen. Two on for Crawford, oh no. Gets him strikes out swinging but Jays need a run to win.
Bottom 9th: Hill to lead off, time for Aaron to show something tonight. Albers now pitching. Grounds to short, throw to first one down. Rivera, full count, grounds to Youkilis at third throw to first two down. Arencibia last chance for Jays. 2-2 count, strikes out looking. Not good JP. Have to swing there. Game is on the line.
Extra innings.

Top 10th: Villanueva now pitching. Varitek, pops it up to Patterson in left, one down. Ellsbury, excellent grounds to first, Cooper dives for the ball and throw to Villanueva for the out at first, great play by Cooper two down. Pedroia,2-2 count, singles to Bautista in right. Gonzalez, fly ball to left but Patterson has it for third out.
Bottom 10th: Johnny Mac leading off. Strikes out looking. Davis, 3-1, full count, singles back up the middle. Cooper. Whoa pitch out and Davis going throw not there, Davis steals second. Whoa he is going again safe at third. Poor Cooper, fly ball will do it, single will do it. 1-2 count. THAT will do it David, fly ball to centre here comes Davis. Jays win this 7-6. WOW what a game. Great night for Cooper and Davis hustle and heart finally.

The very good: Cooper with his two hits, first home run and then the winning run, and also a great play at first. Davis with triple and the two stolen bases, always a threat in my book and should be playing every day.
The good: Bautista with yet another home run. Arencibia connecting for home run. Villanueva relief and the win.
The not so good: Injury to Escobar, but then we would not have had David Cooper heroics tonight at least, but we don’t need Escobar on the DL.

Drabek struggled all night despite the high strikeouts.

The bad: Edwin at first just cannot escape the ball wherever they put him. His error at first. Cooper also with error but at least he made up for it with the home run.
So many left on base, so many left in scoring position. Jays unable to bring them in once more. Jays starters unable to go deep again.