Jays v Rangers Series finale.
Jays going for a win today but first the Robbie Alomar event and retiring of the number. I have not been a major fan of him since the Hisrchbeck incident but do acknowledge that he had great talent. Am still not convinced that he was THE best Jays player ever as the hype this last month has been promoting. He was only with the club for five years and there are more deserving in my mind. I like the Red Sox criteria that a player has to be with the club for ten years before his number is retired, and also retire with the Red Sox and be a Hall of Famer.
But today we have a huge crowd and that is well worth the hype. Let’s hope the team can put on a show for the crowd and not see them all leaving in the seventh inning. Today Morrow is pitching and thus my concerns.
Line-ups: Rangers: Chavez, Quintanilla, Hamilton, Young, Napoli, Moreland, Teagarden, Murphy, Blanco and C.J. Wilson pitching.
Jays: Davis, Rasmus, Bautista, Encarnacion, Thames, Molina, Hill, McDonald, Arencibia and Morrow pitching. Very interesting line-up. Today no Lind, Escobar or Snider. Lefty pitcher is the reason given. Interesting coincidence on last day of trade deadline. I hope so.
Top 1st: Chavez, 3-0 count, ball four, this is what my concern was all about. Quintanilla Ball one. Throw a strike Brandon pleeeease. Finally, strikes out swinging, one down. Hamilton, 1-2 count, there goes Chavez, throw down and he gets him at second. Molina behind the plate today, two down. Strikes out swinging and Morrow recovers from that leadoff walk.
Bottom 1st: Jays have a huge crowd here this afternoon, they have to take advantage of the noise and support. Leading off today. Davis leading off, 1-2 count, grounds to short, throw to Moreland at first to get him one down for Rasmus, 2-2 count, strikes out swinging, two down for Bautista. 3-1 count, outside ball four, two down one on for Encarnacion. Ball gets away and Bautista to second. full count, WHOA HOOOO Edwin hammers this one, no doubt as it left the bat, home run into second deck, left field seats, 2-0 Jays. Thames. Pops it up to left for the out, but Jays strike early and get the crowd in the game big-time.
Top 2nd: Now Morrow has to respond to that early lead and close Rangers down here. Young leading off. 1-2 count, singles into right. One on for Napoli, he has loved Jays pitchers this week, home and away. 0-2 count, not this time as he strikes out swinging on three pitches. One down one on for Moreland. 3-1 count, ball four, two on one down. Teagarden, full count, strikes out swinging. Murphy, 2-2 count, strikes out swinging and leaves two out there. Morrow does the job strikes out the side all swinging, but gives our hearts a workout.
Bottom 2nd: Molina leading off. oh boy.... grounds to short and Blanco with plenty of time throws it past Moreland at first and into the crowd, WOW, he had plenty of time with Molina running. Error on the play. Now Jose is in scoring position. Hill, below Molina in the line-up that would hurt his pride. Full count. Off the end of his bat and Young throw to first to get Hill but maybe should have left that for the pitcher to get as it enabled Molina to go to third. One down and McDonald, that will do it lines to Chavez in centre and ball is dropped here comes Molina and Johnny Mac safe at first. 3-0 Jays. Arencibia DH today. Johnny Mac stealing and beats the throw at second. 3-0 count, have to feel sorry for Wilson though. Grounds to third, throw to first to get Arencibia. Davis, another 3-0 count, there goes Johnny Mac, ball four, throw down and he is out at third. That was not good Johnny Mac.
Top 3rd: Blanco 1-2 count, grounds to Hill, great play and throw to Encarnacion to get one down. Chavez grounds first pitch to third, Bautista throw to first for the out. Quintanilla two down, grounds to Hill, throw to first to end the inning. Much better inning for Morrow. Pitch count at 53.
Bottom 3rd: Rasmus, there we go Colby lifts it into left, and drops in front of Hamilton and bounces past him, Colby, stand up double. First hit as a Jay and in scoring position for Bautista. Error to Hamilton on the play. Nobody out. Wild pitch and Colby moves to third. 3-0 count, ball four down and away. Two on nobody out for Encarnacion. Grounds to short, throw to second on to first double play ball but Rasmus running on the hit and scores 4-0 Jays, First run for Rasmus as a Jay. Two down for Thames. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging. Pitch count 63.
Top 4th: Hamilton leading off. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging. Young, 3-1 count, bounces to McDonald throw to Encarnacion, two down. Napoli, 1-2 count, strikes out, number seven for Morrow. Pitch count 68.
Bottom 4th: Molina leading off. Full count, grounds to third, throw to first for the out. Hill grounds to third, long throw to Moreland not in time Hill safe at first. Johnny Mc. Grounds to third, great throw by Young to Moreland to get McDonald as Hill moves to second. Two down for Arencibia. That will do it lines it past Young off his glove, into left, here comes Hill 5-0 Jays. Davis, runner at first. Davis lines it into left corner, Arencibia manages to get to third, double for Davis. Rasmus now with two in scoring position. Great chance for first rbi. Full count, YES, way to go Colby lines this one to centre field over the head of Chavez, to the wall, here comes both runners and his first rbis. 7-0 Jays. And Rasmus has his first hit, first run and first RBIs. And more to the point has knocked Wilson out of the game. Tateyama, Bautista now with Rasmus in scoring position. Check swing off end of his bat to Tateyama. Throw to Moreland to get Bautista.
Top 5th: Moreland leading off. Pops it up to Bautista at third. Teagarden, 2-2 count, strikes out swinging. Eight now for Morrow. Two down for Murphy, 0-2 count, grounds back up the middle, bouncer past Hill, one on two down for Blanco pops it up to McDonald. Pitch count 81.
Bottom 5th: Encarnacion, grounds to Young, throw to Moreland one down for Thames. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging, two down for Molina, 0-2 count, strikes out swinging.
Top 6th: Crowd has thinned out a lot here. Chavez, strikes out swinging. Number nine for Morrow. Quintanilla, 0-2 count, strikes out looking, season high for Morrow. Two down for Hamilton, singles to left, one on two down for Young. 0-2 count, lines it high to right, Thames cannot get it, off the fence and double for Young Hamilton scores. 7-1 Jays. Napoli, singles back up the middle and here comes Young, 7-2. Moreland 1-2 count, strikes out swinging and Morrow has new season high eleven strikeouts.
Bottom 6th: Jays would like to get those two runs back but bottom of the order up. Arthur Rhodes now pitching. Hill, hammers it to left but right at Young for the out. Nice hit though Aaron. Johnny Mc. Pops it up to Chavez in centre. Arencibia, first pitch swinging, gets under this one and a very high pop up to left.
Top 7th: Morrow back out there with 97 pitch count. Teagarden, pops it up to right centre for Thames to make the catch. One down for Murphy. Full count, singles into centre. Blanco, wild pitch off the glove of Molina to the backstop. Murphy to second.1-2 count, bounces to Encarnacion throw to Morrow for the second out. Chavez, 0-2 count, grounds to first nice diving save by Encarnacion throw to Morrow to make the out himself. Nice play as that will probably be the end of Morrow outing today 115 pitches.
Bottom 7th: Top of the order again. Davis leading off. Uehara pitching. Davis strikes out. Rasmus with two hit day. Not this time as he grounds to Young throw to Moreland at first for the second out, Bautista, two walk today and no hits, strikes out swinging on three pitches.
Top 8th: Miller now pitching. Quintanilla grounds to Encarnacion, throw to Miller for first out. Hamilton, lines it into right and bounces over the wall. Ground rule double. That’s it for Miller and now Casey Janssen to pitch to Young. Grounds to Bautista looks Hamilton back to second and throw to first to get second out. Napoli, full count. Lines it off the wall in centre over Rasmus. 7-3 Jays, stand up double for Napoli. Moreland 2-2 count, grounds to Encarnacion takes it himself for third out.
Bottom 8th: Scott Feldman now pitching. Mark Teahen pinch hitting for Encarnacion, bounces first pitch to second, throw to Moreland, one down. You would think he would take a couple with his first at bat as a Jay. Thames grounds to short, throw to first, two quick outs. Molina, pops up to right to end the inning.
Top 9th: Francisco now pitching. Teagarden, 2-2 count, grounds back up the middle. One on for Murphy, 2-2 count, strikes out swinging, one down for Blanco, 1-2 count, strikes out looking. Two down for top of the order. Chavez, 1-2 count, grounds to McDonald, flip to Hill to get Teagarden. Jays win big today 7-3 and also the series against a very tough Texas side.
Huge crowd today with that fifth deck filled all the way around. 45,629 attendance. Hopefully they will be back.
The excellent: Morrow with 115 pitch, seven inning, eleven strikeout game. He could have gone the distance if he had settled down earlier, too many pitches early in the game. But we are being picky, a great outing and win for him.
The very good: Rasmus two hit day his first of everything, hit, run and rbis. Great to see him do this before heading on the road to Tampa. Encarnacion also with both his bat, the home run to get Jays going early and also his glove at first.
The not so good: Johnny Mc getting caught at third and making the third out as Davis walked. Picky maybe, but the next inning Rasmuys lead off with a double and that would have scored both McDonald and davis with his speed.
Great series and also home stand 4-2 for the Jays, keeping within striking distance of Tampa and third place. NOW the big question remains, will Lawrie join the team in Tampa?
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Mills pitches a gem but has no run support today as Jays free swinging bats fall silent
Jays v Rangers Game two.
Great win last night although it left many of us with heart palpitations as Rauch gives up the hope run and puts runner on. Lind made two inning ending plays for the win and his first play was a highlight reel play taking a hit away from Murphy and possibly the game. Lind is really looking more comfortable at first and making us forget Overbay.
Today Brad Mills making yet another start forever up and down for the last three seasons but he has earned his start with excellent numbers in AAA Vegas. More spotlight today on Rasmus and whether he will get that first hit. My feeling is that let him relax when the team goes back on the road next week and away from what must be unbearable pressure from media as well as the fans. Most fans in our area of the ballpark last night were sympathetic but there are some who expect Rasmus to be another Bautista in his first few games. Lawrie will get the same treatment when, and if he ever arrives, but appears to me far stronger in his makeup.
Line-ups: Rangers: Kinsler, Quintanilla, Young, Napoli, Moreland, Torrealba, Murphy, Davis, Chavez and Holland pitching. No Hamilton or Cruz today. That is a lot of offence missing. But this team has more than enough depth to compensate.
Jays: Escobar, Rasmus, Bautista, Lind, Encarnacion,Thames, Davis, McDonald, Arencibia and Mills pitching. Snider and Hill get the day off. Encarnacion playing at first with Lind at DH.
Top 1st: Kinsler lines it to Davis playing today in left, one down for Quintanilla, strikes out swinging, Young grounds to Bautista at third, throw to Encarnacion at first for third out. Nice start for Mills.
Bottom 1st: Escobar leading off, grounds off the glove of Holland to Kinsler at second, throw just beats a headfirst slide by Escobar, Yunel responding to criticism of his lack of hustle but that might be a dangerous way to do it. Rasmus. One down, 2-2 count, pops it up to Quintanilla, two down for Bautista. Pops this one high to Young at first and drops the ball, as he loses it in the sky. Bautista gets a big break there. Lind, pops up to short for the third out, unable to capitalise on that play, no error given by the way.
Top 2nd: Napoli, 0-2 count, Mills has gone 0-2 on each of the first four hitters. 2-2 count, singles into left. Moreland, oh no, trouble, drives it to centre, Rasmus watches this one go into the stands, 2-0 Texas. Torrealba, another 0-2 count, grounds to Escobar, throw to Encarnacion, one down. Murphy, bounces to McDonald, wicked hop off his glove, and Murphy safe at first. Davis, there we go, grounds to Johnny Mac flip to Escobar at second over to Encarnacion, great double play. Johnny Mac nice quick flip to Escobar. No damage done to the earlier miscue.
Bottom 2nd: Encarnacion grounds to third, Davis throw off line but Young tags Edwin on the shoulder as he goes by for the out. Thames grounds to Young for the second quick out. Davis, full count, ball four down. Davis on base, what the fans want to see. Now let’s see how Holland does? Johnny Mac. Holland throwing over, Johnny Mac bunting and oh Holland throws it away at first into the crowd, runners at second and third. Arencibia. Great chance to tie this one up JP just a base hit will do, forget the home runs. Gets a life here as he pops it right but foul and Young unable to get to it. Full count, takes strike three looking, ouch that was not good JP. At least a swing.
Top 3rd: Chavez leading off. Bunting first pitch to right but Mills easy flip to Encarnacion for the out. One down for Kinsler. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging, nice pitch. Quintanilla, pops this one high to right, oh boy Thames just makes the catch at the last moment, that sun and sky are playing a huge role today. Let us hope that it is all in support of the Jays. That one was too close for comfort.
Bottom 3rd: Escobar leading off. Grounds to Young at third, throw to first. Rasmus, grounds first pitch to Kinsler, throw to first, two down. Rasmus has hit both his last two at bats at least, and not struck out. Bautista, 13 games since his last home run. 2-0 count, pops up to Kinsler for the out, six pitch inning.
Top 4th: Young leading off, first pitch fly ball to Davis in left, one down for Napoli, grounds to Escobar, throw to Encarnacion, two down. Moreland, Mills hits him in the back, ouch. Torrealba, singles into centre, runner holds at second. Two on two down. Murphy, 3-1 count, outside ball four. Bases loaded. Davis, perfect, grounds to Johnny Mac flip to Escobar to get Murphy at second. Pitch count 59.
Bottom 4th: Time for Jays bats to appear this afternoon. Lind, strikes out swinging. One down for Encarnacion, lines it to Chavez in centre but long out. Two down. Thames, 0-2 count, grounds back to Holland, throw to first for final out.
Top 5th: Chavez fly ball to Davis in left, one down for Kinsler. Singles to Davis in left. One on one down. Quintanilla, full count, grounds to McDonald throw to Encarnacion, two down. Kinsler was running on the play and no chance for double play. Young. 2-2 count, gets him, great pitch to get Young swinging and missing. Very nice. Pitch count 79.
Bottom 5th: Only two hits by Jays today and one of this was a miscue. Where are the bats? Davis, strikes out swinging. Holland is too much for Jays hitters today. McDonald, has the only solid hit today. Quintanilla at short robs Johnny Mac here with a catch at shoe level, two down for Arencibia, he has had the best chance to make a difference but struck out looking, with runners at second and third, strikes out swinging here. Awful. Pitch count 60.
Top 6th: Mills has done everything asked of him today but without run support it is wasted. Napoli, full count, pops it up to Davis in left. One down for Moreland, 3-0 count, full count, strikes out swinging, he was 3-0- count, very nice pitching. Two down for Torrealba, 2-2 count, grounds to Escobar, throw to Encarnacion for third out. Another good inning by Mills. Pitch count is high though now at 96. But he has given them six innings.
Bottom 6th: Will the bats ever appear today? or has Holland totally shut them down. Top of the order. Escobar, grounds back up the middle but Kinsler throw to first. Escobar arguing that Young came off the bag, and he is ejected from the game, Rasmus, pops it up to Murphy in left, two down. Bautista, there we go Jose, singles to left. Lind, back to Holland, throw to first for third out. Jays running out of at bats. Pitch count a very stingy 71 pitches.
Top 7th: Changes now with Escobar out. Johnny Mac at short, Hill into the game at second. Murphy leading off. Grounds up the middle but Johnny Mac has it for throw to Encarnacion and the first out. Davis, 0-2 count, lines it to the wall in right, stand up double. One on one down. Chavez, lines it to Rasmus in deep centre, makes the catch and throw right on the money but Davis safe. Very close. Here comes Manager Farrell. Two down, he is leaving Mills in to finish it off. We hope. Kinsler with runner at third, intentional walk. Two on for Quintanilla, 1-2 count, gets him, strikes out swinging. 117 pitch count. Great outing by Mills. Crowd gives him an ovation as he comes off the field and well deserved today without any run support.
Bottom 7th: Encarnacion, first pitch pops it up to Kinsler. That is why his pitch count is ridiculously low. One down, Thames, pops it up to Napoli, two down, four pitches. Davis, grounds to short, throw to first six pitch inning, that is very bad whichever way you look at it.
Top 8th: Jesse Litsch now pitching. Young leading off. Full count, strikes out swinging, one down for Napoli, oh boy, this is trouble, lines it high over the head of Rasmus, into the netting in centre field, another home run to Napoli and 3-0 Texas. Moreland, strikes out swinging, two down. Torrealba, strikes out looking, but too little too late by Litsch.
Bottom 8th: McDonald pops it up to right, one down. Arencibia who has had a poor game with his bat today. Had the best chance to bring in two runs. First pitch grounds to short, throw off line and Arencibia safe at first. Hill his first at bat today. 0-2 count, grounds back to Holland, throw to second over to first double play ball. 81 pitches by Holland today. He might not even get to 90 in his complete game shutout and that is very, very poor hitting display by the Jays today.
Top 9th: Trever Miller now pitching. Murphy leading off. Singles to Rasmus in centre. One on for Davis. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging, one down. Chavez, Murphy running and great throw by Arencibia, to Johnny Mac to get him. Two down. Full count. Singles into shallow centre, here comes Manager Farrell. Camp to face Kinsler. First pitch pops it up to Thames in right.
Bottom 9th: Last chance but don’t bet the house on it today friends. Rasmus leading off. 2-2 count, grounds to first, one down. But Colby not striking out this game. Bautista, 1-2 count, strikes out looking. Jays down to their last at bat. Lind. 0-2 count, grounds back up the middle off the glove of Holland. Throw to first to end this one. Not an impressive display by Jays hitters today.
Rasmus watch: No strikeouts today, all four outs were on hits. His glove, in the seventh inning great accurate throw from centre to Bautista at third almost gets the runner.
The very good: Mills has seven excellent innings. He was getting first pitch strike for most of the early innings. Deserves another game.
The not so good: Lack of hits by Jays hitters.
The very bad: The free swinging nonsense and short innings given to Holland.
Definitely a game for Jays to forget before they leave the dugout. Only four hits today two for Bautista. Johnny Mac and Arencibia one each.
Great win last night although it left many of us with heart palpitations as Rauch gives up the hope run and puts runner on. Lind made two inning ending plays for the win and his first play was a highlight reel play taking a hit away from Murphy and possibly the game. Lind is really looking more comfortable at first and making us forget Overbay.
Today Brad Mills making yet another start forever up and down for the last three seasons but he has earned his start with excellent numbers in AAA Vegas. More spotlight today on Rasmus and whether he will get that first hit. My feeling is that let him relax when the team goes back on the road next week and away from what must be unbearable pressure from media as well as the fans. Most fans in our area of the ballpark last night were sympathetic but there are some who expect Rasmus to be another Bautista in his first few games. Lawrie will get the same treatment when, and if he ever arrives, but appears to me far stronger in his makeup.
Line-ups: Rangers: Kinsler, Quintanilla, Young, Napoli, Moreland, Torrealba, Murphy, Davis, Chavez and Holland pitching. No Hamilton or Cruz today. That is a lot of offence missing. But this team has more than enough depth to compensate.
Jays: Escobar, Rasmus, Bautista, Lind, Encarnacion,Thames, Davis, McDonald, Arencibia and Mills pitching. Snider and Hill get the day off. Encarnacion playing at first with Lind at DH.
Top 1st: Kinsler lines it to Davis playing today in left, one down for Quintanilla, strikes out swinging, Young grounds to Bautista at third, throw to Encarnacion at first for third out. Nice start for Mills.
Bottom 1st: Escobar leading off, grounds off the glove of Holland to Kinsler at second, throw just beats a headfirst slide by Escobar, Yunel responding to criticism of his lack of hustle but that might be a dangerous way to do it. Rasmus. One down, 2-2 count, pops it up to Quintanilla, two down for Bautista. Pops this one high to Young at first and drops the ball, as he loses it in the sky. Bautista gets a big break there. Lind, pops up to short for the third out, unable to capitalise on that play, no error given by the way.
Top 2nd: Napoli, 0-2 count, Mills has gone 0-2 on each of the first four hitters. 2-2 count, singles into left. Moreland, oh no, trouble, drives it to centre, Rasmus watches this one go into the stands, 2-0 Texas. Torrealba, another 0-2 count, grounds to Escobar, throw to Encarnacion, one down. Murphy, bounces to McDonald, wicked hop off his glove, and Murphy safe at first. Davis, there we go, grounds to Johnny Mac flip to Escobar at second over to Encarnacion, great double play. Johnny Mac nice quick flip to Escobar. No damage done to the earlier miscue.
Bottom 2nd: Encarnacion grounds to third, Davis throw off line but Young tags Edwin on the shoulder as he goes by for the out. Thames grounds to Young for the second quick out. Davis, full count, ball four down. Davis on base, what the fans want to see. Now let’s see how Holland does? Johnny Mac. Holland throwing over, Johnny Mac bunting and oh Holland throws it away at first into the crowd, runners at second and third. Arencibia. Great chance to tie this one up JP just a base hit will do, forget the home runs. Gets a life here as he pops it right but foul and Young unable to get to it. Full count, takes strike three looking, ouch that was not good JP. At least a swing.
Top 3rd: Chavez leading off. Bunting first pitch to right but Mills easy flip to Encarnacion for the out. One down for Kinsler. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging, nice pitch. Quintanilla, pops this one high to right, oh boy Thames just makes the catch at the last moment, that sun and sky are playing a huge role today. Let us hope that it is all in support of the Jays. That one was too close for comfort.
Bottom 3rd: Escobar leading off. Grounds to Young at third, throw to first. Rasmus, grounds first pitch to Kinsler, throw to first, two down. Rasmus has hit both his last two at bats at least, and not struck out. Bautista, 13 games since his last home run. 2-0 count, pops up to Kinsler for the out, six pitch inning.
Top 4th: Young leading off, first pitch fly ball to Davis in left, one down for Napoli, grounds to Escobar, throw to Encarnacion, two down. Moreland, Mills hits him in the back, ouch. Torrealba, singles into centre, runner holds at second. Two on two down. Murphy, 3-1 count, outside ball four. Bases loaded. Davis, perfect, grounds to Johnny Mac flip to Escobar to get Murphy at second. Pitch count 59.
Bottom 4th: Time for Jays bats to appear this afternoon. Lind, strikes out swinging. One down for Encarnacion, lines it to Chavez in centre but long out. Two down. Thames, 0-2 count, grounds back to Holland, throw to first for final out.
Top 5th: Chavez fly ball to Davis in left, one down for Kinsler. Singles to Davis in left. One on one down. Quintanilla, full count, grounds to McDonald throw to Encarnacion, two down. Kinsler was running on the play and no chance for double play. Young. 2-2 count, gets him, great pitch to get Young swinging and missing. Very nice. Pitch count 79.
Bottom 5th: Only two hits by Jays today and one of this was a miscue. Where are the bats? Davis, strikes out swinging. Holland is too much for Jays hitters today. McDonald, has the only solid hit today. Quintanilla at short robs Johnny Mac here with a catch at shoe level, two down for Arencibia, he has had the best chance to make a difference but struck out looking, with runners at second and third, strikes out swinging here. Awful. Pitch count 60.
Top 6th: Mills has done everything asked of him today but without run support it is wasted. Napoli, full count, pops it up to Davis in left. One down for Moreland, 3-0 count, full count, strikes out swinging, he was 3-0- count, very nice pitching. Two down for Torrealba, 2-2 count, grounds to Escobar, throw to Encarnacion for third out. Another good inning by Mills. Pitch count is high though now at 96. But he has given them six innings.
Bottom 6th: Will the bats ever appear today? or has Holland totally shut them down. Top of the order. Escobar, grounds back up the middle but Kinsler throw to first. Escobar arguing that Young came off the bag, and he is ejected from the game, Rasmus, pops it up to Murphy in left, two down. Bautista, there we go Jose, singles to left. Lind, back to Holland, throw to first for third out. Jays running out of at bats. Pitch count a very stingy 71 pitches.
Top 7th: Changes now with Escobar out. Johnny Mac at short, Hill into the game at second. Murphy leading off. Grounds up the middle but Johnny Mac has it for throw to Encarnacion and the first out. Davis, 0-2 count, lines it to the wall in right, stand up double. One on one down. Chavez, lines it to Rasmus in deep centre, makes the catch and throw right on the money but Davis safe. Very close. Here comes Manager Farrell. Two down, he is leaving Mills in to finish it off. We hope. Kinsler with runner at third, intentional walk. Two on for Quintanilla, 1-2 count, gets him, strikes out swinging. 117 pitch count. Great outing by Mills. Crowd gives him an ovation as he comes off the field and well deserved today without any run support.
Bottom 7th: Encarnacion, first pitch pops it up to Kinsler. That is why his pitch count is ridiculously low. One down, Thames, pops it up to Napoli, two down, four pitches. Davis, grounds to short, throw to first six pitch inning, that is very bad whichever way you look at it.
Top 8th: Jesse Litsch now pitching. Young leading off. Full count, strikes out swinging, one down for Napoli, oh boy, this is trouble, lines it high over the head of Rasmus, into the netting in centre field, another home run to Napoli and 3-0 Texas. Moreland, strikes out swinging, two down. Torrealba, strikes out looking, but too little too late by Litsch.
Bottom 8th: McDonald pops it up to right, one down. Arencibia who has had a poor game with his bat today. Had the best chance to bring in two runs. First pitch grounds to short, throw off line and Arencibia safe at first. Hill his first at bat today. 0-2 count, grounds back to Holland, throw to second over to first double play ball. 81 pitches by Holland today. He might not even get to 90 in his complete game shutout and that is very, very poor hitting display by the Jays today.
Top 9th: Trever Miller now pitching. Murphy leading off. Singles to Rasmus in centre. One on for Davis. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging, one down. Chavez, Murphy running and great throw by Arencibia, to Johnny Mac to get him. Two down. Full count. Singles into shallow centre, here comes Manager Farrell. Camp to face Kinsler. First pitch pops it up to Thames in right.
Bottom 9th: Last chance but don’t bet the house on it today friends. Rasmus leading off. 2-2 count, grounds to first, one down. But Colby not striking out this game. Bautista, 1-2 count, strikes out looking. Jays down to their last at bat. Lind. 0-2 count, grounds back up the middle off the glove of Holland. Throw to first to end this one. Not an impressive display by Jays hitters today.
Rasmus watch: No strikeouts today, all four outs were on hits. His glove, in the seventh inning great accurate throw from centre to Bautista at third almost gets the runner.
The very good: Mills has seven excellent innings. He was getting first pitch strike for most of the early innings. Deserves another game.
The not so good: Lack of hits by Jays hitters.
The very bad: The free swinging nonsense and short innings given to Holland.
Definitely a game for Jays to forget before they leave the dugout. Only four hits today two for Bautista. Johnny Mac and Arencibia one each.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Cecil wins close game behind Arencibia three run home run.
Jays v Rangers Game one.
Cecil again versus Ogando rematch of last Sunday. This will be very difficult for Cecil to try to match the Sunday result 3-0 Jays, and his first career shutout. Not only will the Rangers be prepared but Ogando (10-4 on the season) is one tough pitcher to beat twice in succession. But then again this Jays line-up is already different from a week ago and maybe Rasmus will come through. Bautista is also long overdue for a home run 12 games and counting. Jays looking to go two over .500 but a tough opponent in Texas hoping to repeat their World Series trip. Roof is open and it already looks as if a larger crowd tonight certainly the seats around us are occupied which is a good sign.
Greg Zaun before the game criticizing the defensive play of Arencibia, his throwing, framing the pitch, and hands constantly moving, he felt that he had regressed in his development as a catcher. Strong words but many fans would agree.
Line-ups: Rangers: Kinsler, Andrus, Hamilton, Young, Cruz, Napoli, Moreland, Torrealba, Murphy and Ogando pitching.
Jays: Escobar, Rasmus, Bautista, Lind, Encarnacion, Thames, Hill, Snider, Arencibia and Cecil pitching.
Top 1st: Kinsler leading off, strikes out. Nice start for Cecil. Andrus bunting up the third base line, and no chance for throw but Cecil throws it anyway, too late for an out. Hamilton with the big shift right, Bautista in shallow right, almost behind Lind, strikes out swinging. Two down for Young fly ball to Rasmus in centre. Excellent start for Cecil.
Bottom 1st: Escobar fly ball to Murphy in left, one down. Rasmus, chance to start afresh tonight after going hitless last night. Not this at bat as he strikes out. Bautista with two down, pops up to Andrus at shirt for third out. Ogando matching Cecil early.
Top 2nd: Cruz leading off, he was real pain for the Jays in Arlngton last week. Oh dear he has hammered this one to left, over the head of Snider and into the seats. Another home run for Cruz and Rangers go out ahead 1-0. Rangers do something early that they could not do last week. Napoli pops up to Hill. One down for Moreland, he singles to centre. Texas teeing off on Cecil’s pitches. Torrealba grounds to Hill at second, throw to Lind, Moreland to second. Murphy strikes out.
Bottom 2nd: Lind leading off, fly ball to Murphy in left, Adam gave it a long ride but up against the wall for the out. Encarnacion lines this one very hard to the wall, another double for Edwin number 26 on the season. Thames with runner in scoring position and one down, grounds to Andrus at short throw to Moreland at first, two down for Hill, fly ball to Hamilton in centre for the third out.
Top 3rd: Kinsler leading off, strikes out, number three for Cecil today. Andrus, 3-0 count, ball four. Hamilton with one on, grounds to Lind throw to Escobar back to Lind at first, double play ball to end this one.
Bottom 3rd: Snider pops up to Andrus at short, one down for Arencibia, grounds to Kinsler at second, throw to Moreland for out number two. Escobar fly ball to Hamilton in centre to end the inning.
Top 4th: Young leading off, doubles to left. One on for Cruz, strikes out. Good to see the back of him. Napoli singles to left, Young to third. Cecil in trouble again with only one out. Moreland high pop up to Arencibia. Two down for Torrealba, strikes out. Cecil gets out of trouble nicely.
Bottom 4th: Rasmus, being patient in this at bat, full count, ball four and Rasmus gets on base for the first time in his first two days. Bautista, one on, grounds a few feet away and Napoli throw to Moreland at first base, Rasmus to second. Lind, strikes out. Encarnacion, also patient in this at bat, full count and ball four. Thames with two down and one on, pops up to Young at first to end the inning. At least Rasmus had chance to see the game from the bases.
Top 5th: Murphy leading off, grounds to Bautista throw to Lind at first. One down for the top of the order, Kinsler. Fly ball to Thames in right field. Two down for Andrus, same again, fly ball to Thames in right to end the inning.
Bottom 5th: Nelson Cruz not coming out, something wrong with him although we didn’t see much when he was hitting apart for that home run. Chavez has replaced him. Hamilton in at left field. Chavez at centre and Murphy in right. Hill, grounds to right and safe on the play. One on and nobody out. Snider singles to left, Hill to second. Arencibia, with two on and nobody out. There she goes and Arencibia does it again, another home run, his third in a week His fifth in the last six games. On fire with his bat. Here comes Hill, here comes Snider and with Arencibia close behind, Jays go out ahead 3-1. Still no one out, can Jays get a big inning going here? Escobar, lines to Murphy in right for the first out. One down for Rasmus, strikes out. Bautista with two down, strikes out.
Top 6th: Hamilton leading off, the Farrell shift right is on, not this time, as Hamilton pushes it into left, Escobar was way out of position. Young, with one down, singles to centre, Hamilton moves up to second. Two on and nobody out. Chavez, grounds in front of the plate, Cecil is on it like a flash and bang- bang play at third as he throws a strike to Bautista, umpire calls him out. Great play to get the lead runner. One down for Napoli, pops it up to Lind. Moreland grounded out, shortstop Escobar to first baseman Lind
Bottom 6th: Now can the Jays add to this lead here? 3-1 is not a great lead against this very strong Rangers hitting line-up. Lind grounds to Moreland at first, flip to Ogando covering. Encarnacion, full count, ball four. One on two down for Thames, pops it up to Hamilton in left field. Hill, with one on and one down. Another full count, ball four. Encarnacion to second. Hill at first. That is it for Ogando. Tom Hunter now pitching. Snider fly ball to Murphy in right.
Top 7th: Cecil still out there. Torrealba leading off, grounds to Hill at second, throw to Lind at first, one down. Murphy grounds to Escobar at short, throw to Lind for the out. Two down for Kinsler, grounds to Lind who takes it himself to end the inning.
Bottom 7th: Arencibia one home run tonight already. Fly ball to Chavez in centre for the first out. Escobar, grounds to Kinsler at second, throw to Moreland at first. Rasmus, looking for his first hit as a Jay, strikes out. Third time tonight.
Top 8th: Francisco now pitching. Frankie the subject of trade rumours to these very same Rangers where he came from. Andrus grounds to second, Hill throw to Lind at first one down. Hamilton with the shift right on, that didn’t work earlier, ok here as he grounds to Hill throw to Lind. Two down for Young, lines it to right, stand up double for Young. In scoring position for Chavez, fly ball to left, Snider has it for the out.
Bottom 8th: Hunter still pitching. Bautista leading off, fly ball to Murphy in right, one down. Lind grounds to Moreland at first, takes it himself to the bag for the second out. Encarnacion, can he keep it alive here. That will do, singles to centre. Guess who is now out, Rajai Davis to pinch run for Encarnacion. Two down for Thames, will he give Rajai enough time to steal. Rajai certainly looking antsy out there making Hunter throw over several times. Not going, Thames grounds to Kinsler at second, throw to Moreland at first for final out. We didn’t get chance to see Rajai stealing tonight.
Top 9th: Rauch now pitching. This is his third consecutive game in three days. Napoli leading off, oh dear, not good as he lines this one to left and over the fence for a home run. Rauch gives up another home run, number eight this season. 3-2 game and everyone tense around me at least although the two Texas supporters have already left. Jays fans have seen this scenario before and Rauch has to really work now. Moreland singles to centre. Davis pinch-hitting for Torrealba. Strikes out, that is a huge out. Murphy grounds to first, Oh !!!! highlight reel, what a great play by Lind, reaching high to get his bouncer and throw to second to get Moreland, no chance for double play but that lead runner would have been in scoring position. Great play Adam, he is pleased look at that smile. That is the second great play by Adam at first base in the last two games. Kinsler now with two down but the runner at first is the one. Pops it up behind first and Lind should get this one, makes the catch and a very relieved crowd here shows their appreciation. The outfield three do another victory bump jump and Rasmus cracks another smile.
Jays win big 3-2, although too close for comfort for many fans watching. Cecil beats Ogando for the second time in a week. Save number none for Rauch but the closer position is one major need for the Jays. Rangers outhit the Jays 10-5 but unable to convert those hits.
The very good: Cecil obviously, and not just for the free pizza that everyone can get on Monday. Brett kept his pitch counts low for most of the innings and was thus able to go deep in the game. To beat Ogando in two successive starts is something to be pleased about. Maybe just maybe he is back to that 15 wins form of last season. Arencibia three run home run the total offence making uo for his defensive shortcomings as he has for much if the season. Great defensive play by Lind again and Bautista. Good crowd tonight, in the game and not quiet at all.
The not so good: Jays offence quiet again and rely on the on the fifth inning for all the runs they would need. Jose has gone 13 games now without a home run. Let us hope that he can break that and at the same time as young Rasmus starts to get on base ahead of him. That would be very cool to watch. Boston and Yankees both losing but still in progress. Jays would love to whittle away the leads. The top four were hitless tonight.
Tomorrow Brad Mills recalled from Vegas tries again to assert himself. Other news, Jesse Litsch has also been recalled today. Will he be back in the rotation or used as long relief ?
Cecil again versus Ogando rematch of last Sunday. This will be very difficult for Cecil to try to match the Sunday result 3-0 Jays, and his first career shutout. Not only will the Rangers be prepared but Ogando (10-4 on the season) is one tough pitcher to beat twice in succession. But then again this Jays line-up is already different from a week ago and maybe Rasmus will come through. Bautista is also long overdue for a home run 12 games and counting. Jays looking to go two over .500 but a tough opponent in Texas hoping to repeat their World Series trip. Roof is open and it already looks as if a larger crowd tonight certainly the seats around us are occupied which is a good sign.
Greg Zaun before the game criticizing the defensive play of Arencibia, his throwing, framing the pitch, and hands constantly moving, he felt that he had regressed in his development as a catcher. Strong words but many fans would agree.
Line-ups: Rangers: Kinsler, Andrus, Hamilton, Young, Cruz, Napoli, Moreland, Torrealba, Murphy and Ogando pitching.
Jays: Escobar, Rasmus, Bautista, Lind, Encarnacion, Thames, Hill, Snider, Arencibia and Cecil pitching.
Top 1st: Kinsler leading off, strikes out. Nice start for Cecil. Andrus bunting up the third base line, and no chance for throw but Cecil throws it anyway, too late for an out. Hamilton with the big shift right, Bautista in shallow right, almost behind Lind, strikes out swinging. Two down for Young fly ball to Rasmus in centre. Excellent start for Cecil.
Bottom 1st: Escobar fly ball to Murphy in left, one down. Rasmus, chance to start afresh tonight after going hitless last night. Not this at bat as he strikes out. Bautista with two down, pops up to Andrus at shirt for third out. Ogando matching Cecil early.
Top 2nd: Cruz leading off, he was real pain for the Jays in Arlngton last week. Oh dear he has hammered this one to left, over the head of Snider and into the seats. Another home run for Cruz and Rangers go out ahead 1-0. Rangers do something early that they could not do last week. Napoli pops up to Hill. One down for Moreland, he singles to centre. Texas teeing off on Cecil’s pitches. Torrealba grounds to Hill at second, throw to Lind, Moreland to second. Murphy strikes out.
Bottom 2nd: Lind leading off, fly ball to Murphy in left, Adam gave it a long ride but up against the wall for the out. Encarnacion lines this one very hard to the wall, another double for Edwin number 26 on the season. Thames with runner in scoring position and one down, grounds to Andrus at short throw to Moreland at first, two down for Hill, fly ball to Hamilton in centre for the third out.
Top 3rd: Kinsler leading off, strikes out, number three for Cecil today. Andrus, 3-0 count, ball four. Hamilton with one on, grounds to Lind throw to Escobar back to Lind at first, double play ball to end this one.
Bottom 3rd: Snider pops up to Andrus at short, one down for Arencibia, grounds to Kinsler at second, throw to Moreland for out number two. Escobar fly ball to Hamilton in centre to end the inning.
Top 4th: Young leading off, doubles to left. One on for Cruz, strikes out. Good to see the back of him. Napoli singles to left, Young to third. Cecil in trouble again with only one out. Moreland high pop up to Arencibia. Two down for Torrealba, strikes out. Cecil gets out of trouble nicely.
Bottom 4th: Rasmus, being patient in this at bat, full count, ball four and Rasmus gets on base for the first time in his first two days. Bautista, one on, grounds a few feet away and Napoli throw to Moreland at first base, Rasmus to second. Lind, strikes out. Encarnacion, also patient in this at bat, full count and ball four. Thames with two down and one on, pops up to Young at first to end the inning. At least Rasmus had chance to see the game from the bases.
Top 5th: Murphy leading off, grounds to Bautista throw to Lind at first. One down for the top of the order, Kinsler. Fly ball to Thames in right field. Two down for Andrus, same again, fly ball to Thames in right to end the inning.
Bottom 5th: Nelson Cruz not coming out, something wrong with him although we didn’t see much when he was hitting apart for that home run. Chavez has replaced him. Hamilton in at left field. Chavez at centre and Murphy in right. Hill, grounds to right and safe on the play. One on and nobody out. Snider singles to left, Hill to second. Arencibia, with two on and nobody out. There she goes and Arencibia does it again, another home run, his third in a week His fifth in the last six games. On fire with his bat. Here comes Hill, here comes Snider and with Arencibia close behind, Jays go out ahead 3-1. Still no one out, can Jays get a big inning going here? Escobar, lines to Murphy in right for the first out. One down for Rasmus, strikes out. Bautista with two down, strikes out.
Top 6th: Hamilton leading off, the Farrell shift right is on, not this time, as Hamilton pushes it into left, Escobar was way out of position. Young, with one down, singles to centre, Hamilton moves up to second. Two on and nobody out. Chavez, grounds in front of the plate, Cecil is on it like a flash and bang- bang play at third as he throws a strike to Bautista, umpire calls him out. Great play to get the lead runner. One down for Napoli, pops it up to Lind. Moreland grounded out, shortstop Escobar to first baseman Lind
Bottom 6th: Now can the Jays add to this lead here? 3-1 is not a great lead against this very strong Rangers hitting line-up. Lind grounds to Moreland at first, flip to Ogando covering. Encarnacion, full count, ball four. One on two down for Thames, pops it up to Hamilton in left field. Hill, with one on and one down. Another full count, ball four. Encarnacion to second. Hill at first. That is it for Ogando. Tom Hunter now pitching. Snider fly ball to Murphy in right.
Top 7th: Cecil still out there. Torrealba leading off, grounds to Hill at second, throw to Lind at first, one down. Murphy grounds to Escobar at short, throw to Lind for the out. Two down for Kinsler, grounds to Lind who takes it himself to end the inning.
Bottom 7th: Arencibia one home run tonight already. Fly ball to Chavez in centre for the first out. Escobar, grounds to Kinsler at second, throw to Moreland at first. Rasmus, looking for his first hit as a Jay, strikes out. Third time tonight.
Top 8th: Francisco now pitching. Frankie the subject of trade rumours to these very same Rangers where he came from. Andrus grounds to second, Hill throw to Lind at first one down. Hamilton with the shift right on, that didn’t work earlier, ok here as he grounds to Hill throw to Lind. Two down for Young, lines it to right, stand up double for Young. In scoring position for Chavez, fly ball to left, Snider has it for the out.
Bottom 8th: Hunter still pitching. Bautista leading off, fly ball to Murphy in right, one down. Lind grounds to Moreland at first, takes it himself to the bag for the second out. Encarnacion, can he keep it alive here. That will do, singles to centre. Guess who is now out, Rajai Davis to pinch run for Encarnacion. Two down for Thames, will he give Rajai enough time to steal. Rajai certainly looking antsy out there making Hunter throw over several times. Not going, Thames grounds to Kinsler at second, throw to Moreland at first for final out. We didn’t get chance to see Rajai stealing tonight.
Top 9th: Rauch now pitching. This is his third consecutive game in three days. Napoli leading off, oh dear, not good as he lines this one to left and over the fence for a home run. Rauch gives up another home run, number eight this season. 3-2 game and everyone tense around me at least although the two Texas supporters have already left. Jays fans have seen this scenario before and Rauch has to really work now. Moreland singles to centre. Davis pinch-hitting for Torrealba. Strikes out, that is a huge out. Murphy grounds to first, Oh !!!! highlight reel, what a great play by Lind, reaching high to get his bouncer and throw to second to get Moreland, no chance for double play but that lead runner would have been in scoring position. Great play Adam, he is pleased look at that smile. That is the second great play by Adam at first base in the last two games. Kinsler now with two down but the runner at first is the one. Pops it up behind first and Lind should get this one, makes the catch and a very relieved crowd here shows their appreciation. The outfield three do another victory bump jump and Rasmus cracks another smile.
Jays win big 3-2, although too close for comfort for many fans watching. Cecil beats Ogando for the second time in a week. Save number none for Rauch but the closer position is one major need for the Jays. Rangers outhit the Jays 10-5 but unable to convert those hits.
The very good: Cecil obviously, and not just for the free pizza that everyone can get on Monday. Brett kept his pitch counts low for most of the innings and was thus able to go deep in the game. To beat Ogando in two successive starts is something to be pleased about. Maybe just maybe he is back to that 15 wins form of last season. Arencibia three run home run the total offence making uo for his defensive shortcomings as he has for much if the season. Great defensive play by Lind again and Bautista. Good crowd tonight, in the game and not quiet at all.
The not so good: Jays offence quiet again and rely on the on the fifth inning for all the runs they would need. Jose has gone 13 games now without a home run. Let us hope that he can break that and at the same time as young Rasmus starts to get on base ahead of him. That would be very cool to watch. Boston and Yankees both losing but still in progress. Jays would love to whittle away the leads. The top four were hitless tonight.
Tomorrow Brad Mills recalled from Vegas tries again to assert himself. Other news, Jesse Litsch has also been recalled today. Will he be back in the rotation or used as long relief ?
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Jays bats come alive with home runs from Encarnacion and Thames as Villanueva gets the win
Jays v Orioles. Series finale.
Series decider but the big attraction today must be the debut of Colby Rasmus signed yesterday from the Cardinals. Hitting number two in the line-up and moving Thames way down tonight. This line-up (on paper) looks so much stronger and with Lawrie still to be added it will get better. Lawrie by the way had two more home runs in Vegas win last night. Surely Alex he is ready, bring the kid up.
Line-ups: Orioles: Hardy, Markakis, Jones, Guerrero, Lee, Wieters, Reynolds, Reimold, Andino and Bergeson pitching.
Jays: Escobar, Rasmus, Bautista, Lind, Encarnacion, Thames, Hill, Snider, Arencibia and Villanueva pitching.
Top 1st: Hardy leading off, oh boy, second pitch this one is out of here into left field bullpen, 1-0 Orioles. Markakis, pulls this one deep into right but wide of the foul pole. Drives this one to right and Thames makes the catch, one down for Jones. 2-2 count, grounds to Bautista at third, throw to Lind, two down. Guerrero, this one WOW what a hit, just misses into the fifth deck just foul, lifts this one high into left another homerun, three great swings by Guerrero, 2-0 Orioles. Lee, high fly ball to Rasmus, for the third out. BUT Orioles light up Villanueva early.
Bottom 1st: Escobar, lines it into right field corner bounces into the crowd, ground rule double, Rasmus, gets a great ovation from the crowd, pops up first pitch to Hardy at short, one down for Bautista, full count, ball four outside, Lind. 2-2 count, bounces to Lee at first and falls over, Lind safe at first and bases loaded one down. Error to Lee. Encarnacion, full count, inside ball four, and here comes Escobar 2-1 Orioles. Bases still loaded for Thames, lines it to Markakis in right, Bautista tags and scores, 2-2 game. Hill, two on two down. Grounds to third, throw to second to get Encarnacion. Jays get two but that could have been a breakout inning.
Top 2nd: Wieters, grounds back to Villanueva, throw to Lind for the out. Reynolds, lines it to Bautista, two down for Reimold grounds to Hill at second, oh no, Hill misses this one and safe at first. That was bad Aaron, easy play. Error to Hill, Andino, singles into centre, two on two down for Hardy. Pops it up to Hill, who fortunately for him makes the catch.
Bottom 2nd: Snider, long overdue, pokes this one down the third base line and Travis safe without a throw by Reynolds. That will help Travis, he will take it any way he can right now. Arencibia, 1-2 count, pops it up to Markakis in shallow right. One down for Escobar, lines it into the right field corner but Markakis runs it down, two down for Rasmus. Pops it up to centre for third out.
Top 3rd: Markakis lines it to Rasmus in shallow centre for the out, one down, Jones, pops it up to Snider in left, two down. Guerrero, lines to Thames in right for third out, three up and down for Villanueva.
Bottom 3rd: Bautista, grounds to third, throw to Lee for the out. Lind one down. Full count, lines this one to the wall in centre but Jones runs it down, Encarnacion, another full count, whoa no doubt about this one Edwin, lines it to left seats, 3-2 Jays. Thames, Oh Wow !!! no doubt about this one either, drives it to right in to the seats. Back to back home runs and Jays 4-2 lead. That was impressive at bat by Thames, the pitch before he went to left field. Hill, 3-0 count, ball four inside, one on two down for Snider, come on Travis. 70 pitch count already. Hendrickson working in Orioles bullpen. Grounds back up the middle, another hit for Snider, Hill going to third just safe, that was too close. Reynolds drops the ball. Arencibia now with two on. 2-2 count, lines it into left corner, here comes Hill, and Snider is coming home, catcher drops the ball and Travis safe to make it 6-2 Jays. Arencibia stops at second. Escobar, bounces to short, throw to Lee for the final out.
Top 4th: Villanueva with a nice four run lead now. Lee, lines to Rasmus in centre, one down. Wieters, pops up to Snider, two down. Reynolds, full count, high ball four. One on for Reimold, 1-2 strikes out swinging. Pitch count 61.
Bottom 4th: Mark Hendrickson now pitching. Rasmus leading off. Full count, bounces to Hardy at short, throw to Lee, one down. Bautista, hits this one hard but pops it up high to left, two down. Lind, two down. Full count, strikes out swinging to end the inning. Hendrickson stops the bleeding for now.
Top 5th: Andino, full count, ball four. Not good for number nine hitter Carlos. Hardy with one on, 2-0 come on Carlos. That’s better full count, Andino running and Hardy lines it to the wall in left corner, Andino at third and throw is off the bag or he would have had Hardy. Two in scoring position and nobody out. Here comes pitching coach Walton. Markakis, 2-0 count, that will do, bounces to third Bautista looks runner back to base and throw to first to get Markakis, one down for Jones singles to Rasmus, Andino scores, on the throw here comes Hardy, 6-4 Jays. Guerrero. Not out of it with this guy. Singles to left, Jones stops at third. Lee lines it at Bautista, wow what a catch, throw to first from his knees Guerrero just safe, two down for Wieters. There goes Guerrero and safe at second. 1-2 count, bounces to Hill, throw to Lind for third out. Pitch count 84.
Bottom 5th: Jays need to put some more on the board. Encarnacion leading off. that will do Edwin, singles to left. One on for Thames, strikes out swinging at one in the dirt. Hill, bunting and a great one safe at first and Edwin at second. Snider, two hit night. 3-1 count, swings at high ball four, full count, grounds to Lee at first throw to second but no chance for double play as Hill slides right at him. Two on two down for Arencibia. Perfect, throw to third and Reynolds drops it and here comes Edwin to score 7-4 Jays. Error to Reynolds. Snider also moves up to second and in scoring position. Full count, ball four, two on for Escobar. Full count, perfect singles into left here comes Travis and Jays have both runs back 8-4 Jays. Rasmus with two on and two down. Full count, strikes out swinging but Jays get the two back.
Top 6th: That is it for Villanueva, new guy P.J. Walters now pitching. Part of the big trade yesterday. Reynolds, full count, nice pitch PJ, strikes him out, one down. Reimold, full count, inside ball four. One on one down. Andino, full count, pops it up to shallow right OH GREAT play by Lind, over the should catch ad throw to first to double up Reimold. Great play.
Bottom 6th: Bautista leading off. Jakubaskas now pitching. Full count, grounds to Hardy at short, throw to Lee for the out. Lind one down. 2-2 count, takes strike three, two down for Encarnacion. Lines it to the wall, stand up double, number 26 this season. Thames, 2-1 count, lines it to left, Reimold up against the wall to make the catch.
Top 7th: Casey Janssen now pitching. Hardy leading off. Grounds to Escobar, throw to Lind, one down. Markakis, lines it right at Hill for second out. Jones, slow roller to Bautista, makes the bare hand throw but not in time. Guerrerro, breaks his bat as it loops to Hill playing straight up the middle. Nice inning by Janssen.
Bottom 7th: Hill leading off. Koji Uehara pitching. Lines it hard at third nice catch by Reynolds. One down for Snider, 0-2 count, takes strike three. Arencibia. 1-2 count, lines this one to the wall in centre, stand up double for Arencibia. Two down on in scoring position for Escobar. First pitch pops up to Markakis. Jays leave another out there in scoring position. 2-10 tonight with runners in scoring position.
Top 8th: Francisco now pitching. Lee, drives it to left but right at Snider, one down. Wieters, same play right to Snider, two down for Reynolds. Pops up first pitch to Lind, six pitch inning. Nice work Frankie.
Bottom 8th: Rasmus leading off. Jim Johnson now pitching. Strikes out swinging, not the debut Colby was hoping for. Bautista, off the end of his bat, rolls slowly up the line, Reynolds had to let it roll and stays just fair, Jose safe at first. Lind, 2-2 count, pops up to Reimold in left, two down for Encarnacion. Grounds it very hard but right at Reynolds at third, throw to Lee for final out of the inning.
Top 9th: Orioles down to their last three at bats. Jon Rauch now pitching. Reimold leading off. Pops it up to Thames in right. Andino, strikes out looking, two down for Hardy. Oh dear, gets hold of this one and lines it over the wall in left, another home run, his fourth of the series. 8-5 Jays. Not over yet friends. Markakis grounds to Hill, throw to Lind for the out and the game and the series.
As the outfield trio celebrate that is the first smile I have seen from Rasmus tonight. must have been tough start for him with the nerves. Tomorrow another game Colby, you will be fine.
The excellent: Defence by Bautista and Lind to make two outstanding catches, Lind to make double play from his over the shoulder catch. Back to back home runs from Encarnacion and Thames. Three hit night for Encarnacion, Escobar and Arencibia two each. Villanueva despite rough two home run first inning managed to settle and get through five and get the win. Bullpen of Walters, Janssen, and Francisco scoreless innings.
The not so good: Error by Hill but did not hurt tonight
Series decider but the big attraction today must be the debut of Colby Rasmus signed yesterday from the Cardinals. Hitting number two in the line-up and moving Thames way down tonight. This line-up (on paper) looks so much stronger and with Lawrie still to be added it will get better. Lawrie by the way had two more home runs in Vegas win last night. Surely Alex he is ready, bring the kid up.
Line-ups: Orioles: Hardy, Markakis, Jones, Guerrero, Lee, Wieters, Reynolds, Reimold, Andino and Bergeson pitching.
Jays: Escobar, Rasmus, Bautista, Lind, Encarnacion, Thames, Hill, Snider, Arencibia and Villanueva pitching.
Top 1st: Hardy leading off, oh boy, second pitch this one is out of here into left field bullpen, 1-0 Orioles. Markakis, pulls this one deep into right but wide of the foul pole. Drives this one to right and Thames makes the catch, one down for Jones. 2-2 count, grounds to Bautista at third, throw to Lind, two down. Guerrero, this one WOW what a hit, just misses into the fifth deck just foul, lifts this one high into left another homerun, three great swings by Guerrero, 2-0 Orioles. Lee, high fly ball to Rasmus, for the third out. BUT Orioles light up Villanueva early.
Bottom 1st: Escobar, lines it into right field corner bounces into the crowd, ground rule double, Rasmus, gets a great ovation from the crowd, pops up first pitch to Hardy at short, one down for Bautista, full count, ball four outside, Lind. 2-2 count, bounces to Lee at first and falls over, Lind safe at first and bases loaded one down. Error to Lee. Encarnacion, full count, inside ball four, and here comes Escobar 2-1 Orioles. Bases still loaded for Thames, lines it to Markakis in right, Bautista tags and scores, 2-2 game. Hill, two on two down. Grounds to third, throw to second to get Encarnacion. Jays get two but that could have been a breakout inning.
Top 2nd: Wieters, grounds back to Villanueva, throw to Lind for the out. Reynolds, lines it to Bautista, two down for Reimold grounds to Hill at second, oh no, Hill misses this one and safe at first. That was bad Aaron, easy play. Error to Hill, Andino, singles into centre, two on two down for Hardy. Pops it up to Hill, who fortunately for him makes the catch.
Bottom 2nd: Snider, long overdue, pokes this one down the third base line and Travis safe without a throw by Reynolds. That will help Travis, he will take it any way he can right now. Arencibia, 1-2 count, pops it up to Markakis in shallow right. One down for Escobar, lines it into the right field corner but Markakis runs it down, two down for Rasmus. Pops it up to centre for third out.
Top 3rd: Markakis lines it to Rasmus in shallow centre for the out, one down, Jones, pops it up to Snider in left, two down. Guerrero, lines to Thames in right for third out, three up and down for Villanueva.
Bottom 3rd: Bautista, grounds to third, throw to Lee for the out. Lind one down. Full count, lines this one to the wall in centre but Jones runs it down, Encarnacion, another full count, whoa no doubt about this one Edwin, lines it to left seats, 3-2 Jays. Thames, Oh Wow !!! no doubt about this one either, drives it to right in to the seats. Back to back home runs and Jays 4-2 lead. That was impressive at bat by Thames, the pitch before he went to left field. Hill, 3-0 count, ball four inside, one on two down for Snider, come on Travis. 70 pitch count already. Hendrickson working in Orioles bullpen. Grounds back up the middle, another hit for Snider, Hill going to third just safe, that was too close. Reynolds drops the ball. Arencibia now with two on. 2-2 count, lines it into left corner, here comes Hill, and Snider is coming home, catcher drops the ball and Travis safe to make it 6-2 Jays. Arencibia stops at second. Escobar, bounces to short, throw to Lee for the final out.
Top 4th: Villanueva with a nice four run lead now. Lee, lines to Rasmus in centre, one down. Wieters, pops up to Snider, two down. Reynolds, full count, high ball four. One on for Reimold, 1-2 strikes out swinging. Pitch count 61.
Bottom 4th: Mark Hendrickson now pitching. Rasmus leading off. Full count, bounces to Hardy at short, throw to Lee, one down. Bautista, hits this one hard but pops it up high to left, two down. Lind, two down. Full count, strikes out swinging to end the inning. Hendrickson stops the bleeding for now.
Top 5th: Andino, full count, ball four. Not good for number nine hitter Carlos. Hardy with one on, 2-0 come on Carlos. That’s better full count, Andino running and Hardy lines it to the wall in left corner, Andino at third and throw is off the bag or he would have had Hardy. Two in scoring position and nobody out. Here comes pitching coach Walton. Markakis, 2-0 count, that will do, bounces to third Bautista looks runner back to base and throw to first to get Markakis, one down for Jones singles to Rasmus, Andino scores, on the throw here comes Hardy, 6-4 Jays. Guerrero. Not out of it with this guy. Singles to left, Jones stops at third. Lee lines it at Bautista, wow what a catch, throw to first from his knees Guerrero just safe, two down for Wieters. There goes Guerrero and safe at second. 1-2 count, bounces to Hill, throw to Lind for third out. Pitch count 84.
Bottom 5th: Jays need to put some more on the board. Encarnacion leading off. that will do Edwin, singles to left. One on for Thames, strikes out swinging at one in the dirt. Hill, bunting and a great one safe at first and Edwin at second. Snider, two hit night. 3-1 count, swings at high ball four, full count, grounds to Lee at first throw to second but no chance for double play as Hill slides right at him. Two on two down for Arencibia. Perfect, throw to third and Reynolds drops it and here comes Edwin to score 7-4 Jays. Error to Reynolds. Snider also moves up to second and in scoring position. Full count, ball four, two on for Escobar. Full count, perfect singles into left here comes Travis and Jays have both runs back 8-4 Jays. Rasmus with two on and two down. Full count, strikes out swinging but Jays get the two back.
Top 6th: That is it for Villanueva, new guy P.J. Walters now pitching. Part of the big trade yesterday. Reynolds, full count, nice pitch PJ, strikes him out, one down. Reimold, full count, inside ball four. One on one down. Andino, full count, pops it up to shallow right OH GREAT play by Lind, over the should catch ad throw to first to double up Reimold. Great play.
Bottom 6th: Bautista leading off. Jakubaskas now pitching. Full count, grounds to Hardy at short, throw to Lee for the out. Lind one down. 2-2 count, takes strike three, two down for Encarnacion. Lines it to the wall, stand up double, number 26 this season. Thames, 2-1 count, lines it to left, Reimold up against the wall to make the catch.
Top 7th: Casey Janssen now pitching. Hardy leading off. Grounds to Escobar, throw to Lind, one down. Markakis, lines it right at Hill for second out. Jones, slow roller to Bautista, makes the bare hand throw but not in time. Guerrerro, breaks his bat as it loops to Hill playing straight up the middle. Nice inning by Janssen.
Bottom 7th: Hill leading off. Koji Uehara pitching. Lines it hard at third nice catch by Reynolds. One down for Snider, 0-2 count, takes strike three. Arencibia. 1-2 count, lines this one to the wall in centre, stand up double for Arencibia. Two down on in scoring position for Escobar. First pitch pops up to Markakis. Jays leave another out there in scoring position. 2-10 tonight with runners in scoring position.
Top 8th: Francisco now pitching. Lee, drives it to left but right at Snider, one down. Wieters, same play right to Snider, two down for Reynolds. Pops up first pitch to Lind, six pitch inning. Nice work Frankie.
Bottom 8th: Rasmus leading off. Jim Johnson now pitching. Strikes out swinging, not the debut Colby was hoping for. Bautista, off the end of his bat, rolls slowly up the line, Reynolds had to let it roll and stays just fair, Jose safe at first. Lind, 2-2 count, pops up to Reimold in left, two down for Encarnacion. Grounds it very hard but right at Reynolds at third, throw to Lee for final out of the inning.
Top 9th: Orioles down to their last three at bats. Jon Rauch now pitching. Reimold leading off. Pops it up to Thames in right. Andino, strikes out looking, two down for Hardy. Oh dear, gets hold of this one and lines it over the wall in left, another home run, his fourth of the series. 8-5 Jays. Not over yet friends. Markakis grounds to Hill, throw to Lind for the out and the game and the series.
As the outfield trio celebrate that is the first smile I have seen from Rasmus tonight. must have been tough start for him with the nerves. Tomorrow another game Colby, you will be fine.
The excellent: Defence by Bautista and Lind to make two outstanding catches, Lind to make double play from his over the shoulder catch. Back to back home runs from Encarnacion and Thames. Three hit night for Encarnacion, Escobar and Arencibia two each. Villanueva despite rough two home run first inning managed to settle and get through five and get the win. Bullpen of Walters, Janssen, and Francisco scoreless innings.
The not so good: Error by Hill but did not hurt tonight
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Jays celebrate big trades with good win behind shutout by Romero.
Jays v Orioles Game two of three.
The big pre-game news today of course is the massive trade by the Jays. For the blog readers in Europe and Asia who may not have read about it, Alex made multi-player trade with Chicago White Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals. Initially from the White Sox, Edwin Jackson and Mark Teahen to the Jays for Jason Frasor and Zach Stewart. The second trade involved sending Jackson to the Cardinals to obtain Colby Rasmus the target of the convoluted trade. Jays also sent Mark Rzepczynski, Corey Patterson, Otavio Dotel to the Cards and received ex-Jays Brian Tallet and Trever Miller plus another reliever P.J.Walters. The Cards will also receive three more players to be named later or cash.
I have no problem with Patterson going, ditto Frasor and Rzepczynski. Dotel was ok against right handed hitters and had done that role well. The newcomers: Tallet is certainly not my favourite ex-Jay, but Jays need some long relief and it is a couple of seasons ago so I will give him the benefit of the doubt. Miller it is long ago that he is certainly not the same pitcher as before.
It will be interesting to see how the outfield shapes up now as presumably Thames and Davis will become the odd ones out. Rasmus of course is the key and if he can live up to expectations then it is a great deal for centre field. Somehow though I don’t think Alex has finished with his trades.
Back to tonight’s game and the need for Jays to rebound from that awful performance last night. They have the right guy pitching in Romero but it is the hitting that was off last night. Great news also re Bautista as he returns to the line-up tonight after being hit in the head last night.
Line-ups: Orioles: Hardy, Markakis, Jones, Guerrero, Lee, Wieters, Reynolds, Pie, Davis and Romero pitching.
Jays: Escobar, Thames, Bautista, Lind, Encarnacion, Snider, Hill, Davis, Arencibia and Romero pitching.
Top 1st: Hardy, strikes out on three pitches, nice start Ricky. Markakis, full count, ball four, one on one down for Jones, bounces to Bautista at third throw to Lind, two down and Markakis to second. Guerrero, high pop up to Davis in centre to end the inning.
Bottom 1st: Escobar, Alfredo Simon pitching, singles into right, Thames off the end of his bat to the mound, throw to first to get Thames but Escobar moves to second for Bautista, great ovation for Jose. Lots of relief that he is back so soon. Full count, singles into left, Pie tries to throw it and ball pops out of his hand behind him. Escobar scores easily, 1-0 Jays. Lind, singles into left, one down two on for Encarnacion. Strikes out swinging, two down for Snider. Strikes out leaving two on. Travis not happy these days.
Top 2nd: Lee, full count, ball four. Wieters, singles under the glove of Escobar but that was a difficult chance, no error, to Snider in left, two on nobody out. Reynolds, another full count, perfect grounds to Escobar, to Hill on to Lind double play as Wieters gets to third. Pie, another full count, oh Ricky gets away with this one as it bounces to the backstop and Wieters does not come home, started to but then went back. Ball four, Blake Davis. Pops it up to Rajai Davis in centre but that was expensive 27 pitch inning for Romero.
Bottom 2nd: Hill, lines it to left but a long out. One down for Davis, whoa just misses foul pole in left, that was very close. Singles to centre, now for some base running fun. Arencibia, strikes out swinging. Escobar two down, there he goes and safe on the throw. Steal number 30 for Rajai. Will he take third. 3-0 count, there he goes, safe and ball four. Thames, singles to right, here comes Davis to score, 2-0 Jays. Escobar to second, Bautista pops up to Wieters.
Top 3rd: Hardy leading off, strikes out. One down for Markakis, grounds to Lind at first base, flip to Romero. Jones, doubles to Davis in centre. Guerrero, grounds to Bautista, throw to Lind at first to ends the inning.
Bottom 3rd: Lind grounds to Davis at second, throw to Lee at first, one down for Encarnacion, fly ball to Jones in centre, two down for Snider, strikes out.
Top 4th: Lee, leading off, grounds to Escobar throw to Lind at first for the out. One down for Wieters, strikes out. Two down, Reynolds, grounds to Hill throw to Lind at first to ends the inning, another three up and down for Romero.
Bottom 4th: Hill fly ball to Jones in centre for the first out. Rajai Davis, strikes out. Arencibia, there she goes, JP hammers this one into left field and into the seats, his third home run this week, is he hot. Jays leading 3-0. Escobar, grounds to Hardy throw to Lee to end the inning but Jays have added another here.
Top 5th: Pie grounds to Lind throw to Romero. Davis grounds to Lind Adam takes it himself for the out, two down for Hardy. Hardy strikes out.
Bottom 5th: Thames singles to right. One on for Bautista, grounds to Hardy at short, throw to Lee at first, two down, Thames to third on the play. Lind, intentional walk. Showalter would rather pitch to Edwin. Encarnacion strikes out. Two down, Showalter was correct. Snider, another o-fer night. Not much help here, strikes out for the third time tonight.
Top 6th: Markakis leading off, grounds to Escobar throw to Lind. One down for Jones, singles to right. Guerrero grounds to Bautista, throw to Hill over to Lind, double play ball.
Bottom 6th: Jakubauskas now pitching. Hill singles to centre, Aaron getting more consistent now with his hitting but it looks as if it is much too late for this season and his contract with the Jays. Davis, wild pitch, Hill moves to second. Davis full count, ball four.
Two on for Arencibia, fly ball to Jones in centre. One down. Escobar singles to right, Bases are loaded with only one down. Hill at third, Davis at second. Jays can break this one open her. Thames strikes out. Two down for Bautista, strikes out to end the inning.
Top 7th: Lee leading off singles to left. Wieters with one on, strikes out. Reynolds grounds to Bautista throw to Hill to get Lee. Pie with two down one on, strikes out.
Bottom 7th: Patton now pitching. Lind strikes out. Encarnacion doubles to left. Snider 0-3 tonight all strikeouts, 0-4 as he strikes out for the fourth time. Travis really needs some help here. Hill with two down, and runner at second, fly ball to Jones in centre.
Top 8th: Davis leading off, lines to Bautista at third. Hardy strikes out. Markakis grounds to Hill throw to Lind for third out. Quick inning for Ricky.
Bottom 8th: Ex-Jay closer Kevin Gregg pitching. Davis strikes out. Arencibia strikes out.Two down for Escobar grounds to Davis throw to Lee at first base.
Top 9th: Jones, leading off, strikes out. One down for Guerrero, strikes out, but wild pitch and ball gets away, Guerrero to first on the play. Bell now pinch-running for Guerrero. Lee hit by a pitch, now is that the payback pitch. Bell to second. Here comes Manager Farrell. 126 pitches for Romero, just could not finish it off but he should be very happy with this one after the early going. Rauch now pitching. Wieters lines to Snider in left.
Reynolds is the last chance for Orioles, fly ball to Snider. Rauch needs five pitches, Ricky was that close to complete game shutout.
Jays win 3-0 and avenge last night as well as get back to .500 but it would be so nice to see a long win-streak. Still on target for 81 wins which will not be a great result.
The very good: Romero shutout into the 9th inning and we cannot ask for much than that. Rauch did his job efficiently on five pitches, Romero was that close.
The not so good: Snider 0-4 with four strike outs, that is tough time and add on his previous three starts and you get a player in distress. Runners in scoring position Jays tonight 3-13.
Tomorrow the series decider but today was good start especially with all other Royal watch towers.
Plus of course with all the trade news distractions it is amazing that Jays could concentrate.
Also good today Mariners break their losing streak by winning in New Yorjk this afternoon.
The big pre-game news today of course is the massive trade by the Jays. For the blog readers in Europe and Asia who may not have read about it, Alex made multi-player trade with Chicago White Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals. Initially from the White Sox, Edwin Jackson and Mark Teahen to the Jays for Jason Frasor and Zach Stewart. The second trade involved sending Jackson to the Cardinals to obtain Colby Rasmus the target of the convoluted trade. Jays also sent Mark Rzepczynski, Corey Patterson, Otavio Dotel to the Cards and received ex-Jays Brian Tallet and Trever Miller plus another reliever P.J.Walters. The Cards will also receive three more players to be named later or cash.
I have no problem with Patterson going, ditto Frasor and Rzepczynski. Dotel was ok against right handed hitters and had done that role well. The newcomers: Tallet is certainly not my favourite ex-Jay, but Jays need some long relief and it is a couple of seasons ago so I will give him the benefit of the doubt. Miller it is long ago that he is certainly not the same pitcher as before.
It will be interesting to see how the outfield shapes up now as presumably Thames and Davis will become the odd ones out. Rasmus of course is the key and if he can live up to expectations then it is a great deal for centre field. Somehow though I don’t think Alex has finished with his trades.
Back to tonight’s game and the need for Jays to rebound from that awful performance last night. They have the right guy pitching in Romero but it is the hitting that was off last night. Great news also re Bautista as he returns to the line-up tonight after being hit in the head last night.
Line-ups: Orioles: Hardy, Markakis, Jones, Guerrero, Lee, Wieters, Reynolds, Pie, Davis and Romero pitching.
Jays: Escobar, Thames, Bautista, Lind, Encarnacion, Snider, Hill, Davis, Arencibia and Romero pitching.
Top 1st: Hardy, strikes out on three pitches, nice start Ricky. Markakis, full count, ball four, one on one down for Jones, bounces to Bautista at third throw to Lind, two down and Markakis to second. Guerrero, high pop up to Davis in centre to end the inning.
Bottom 1st: Escobar, Alfredo Simon pitching, singles into right, Thames off the end of his bat to the mound, throw to first to get Thames but Escobar moves to second for Bautista, great ovation for Jose. Lots of relief that he is back so soon. Full count, singles into left, Pie tries to throw it and ball pops out of his hand behind him. Escobar scores easily, 1-0 Jays. Lind, singles into left, one down two on for Encarnacion. Strikes out swinging, two down for Snider. Strikes out leaving two on. Travis not happy these days.
Top 2nd: Lee, full count, ball four. Wieters, singles under the glove of Escobar but that was a difficult chance, no error, to Snider in left, two on nobody out. Reynolds, another full count, perfect grounds to Escobar, to Hill on to Lind double play as Wieters gets to third. Pie, another full count, oh Ricky gets away with this one as it bounces to the backstop and Wieters does not come home, started to but then went back. Ball four, Blake Davis. Pops it up to Rajai Davis in centre but that was expensive 27 pitch inning for Romero.
Bottom 2nd: Hill, lines it to left but a long out. One down for Davis, whoa just misses foul pole in left, that was very close. Singles to centre, now for some base running fun. Arencibia, strikes out swinging. Escobar two down, there he goes and safe on the throw. Steal number 30 for Rajai. Will he take third. 3-0 count, there he goes, safe and ball four. Thames, singles to right, here comes Davis to score, 2-0 Jays. Escobar to second, Bautista pops up to Wieters.
Top 3rd: Hardy leading off, strikes out. One down for Markakis, grounds to Lind at first base, flip to Romero. Jones, doubles to Davis in centre. Guerrero, grounds to Bautista, throw to Lind at first to ends the inning.
Bottom 3rd: Lind grounds to Davis at second, throw to Lee at first, one down for Encarnacion, fly ball to Jones in centre, two down for Snider, strikes out.
Top 4th: Lee, leading off, grounds to Escobar throw to Lind at first for the out. One down for Wieters, strikes out. Two down, Reynolds, grounds to Hill throw to Lind at first to ends the inning, another three up and down for Romero.
Bottom 4th: Hill fly ball to Jones in centre for the first out. Rajai Davis, strikes out. Arencibia, there she goes, JP hammers this one into left field and into the seats, his third home run this week, is he hot. Jays leading 3-0. Escobar, grounds to Hardy throw to Lee to end the inning but Jays have added another here.
Top 5th: Pie grounds to Lind throw to Romero. Davis grounds to Lind Adam takes it himself for the out, two down for Hardy. Hardy strikes out.
Bottom 5th: Thames singles to right. One on for Bautista, grounds to Hardy at short, throw to Lee at first, two down, Thames to third on the play. Lind, intentional walk. Showalter would rather pitch to Edwin. Encarnacion strikes out. Two down, Showalter was correct. Snider, another o-fer night. Not much help here, strikes out for the third time tonight.
Top 6th: Markakis leading off, grounds to Escobar throw to Lind. One down for Jones, singles to right. Guerrero grounds to Bautista, throw to Hill over to Lind, double play ball.
Bottom 6th: Jakubauskas now pitching. Hill singles to centre, Aaron getting more consistent now with his hitting but it looks as if it is much too late for this season and his contract with the Jays. Davis, wild pitch, Hill moves to second. Davis full count, ball four.
Two on for Arencibia, fly ball to Jones in centre. One down. Escobar singles to right, Bases are loaded with only one down. Hill at third, Davis at second. Jays can break this one open her. Thames strikes out. Two down for Bautista, strikes out to end the inning.
Top 7th: Lee leading off singles to left. Wieters with one on, strikes out. Reynolds grounds to Bautista throw to Hill to get Lee. Pie with two down one on, strikes out.
Bottom 7th: Patton now pitching. Lind strikes out. Encarnacion doubles to left. Snider 0-3 tonight all strikeouts, 0-4 as he strikes out for the fourth time. Travis really needs some help here. Hill with two down, and runner at second, fly ball to Jones in centre.
Top 8th: Davis leading off, lines to Bautista at third. Hardy strikes out. Markakis grounds to Hill throw to Lind for third out. Quick inning for Ricky.
Bottom 8th: Ex-Jay closer Kevin Gregg pitching. Davis strikes out. Arencibia strikes out.Two down for Escobar grounds to Davis throw to Lee at first base.
Top 9th: Jones, leading off, strikes out. One down for Guerrero, strikes out, but wild pitch and ball gets away, Guerrero to first on the play. Bell now pinch-running for Guerrero. Lee hit by a pitch, now is that the payback pitch. Bell to second. Here comes Manager Farrell. 126 pitches for Romero, just could not finish it off but he should be very happy with this one after the early going. Rauch now pitching. Wieters lines to Snider in left.
Reynolds is the last chance for Orioles, fly ball to Snider. Rauch needs five pitches, Ricky was that close to complete game shutout.
Jays win 3-0 and avenge last night as well as get back to .500 but it would be so nice to see a long win-streak. Still on target for 81 wins which will not be a great result.
The very good: Romero shutout into the 9th inning and we cannot ask for much than that. Rauch did his job efficiently on five pitches, Romero was that close.
The not so good: Snider 0-4 with four strike outs, that is tough time and add on his previous three starts and you get a player in distress. Runners in scoring position Jays tonight 3-13.
Tomorrow the series decider but today was good start especially with all other Royal watch towers.
Plus of course with all the trade news distractions it is amazing that Jays could concentrate.
Also good today Mariners break their losing streak by winning in New Yorjk this afternoon.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Jays bats silent behind poor outing by Morrow as Jays lose Bautista and the game to Baltimore.
Orioles v Jays. Game one of three.
Jays had day off yesterday and now match up with the division doormat, but this is where Jays usually are unable to win games. Watch the over confidence tonight. But this Baltimore line-up has some power. It will be a huge mistake to take them lightly.
Line-ups: Orioles: Hardy, Markakis, Jones, Guerrero, Wieters, Lee, Reynolds, Reimold, Andino and Arrieta pitching.
Jays: Escobar, Thames, Bautista, Lind, Encarnacion, Snider, Hill, Patterson, Molina and Morrow pitching.
Top 1st: Hardy leading off, fly ball to Snider playing in centre tonight. Markakis strikes out. Adam Jones strikes out. Good first inning for Morrow.
Bottom 1st: Escobar singles to centre. Yunel doing very well in that leadoff spot. Thames showing some patience here, ball four and walks, Escobar to second. Two on for Bautista. Pops up to Andino at second. Lind fly ball to Jones in centre. Encarnacion grounds to shortstop Hardy throw to Andino, at second for third out. Thames out. Jays get the first two on and that was it.
Top 2nd: Guerrero singles to centre. One on for Wieters, singles to right, Guerrero to second. Morrow in trouble here. Lee doubles to Snider in centre, Travis males a great dive here but not this time Travis as the ball gets by him and here comes Guerrero, here comes Wieters, 2-0 Baltimore. Reynolds, grounds to Escobar throw to Lind for the first out. Reimold strikes out. Two down. Andino strikes out. Morrow recovers well but Jays are in early catch-up mode.
Bottom 2nd: Snider leading off, grounds back to Arrieta throw to Lee at first base. Hill, singles to left. One down. Patterson grounds to pitcher Arrieta throw to Hardy, at short, Hill out. There goes Patterson and safe on the throw to second. Molina with run in scoring position, strikes out.
Top 3rd: Hardy leading off, gets hold of this one, goodbye, and it is out of here, home run Hardy and Baltimore out ahead 3-0. Markakis full count, ball four and another walk by Morrow. One down and one on for Jones, lines out to Thames. Guerrero pops up to Patterson in left. Wieters, grounds to Lind at first, throw to Morrow, OH dear, Morrow missed the bag with his foot. Error to Morrow and quite rightly so. That was a weird play by Morrow, just waved his foot at the bag and missed it. An easy play, Markakis moves to second. Lee singles to centre, here comes Markakis and Wieters moves up to second. 4-0 Baltimore. Reynolds, strikes out.
Bottom 3rd: Escobar grounds to third, hustles down the line and is safe at first. Thames, error to Arrieta, Escobar moves up to second. Two on and nobody out. Thames strikes out. Bautista, OH NO, Jose hit by a pitch. He is down and holding his head. That hit him on the ear flap. Jays hitters are being pitched inside by most teams and still no Jays has retaliated. Long Overdue. Johnny Mac pinch running for Jose as he walks off the field under his own steam, that is such a scary sight and the sound as it hit the helmet was sickening. McDonald pinch-running for Bautista. Lind, that’s how you do it Adam, drives this one hard to centre, this one is out of there, here comes Escobar, here comes Johnny Mac and Lind brings up the rear, three run home run for Lind and Jays pull within one 4-3, Baltimore. Encarnacion with one down pops up to Reynolds at third. Snider, two down strikes out. Jays lose Bautista but score three.
Top 4th: Johnny Mac stays in at third for Jose. Reimold, OH NO , hammers this one to left on the first pitch left up. 5-3 Baltimore. Andino, singles to left. Morrow off this inning big-time. Hardy, does it again, hammers this one to left, here comes Andino to score and here comes Hardy, 7-3 Baltimore. Markakis, grounds to Hill at second. One down for Jones singles to left. That is it for Manager Farrell he has had enough like the rest of us today. Camp now pitching. Guerrero batting. There goes Jones and takes second.
Guerrero grounds to third, Johnny Mac to first base Lind. Wieters grounds to Hill throw to Lind but the damage has been done as Yankees add on four more, 9-3 Baltimore.
Bottom 4th: Hill, some patience here, full count, OH yes Aaron, there she goes, Hill pulls it in to the left field seats and Jays get one back. 9-4 Baltimore. Patterson grounds to Andino at second, throw to Lee at first, one down. Molina strikes out. Two down for Escobar grounds right back at pitcher Arrieta, off his leg to Lee at first base. Jays get one nut that is it as Arrieta has stymied them tonight.
Top 5th: Camp still out there, Lee singles to centre. One on for Reynolds, strikes out. One down for Reimold, doubles to left here comes Lee. 10-4 Baltimore and this one is a rout tonight by the Orioles. Andino doubles to centre, here comes Reimold, 11-4 Baltimore. Hardy, passed ball, Andino moves up to third. Hardy sac fly to Patterson in left. Here comes Andino 12-4 Baltimore. Markakis, singles to right. And that is it for Camp. Casey Janssen now pitching. He had his own lousy inning last week. Jones with still only one down, singles to centre, Markakis to second. Guerrero, fly ball to Thames in right to end the inning.
Bottom 5th: Jays have a long haul now to get back into this one.Thames leading off, grounds to first base Lee throw to pitcher Arrieta. One down. Johnny Mac grounds to Hardy at short, throw to Lee at first, two down. Lind, 3-0 ball four, not giving Adam anything to hit. Encarnacion grounds back to pitcher Arrieta throw to Lee for the third out.
Top 6th: Wieters grounds to Lind takes it himself for the out. Lee strikes out. Two down, Reynolds doubles to centre. Reimold one on two down, grounds to Hill throw to Lind at first base.
Bottom 6th: Berken now pitching. Snider singles to right. One on, Hill, pops up to Hardy at short. Patterson, singles to left, Snider to second. Jays getting something going here. Molina fly ball to Markakis in right, Snider tags and gets to third. Escobar, Berken wild pitch, Patterson movers up to second. Jays have two in scoring position. Ball four and bases are loaded for Thames, lines hard to Lee at first base to leave three out there. Jays miss great opportunity to get at least a couple back.
Top 7th: Ledezma getting his Jays debut. Andino strikes out. One down for Hardy, strikes out. Two down for Markakis, pops up to Snider in centre for third out. Nice inning by Ledezma.
Bottom 7th: Lind the only guy to do anything tonight with the three run home run. Bounces to short, throw to first, two down. Encarnacion, hitless tonight. Singles into left. One on one down for Snider strikes out looking. Jays very uninterested in this one.
Top 8th: Ledezma still out there. Jones leading off. Lines to Thames in right makes the catch at the wall, one down. Guerrero, lines right at Hill, two down. Wieters, 3-1 count, ball four high. One on two down for Lee, this is trouble, drives it to centre over the wall, two run home run. 12-4 Orioles. Reynolds, full count, another ball four. Two down and another runner on. Reimold, 2-0 Molina out to settle him down. Definitely not a good inning by Ledezma. Lines to Thames for third out but Jays fall further behind.
Bottom 8th: Jays need eight to tie. Not tonight friends. Hill 2-3 tonight, but not enough. Pops up to Markakis in right. Patterson, grounds back off the pitcher bounces to third, throw in time to get Patterson at first. Two quick outs for Molina, singles into left. One on for Escobar. First pitch, lines to centre to end this one. Jays playing as if they cannot wait to get out on the town.
Top 9th: Francisco now pitching. Will he deliver the payback for Bautista ? Andino, lines it high into right field Thames makes the catch in the first row of the crowd. Hardy, grounds to Escobar, throw to Lind, two down. Markakis, a good one to plunk here Frankie. No, grounds to Escobar, throw to Lind.
Bottom 9th: It will be interesting to see if Jays hitters have any heart or hustle here. So far tonight noting remotely resembling that. Hendrickson pitching. Jays need eight. Thames, hitless tonight. Pops up to shallow centre to Jones, one down. McDonald, grounds to third, throw to Lind, two down. Lind, 3-1 count, grounds to Lee at first, throw to Hendrickson.
Jays management complains about lack of fans, but tonight’s showing is one reason why they stay away. This was one miserable all-round display by the Jays tonight and against the division doormat. It was as if the day off yesterday was still hanging around.
Jays also desperately need some ENERGY out there, some hustle and heart. E.g. Brett Lawrie. Davis, just put him on when Jays get a base hit after the fifth. And Manager Farrell has to start doing what he did so well early in the season and starting runners. Making things happen. Hustle and heart is the slogan but not much to be seen.
The very bad: Bautista hit to the head, that could be very costly for the Jays. When are Jays pitchers going to respond to the intimidation by opposing pitchers? Someone has to protect Bautista. If an opposing pitcher hit Jeter or A-Rod in New York you can wager there would be a response and an immediate one. Ditto in Fenway.
Morrow, no excuse besides lousy pitching and his error at first. Patterson error in left, Snider letting ball get by him as he dives for the out. That cost two runs just on that play.
The good: Let’s look really hard. Perhaps Lind three run home run but that is tonight. Hill home run to left but the season is over for Hill, we needed to see this in April to make sure we would see him in 2012. I am not sure whether a hitting spree for eight weeks will be enough.
And once again then is Brett Lawrie ever going to appear in Toronto? The way this team is playing he may wish to stay in Vegas anyway, but surely there is nothing to lose now, he cannot be worse than Patterson ? How does this guy continue to appear in the line-up unless Alex is trying to trade him and showcase him this week to the many scouts hanging around.
Jays had day off yesterday and now match up with the division doormat, but this is where Jays usually are unable to win games. Watch the over confidence tonight. But this Baltimore line-up has some power. It will be a huge mistake to take them lightly.
Line-ups: Orioles: Hardy, Markakis, Jones, Guerrero, Wieters, Lee, Reynolds, Reimold, Andino and Arrieta pitching.
Jays: Escobar, Thames, Bautista, Lind, Encarnacion, Snider, Hill, Patterson, Molina and Morrow pitching.
Top 1st: Hardy leading off, fly ball to Snider playing in centre tonight. Markakis strikes out. Adam Jones strikes out. Good first inning for Morrow.
Bottom 1st: Escobar singles to centre. Yunel doing very well in that leadoff spot. Thames showing some patience here, ball four and walks, Escobar to second. Two on for Bautista. Pops up to Andino at second. Lind fly ball to Jones in centre. Encarnacion grounds to shortstop Hardy throw to Andino, at second for third out. Thames out. Jays get the first two on and that was it.
Top 2nd: Guerrero singles to centre. One on for Wieters, singles to right, Guerrero to second. Morrow in trouble here. Lee doubles to Snider in centre, Travis males a great dive here but not this time Travis as the ball gets by him and here comes Guerrero, here comes Wieters, 2-0 Baltimore. Reynolds, grounds to Escobar throw to Lind for the first out. Reimold strikes out. Two down. Andino strikes out. Morrow recovers well but Jays are in early catch-up mode.
Bottom 2nd: Snider leading off, grounds back to Arrieta throw to Lee at first base. Hill, singles to left. One down. Patterson grounds to pitcher Arrieta throw to Hardy, at short, Hill out. There goes Patterson and safe on the throw to second. Molina with run in scoring position, strikes out.
Top 3rd: Hardy leading off, gets hold of this one, goodbye, and it is out of here, home run Hardy and Baltimore out ahead 3-0. Markakis full count, ball four and another walk by Morrow. One down and one on for Jones, lines out to Thames. Guerrero pops up to Patterson in left. Wieters, grounds to Lind at first, throw to Morrow, OH dear, Morrow missed the bag with his foot. Error to Morrow and quite rightly so. That was a weird play by Morrow, just waved his foot at the bag and missed it. An easy play, Markakis moves to second. Lee singles to centre, here comes Markakis and Wieters moves up to second. 4-0 Baltimore. Reynolds, strikes out.
Bottom 3rd: Escobar grounds to third, hustles down the line and is safe at first. Thames, error to Arrieta, Escobar moves up to second. Two on and nobody out. Thames strikes out. Bautista, OH NO, Jose hit by a pitch. He is down and holding his head. That hit him on the ear flap. Jays hitters are being pitched inside by most teams and still no Jays has retaliated. Long Overdue. Johnny Mac pinch running for Jose as he walks off the field under his own steam, that is such a scary sight and the sound as it hit the helmet was sickening. McDonald pinch-running for Bautista. Lind, that’s how you do it Adam, drives this one hard to centre, this one is out of there, here comes Escobar, here comes Johnny Mac and Lind brings up the rear, three run home run for Lind and Jays pull within one 4-3, Baltimore. Encarnacion with one down pops up to Reynolds at third. Snider, two down strikes out. Jays lose Bautista but score three.
Top 4th: Johnny Mac stays in at third for Jose. Reimold, OH NO , hammers this one to left on the first pitch left up. 5-3 Baltimore. Andino, singles to left. Morrow off this inning big-time. Hardy, does it again, hammers this one to left, here comes Andino to score and here comes Hardy, 7-3 Baltimore. Markakis, grounds to Hill at second. One down for Jones singles to left. That is it for Manager Farrell he has had enough like the rest of us today. Camp now pitching. Guerrero batting. There goes Jones and takes second.
Guerrero grounds to third, Johnny Mac to first base Lind. Wieters grounds to Hill throw to Lind but the damage has been done as Yankees add on four more, 9-3 Baltimore.
Bottom 4th: Hill, some patience here, full count, OH yes Aaron, there she goes, Hill pulls it in to the left field seats and Jays get one back. 9-4 Baltimore. Patterson grounds to Andino at second, throw to Lee at first, one down. Molina strikes out. Two down for Escobar grounds right back at pitcher Arrieta, off his leg to Lee at first base. Jays get one nut that is it as Arrieta has stymied them tonight.
Top 5th: Camp still out there, Lee singles to centre. One on for Reynolds, strikes out. One down for Reimold, doubles to left here comes Lee. 10-4 Baltimore and this one is a rout tonight by the Orioles. Andino doubles to centre, here comes Reimold, 11-4 Baltimore. Hardy, passed ball, Andino moves up to third. Hardy sac fly to Patterson in left. Here comes Andino 12-4 Baltimore. Markakis, singles to right. And that is it for Camp. Casey Janssen now pitching. He had his own lousy inning last week. Jones with still only one down, singles to centre, Markakis to second. Guerrero, fly ball to Thames in right to end the inning.
Bottom 5th: Jays have a long haul now to get back into this one.Thames leading off, grounds to first base Lee throw to pitcher Arrieta. One down. Johnny Mac grounds to Hardy at short, throw to Lee at first, two down. Lind, 3-0 ball four, not giving Adam anything to hit. Encarnacion grounds back to pitcher Arrieta throw to Lee for the third out.
Top 6th: Wieters grounds to Lind takes it himself for the out. Lee strikes out. Two down, Reynolds doubles to centre. Reimold one on two down, grounds to Hill throw to Lind at first base.
Bottom 6th: Berken now pitching. Snider singles to right. One on, Hill, pops up to Hardy at short. Patterson, singles to left, Snider to second. Jays getting something going here. Molina fly ball to Markakis in right, Snider tags and gets to third. Escobar, Berken wild pitch, Patterson movers up to second. Jays have two in scoring position. Ball four and bases are loaded for Thames, lines hard to Lee at first base to leave three out there. Jays miss great opportunity to get at least a couple back.
Top 7th: Ledezma getting his Jays debut. Andino strikes out. One down for Hardy, strikes out. Two down for Markakis, pops up to Snider in centre for third out. Nice inning by Ledezma.
Bottom 7th: Lind the only guy to do anything tonight with the three run home run. Bounces to short, throw to first, two down. Encarnacion, hitless tonight. Singles into left. One on one down for Snider strikes out looking. Jays very uninterested in this one.
Top 8th: Ledezma still out there. Jones leading off. Lines to Thames in right makes the catch at the wall, one down. Guerrero, lines right at Hill, two down. Wieters, 3-1 count, ball four high. One on two down for Lee, this is trouble, drives it to centre over the wall, two run home run. 12-4 Orioles. Reynolds, full count, another ball four. Two down and another runner on. Reimold, 2-0 Molina out to settle him down. Definitely not a good inning by Ledezma. Lines to Thames for third out but Jays fall further behind.
Bottom 8th: Jays need eight to tie. Not tonight friends. Hill 2-3 tonight, but not enough. Pops up to Markakis in right. Patterson, grounds back off the pitcher bounces to third, throw in time to get Patterson at first. Two quick outs for Molina, singles into left. One on for Escobar. First pitch, lines to centre to end this one. Jays playing as if they cannot wait to get out on the town.
Top 9th: Francisco now pitching. Will he deliver the payback for Bautista ? Andino, lines it high into right field Thames makes the catch in the first row of the crowd. Hardy, grounds to Escobar, throw to Lind, two down. Markakis, a good one to plunk here Frankie. No, grounds to Escobar, throw to Lind.
Bottom 9th: It will be interesting to see if Jays hitters have any heart or hustle here. So far tonight noting remotely resembling that. Hendrickson pitching. Jays need eight. Thames, hitless tonight. Pops up to shallow centre to Jones, one down. McDonald, grounds to third, throw to Lind, two down. Lind, 3-1 count, grounds to Lee at first, throw to Hendrickson.
Jays management complains about lack of fans, but tonight’s showing is one reason why they stay away. This was one miserable all-round display by the Jays tonight and against the division doormat. It was as if the day off yesterday was still hanging around.
Jays also desperately need some ENERGY out there, some hustle and heart. E.g. Brett Lawrie. Davis, just put him on when Jays get a base hit after the fifth. And Manager Farrell has to start doing what he did so well early in the season and starting runners. Making things happen. Hustle and heart is the slogan but not much to be seen.
The very bad: Bautista hit to the head, that could be very costly for the Jays. When are Jays pitchers going to respond to the intimidation by opposing pitchers? Someone has to protect Bautista. If an opposing pitcher hit Jeter or A-Rod in New York you can wager there would be a response and an immediate one. Ditto in Fenway.
Morrow, no excuse besides lousy pitching and his error at first. Patterson error in left, Snider letting ball get by him as he dives for the out. That cost two runs just on that play.
The good: Let’s look really hard. Perhaps Lind three run home run but that is tonight. Hill home run to left but the season is over for Hill, we needed to see this in April to make sure we would see him in 2012. I am not sure whether a hitting spree for eight weeks will be enough.
And once again then is Brett Lawrie ever going to appear in Toronto? The way this team is playing he may wish to stay in Vegas anyway, but surely there is nothing to lose now, he cannot be worse than Patterson ? How does this guy continue to appear in the line-up unless Alex is trying to trade him and showcase him this week to the many scouts hanging around.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Brilliant masterpiece complete game shut out by Cecil supported by Jays bats to beat Texas 3-0
Jays v Rangers Game three of three.
The burning questions today in the emails from blog readers are did Farrell blow it twice big-time last night and did Patterson mess up the catch? From this seat, yes he did to all three. He should have brought in closer in one run game save situation, two he should have been ready for suicide squeeze and Patterson not only messed up that catch he did it three times on the same catch. Farrell was out managed by Ron Washington which is no big surprise as he is a rookie, but the closer situation he has done this before. If Francisco is pitching and busting them in on the hands at 97mph they will not be bunting especially three times. Frankie had had an excellent three up and down inning the night before, throw him out there, his old team he would love it, plus Rauch was still ready as back up. But Rzepeczynski as closer. No way, not even for the lefty-lefty match-up. Bautista in right and this is an out, by the way where is Brett Lawrie? Enough is enough with Patterson out there. Or alternatively leave Thames in.
Tonight Jays have Cecil out there. Who knows? Bruce Walton says they have made some changes to his mechanics from his last outing.
Line-ups: Jays: Escobar, Thames, Bautista, Lind, Encarnacion, Snider, Hill, Davis, Arencibia and Cecil pitching.
Rangers: Kinsler, Andrus, Hamilton, Young, Cruz, Napoli, Davis, Gentry, Moreland and Alexi Ogando pitching.
Top 1st: Escobar singles into right, one on for Thames. Full count, NO, lines it at second throw to first and Escobar caught off the bag, double play. Very poor judgement there by Escobar, two down for Bautista, full count, down and ball four. Lind, strikes out swinging. 20 pitch inning should have been more without Escobar brain spasm.
Bottom 1st: Kinsler, grounds to Escobar, throw to Lind, one down. Andrus, grounds to Hill, throw to Lind two down for Hamilton, shift right on for Hamilton. 1-2 count, strikes out swinging, great inning for Cecil.
Top 2nd: Encarnacion leading off. Strikes out swinging, one down for Snider, not a great weekend for Travis so far, grounds to Andrus at short, throw just beats Travis at first, two down for Hill. Strike three looking. Pitch count 33.
Bottom 2nd: Young grounds past a diving Bautista into left. Cruz, hammers this one high to left but no problem Travis has it for the out, almost at the wall. One down for Napoli, full count, strikes out swinging, nice pitching Brett. Davis, pops it up to shallow left for Snider. Pitch count 23.
Top 3rd: Rajai Davis leading off. First pitch pop up to short, one down. Arencibia, pops up to right for Cruz, two down for Escobar. 2-2 count, singles to Gentry in right centre. Now use your head Yunel. Thames, that’s better singles into right, Escobar ambles over to third, does he ever run flat out? Bautista two down two on. 1-2 count, oh boy, Jose strikes out on high pitch. 48 pitches for Orgando though. Jays hitters doing a good job being more patient tonight.
Bottom 3rd: Gentry bunting and safe on the throw, speed. One on for Moreland. Lines this one to left, Oh Travis, GREAT running catch up against the wall in left, great catch for the out. Kinsler, full count, pops up to Lind. Two down for Andrus, grounds first pitch to Hill, throw to Lind for the out. 35 pitch count.
Top 4th: Jays hitters have been on base, just not broken through yet. Lind, come on Adam, first pitch grounds to second, throw to first, one down. Encarnacion, grounds to Young at third, throw to first, two down for Snider, long overdue Travis. strikes out swinging, Travis is starting to go after that pitch down and away, that’s a bad habit Travis from the past. Lay off it because they will keep throwing it at you with two strikes on you. 58 pitch count.
Bottom 4th: Hamilton, 2-2 count, down and away and Hamilton cannot resist, strikes out swinging. Travis you are in good company but it still does not mean you have to copy. Young, full count, pops this one up to shallow right, Thames running flat out makes a great running catch. Two down for Cruz, grounds to Escobar, makes a very poor throw which bounces in front of Lind who manages to dig it out. This lazy nonchalant manner of Escobar is not good. That could have been a base hit there. I like his glove, I like his bat, but the rest of him needs work.
Top 5th: Hill leading off. A little tentative here Aaron, those two were down the middle, 1-2 count, strikes out swinging. Davis, 2-2 count, lines it at Andrus at short, throw to first, two down for Arencibia. Grounds to Young, throw to first, three down, pitch count 70.
Bottom 5th: Napoli, hammers this one to centre but Davis has it at the wall, that was close, but just a long out. One down, Davis, 2-2 count, strikes out swinging. Gentry, 1-2 count, whoa great pitch, to get him. Pitch count 65.
Top 6th: Top of the order again, Escobar two hit night. Time to make this guy Ogando pitch a few this inning. Singles into right again, 3-3 night. Just be careful out there Yunel. Thames, first pitch fly ball to right, come on Eric. One down for Bautista. 0-2 count, he does not like that call, get mad Jose. Outside, perfect Jose, lines this to the wall in left centre, here comes Escobar puffing and huffing but makes home plate, and Jays go out ahead 1-0. Jose at second, Lind, lines it to centre, Jose tags and gets to third. Encarnacion, two down. 1-2 count, very nice Edwin, lines it to the wall in centre, here comes Jose, 2-0 Jays and Edwin at second. Snider, is this ever the time Travis. way to go, lines it down the line in right, here comes Edwin 3-0 Jays, and Travis at second base. Three successive doubles off Ogando. Hill, excuse me hit off the end of his bat to first, for the out. 90 pitch count.
Bottom 6th: Now Cecil has to close them down here. Moreland, 3-1, hammers this to right, OH WOW... what a play, Bautista is playing in shallow right for the shift and runs to his right and dives flat out to make a catch to rob Moreland, that is not just highlight reel, that is a season highlight. WOW. Kinsler, lines to Snider in left two down. Andrus, 3-0 count, ball four. Come on Brett. Hamilton. Ball one high, get it down Brett. That’s better, 1-1, pops up to Escobar for third out. Pitch count 77.
Top 7th: Davis leading off. Bunting but just foul. 2-2 count, lines it to left but right at Hamilton for the out. Arencibia, bullpen working, Hunter. 2-1 count, pops it up to Kinsler at second. Escobar 3-3 tonight. 3-0 count, high ball four. One on two down for Thames. Here comes Washington, Ogando will not win this one. Hunter now pitching. 1-2 count, singles into right, two on for Bautista. Jose grounds to Andrus at short, throw to first for third out.
Bottom 7th: Young, 2-2 count, grounds to Bautista at third, throw to Lind, one down. Cruz, bounces to Bautista and long throw to Lind for the second out. Napoli, 3-0 count, come on Brett. That’s better strike one. High ball four. One on two down for Davis, pops it up to Snider in left. Pitch count 90.
Top 8th: Lind leading off. Grounds up the middle but Kinsler great play to get to it and throw Lind out at first. One down for Encarnacion. Lines it to Kinsler at second, throw to first two down. Snider, grounds first pitch to Moreland, for the third out.
Bottom 8th: Crunch time, Gentry singles into centre. One on for Moreland high fly ball to Snider throw to second almost gets Gentry sliding in. His head hits Hill and he is shaken up, stays out there. One down one on for Kinsler. High pop up to shallow right, Thames makes the catch and Gentry has to hold at second. Andrus, 0-2 count, strikes out, could not hold up. Great pitching by Cecil. Still under the 100 pitch count. 97 pitches.
Top 9th: It would be nice if Jays hitters could do Cecil a big favour here and get a couple more. Hill leading off. Strikes out. Davis, grounds it to Moreland right at the bag, two down. Arencibia, come on JP up to you here. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging. Not even one measly hit.
Bottom 9th: Here we go, and the big bats as well, nothing is easy here for Cecil. Hamilton, full count, a nubber back to Cecil, he fumbles it but throw to Lind for the out. one down for Young, grounds first pitch to Bautista at third, strong throw to Lind two down. Cruz, full count, fouling them off here, ten pitch at bat slow roller to Bautista and safe on the throw. No chance there. One on for Napoli, 2-2 count, strikes him out, wow. Complete game shutout. His first major league shutout. Very nice Brett.
The excellent: Cecil complete game shutout. Bruce Walton deserves some credit here for making the changes to his delivery. That was one amazing outing tonight.
The great: Bautista rbi double to start the offence, and incredible defensive play to rob Moreland of a double. Snider a couple of great plays in left. The three consecutive doubles in the fifth to break the game open. Escobar three hit night.
The not so good: Escobar base-running, caught off base in the first.
Other: Great to see the Mariners give Red Sox a shock in last two games, they had the lead into the seventh yesterday and hit grand slam off Wakefield today. The first inning was the difference in this game today and the Mariners should take heart from this as they head to Yankee Stadium and maybe end this losing streak.
The burning questions today in the emails from blog readers are did Farrell blow it twice big-time last night and did Patterson mess up the catch? From this seat, yes he did to all three. He should have brought in closer in one run game save situation, two he should have been ready for suicide squeeze and Patterson not only messed up that catch he did it three times on the same catch. Farrell was out managed by Ron Washington which is no big surprise as he is a rookie, but the closer situation he has done this before. If Francisco is pitching and busting them in on the hands at 97mph they will not be bunting especially three times. Frankie had had an excellent three up and down inning the night before, throw him out there, his old team he would love it, plus Rauch was still ready as back up. But Rzepeczynski as closer. No way, not even for the lefty-lefty match-up. Bautista in right and this is an out, by the way where is Brett Lawrie? Enough is enough with Patterson out there. Or alternatively leave Thames in.
Tonight Jays have Cecil out there. Who knows? Bruce Walton says they have made some changes to his mechanics from his last outing.
Line-ups: Jays: Escobar, Thames, Bautista, Lind, Encarnacion, Snider, Hill, Davis, Arencibia and Cecil pitching.
Rangers: Kinsler, Andrus, Hamilton, Young, Cruz, Napoli, Davis, Gentry, Moreland and Alexi Ogando pitching.
Top 1st: Escobar singles into right, one on for Thames. Full count, NO, lines it at second throw to first and Escobar caught off the bag, double play. Very poor judgement there by Escobar, two down for Bautista, full count, down and ball four. Lind, strikes out swinging. 20 pitch inning should have been more without Escobar brain spasm.
Bottom 1st: Kinsler, grounds to Escobar, throw to Lind, one down. Andrus, grounds to Hill, throw to Lind two down for Hamilton, shift right on for Hamilton. 1-2 count, strikes out swinging, great inning for Cecil.
Top 2nd: Encarnacion leading off. Strikes out swinging, one down for Snider, not a great weekend for Travis so far, grounds to Andrus at short, throw just beats Travis at first, two down for Hill. Strike three looking. Pitch count 33.
Bottom 2nd: Young grounds past a diving Bautista into left. Cruz, hammers this one high to left but no problem Travis has it for the out, almost at the wall. One down for Napoli, full count, strikes out swinging, nice pitching Brett. Davis, pops it up to shallow left for Snider. Pitch count 23.
Top 3rd: Rajai Davis leading off. First pitch pop up to short, one down. Arencibia, pops up to right for Cruz, two down for Escobar. 2-2 count, singles to Gentry in right centre. Now use your head Yunel. Thames, that’s better singles into right, Escobar ambles over to third, does he ever run flat out? Bautista two down two on. 1-2 count, oh boy, Jose strikes out on high pitch. 48 pitches for Orgando though. Jays hitters doing a good job being more patient tonight.
Bottom 3rd: Gentry bunting and safe on the throw, speed. One on for Moreland. Lines this one to left, Oh Travis, GREAT running catch up against the wall in left, great catch for the out. Kinsler, full count, pops up to Lind. Two down for Andrus, grounds first pitch to Hill, throw to Lind for the out. 35 pitch count.
Top 4th: Jays hitters have been on base, just not broken through yet. Lind, come on Adam, first pitch grounds to second, throw to first, one down. Encarnacion, grounds to Young at third, throw to first, two down for Snider, long overdue Travis. strikes out swinging, Travis is starting to go after that pitch down and away, that’s a bad habit Travis from the past. Lay off it because they will keep throwing it at you with two strikes on you. 58 pitch count.
Bottom 4th: Hamilton, 2-2 count, down and away and Hamilton cannot resist, strikes out swinging. Travis you are in good company but it still does not mean you have to copy. Young, full count, pops this one up to shallow right, Thames running flat out makes a great running catch. Two down for Cruz, grounds to Escobar, makes a very poor throw which bounces in front of Lind who manages to dig it out. This lazy nonchalant manner of Escobar is not good. That could have been a base hit there. I like his glove, I like his bat, but the rest of him needs work.
Top 5th: Hill leading off. A little tentative here Aaron, those two were down the middle, 1-2 count, strikes out swinging. Davis, 2-2 count, lines it at Andrus at short, throw to first, two down for Arencibia. Grounds to Young, throw to first, three down, pitch count 70.
Bottom 5th: Napoli, hammers this one to centre but Davis has it at the wall, that was close, but just a long out. One down, Davis, 2-2 count, strikes out swinging. Gentry, 1-2 count, whoa great pitch, to get him. Pitch count 65.
Top 6th: Top of the order again, Escobar two hit night. Time to make this guy Ogando pitch a few this inning. Singles into right again, 3-3 night. Just be careful out there Yunel. Thames, first pitch fly ball to right, come on Eric. One down for Bautista. 0-2 count, he does not like that call, get mad Jose. Outside, perfect Jose, lines this to the wall in left centre, here comes Escobar puffing and huffing but makes home plate, and Jays go out ahead 1-0. Jose at second, Lind, lines it to centre, Jose tags and gets to third. Encarnacion, two down. 1-2 count, very nice Edwin, lines it to the wall in centre, here comes Jose, 2-0 Jays and Edwin at second. Snider, is this ever the time Travis. way to go, lines it down the line in right, here comes Edwin 3-0 Jays, and Travis at second base. Three successive doubles off Ogando. Hill, excuse me hit off the end of his bat to first, for the out. 90 pitch count.
Bottom 6th: Now Cecil has to close them down here. Moreland, 3-1, hammers this to right, OH WOW... what a play, Bautista is playing in shallow right for the shift and runs to his right and dives flat out to make a catch to rob Moreland, that is not just highlight reel, that is a season highlight. WOW. Kinsler, lines to Snider in left two down. Andrus, 3-0 count, ball four. Come on Brett. Hamilton. Ball one high, get it down Brett. That’s better, 1-1, pops up to Escobar for third out. Pitch count 77.
Top 7th: Davis leading off. Bunting but just foul. 2-2 count, lines it to left but right at Hamilton for the out. Arencibia, bullpen working, Hunter. 2-1 count, pops it up to Kinsler at second. Escobar 3-3 tonight. 3-0 count, high ball four. One on two down for Thames. Here comes Washington, Ogando will not win this one. Hunter now pitching. 1-2 count, singles into right, two on for Bautista. Jose grounds to Andrus at short, throw to first for third out.
Bottom 7th: Young, 2-2 count, grounds to Bautista at third, throw to Lind, one down. Cruz, bounces to Bautista and long throw to Lind for the second out. Napoli, 3-0 count, come on Brett. That’s better strike one. High ball four. One on two down for Davis, pops it up to Snider in left. Pitch count 90.
Top 8th: Lind leading off. Grounds up the middle but Kinsler great play to get to it and throw Lind out at first. One down for Encarnacion. Lines it to Kinsler at second, throw to first two down. Snider, grounds first pitch to Moreland, for the third out.
Bottom 8th: Crunch time, Gentry singles into centre. One on for Moreland high fly ball to Snider throw to second almost gets Gentry sliding in. His head hits Hill and he is shaken up, stays out there. One down one on for Kinsler. High pop up to shallow right, Thames makes the catch and Gentry has to hold at second. Andrus, 0-2 count, strikes out, could not hold up. Great pitching by Cecil. Still under the 100 pitch count. 97 pitches.
Top 9th: It would be nice if Jays hitters could do Cecil a big favour here and get a couple more. Hill leading off. Strikes out. Davis, grounds it to Moreland right at the bag, two down. Arencibia, come on JP up to you here. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging. Not even one measly hit.
Bottom 9th: Here we go, and the big bats as well, nothing is easy here for Cecil. Hamilton, full count, a nubber back to Cecil, he fumbles it but throw to Lind for the out. one down for Young, grounds first pitch to Bautista at third, strong throw to Lind two down. Cruz, full count, fouling them off here, ten pitch at bat slow roller to Bautista and safe on the throw. No chance there. One on for Napoli, 2-2 count, strikes him out, wow. Complete game shutout. His first major league shutout. Very nice Brett.
The excellent: Cecil complete game shutout. Bruce Walton deserves some credit here for making the changes to his delivery. That was one amazing outing tonight.
The great: Bautista rbi double to start the offence, and incredible defensive play to rob Moreland of a double. Snider a couple of great plays in left. The three consecutive doubles in the fifth to break the game open. Escobar three hit night.
The not so good: Escobar base-running, caught off base in the first.
Other: Great to see the Mariners give Red Sox a shock in last two games, they had the lead into the seventh yesterday and hit grand slam off Wakefield today. The first inning was the difference in this game today and the Mariners should take heart from this as they head to Yankee Stadium and maybe end this losing streak.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Rzepczynski ruins great fight back by Jays and another home run by Arencibia
Jays v Rangers Game two of three.
Jays have optioned JoJo Reyes poor guy, never had any run support all season long and suffered. There were several games he could have had more wins. I hope he lands with another team and does well. A lefty starter is always in demand. Meantime Jays have called up Ledezma. Yankees have already lost today.
Line-ups: Jays: Escobar, Thames, Bautista, Lind, Encarnacion, Hill, Snider, Davis Arencibia and Villanueva pitching. Let’s see if moving Travis back to left affects his production. It has totally disappeared in his three starts in centre. Jose is DH tonight to give that ankle a rest.
Rangers: Kinsler, Andrus, Hamilton,Young, Cruz, Murphy, Torrealba, Davis, Moreland and Harrison pitching.
Top 1st: Escobar, full count, grounds to Andrus at short and drops the ball, Escobar safe at first, no throw and error to Andrus. Jays get a break, they had few breaks last night. Thames. There goes Escobar and throw gets him at second, that was a very risky play with his (lack of) speed and totally backfired. Thames lines it into corner in right, safe at second. That would have scored Escobar. Bautista. Strikes out swinging. Two down for Lind. There you go Adam, lines it into right field corner and here comes Thames 1-0 Jays with Lind at second. Encarnacion, full count, strikes out swinging. Could have should have been more but for Escobar brain cramp. Pitch count 22.
Bottom 1st: Kinsler leading off. High pop up to Encarnacion at third. Andrus, full count, lines it to Thames in right, two down for Hamilton. Shift right on for Hamilton. Another full count, singles to Thames in right, one on two down for Young. Another full count, he has had all four hitters at 0-2 count but unable to get that third strike. This is why his pitch count is 30 already. Lines it into right. Hamilton to third, Young at first. Cruz. Another 0-2 count. Lines to Escobar throw to Hill for the out, they have the lead but an expensive pitch count inning. We wish that the Jays get that discipline at the plate. But this group are free swingers.
Top 2nd: Hill, 0-2 count, pops it up to Moreland playing at first. One down for Snider, full count, strikes out swinging. Two down for Rajai Davis, grounds to second, throw to first for the final out. Jays go very quietly.
Bottom 2nd: Villanueva has to figure out how to finish Rangers hitters off here or he will be out of the game by the fourth inning. Murphy leading off, lines it to Davis in centre, one down for Torrealba, high pop up to Thames in right, two down for Chris Davis, replacing Beltre injured in last night’s game. Drives it to Snider in left. 10 pitch inning, that’s much better.
Top 3rd: Arencibia, hitting number nine again tonight. It will be interesting to see if his hitting streak continues tonight. Great swing but pops it up high to left for the out. One down for Escobar. Singles into right. Now just stay there Yunel. Thames. Grounds to second, throw to the bag, over to first, double play ball.
Bottom 3rd: Moreland leading off, strikes out swinging, one down for Kinsler. Lines this one off the wall in left, and safe at second on the throw by Snider. One on one down. Andrus, grounds to Encarnacion, nice play and throw to Lind for the second out. Kinsler stays at second. Hamilton hammers it to the wall in centre past Davis all the way to third as Kinsler comes home, 1-1 game. Young, two down one on, 3-1 count. Lines it into left, Oh Yes Travis, makes brilliant running diving catch. Highlight reel. 57 pitch count.
Top 4th: Bautista leading off. Full count, strikes out swinging for second time tonight. Lind, pulls it to second, throw to Moreland, two down for Encarnacion. Grounds to Andrus, throw to Moreland for the out. Mariners have just scored in Fenway, home run to Carp 1-0 in the 7th Beaven v Beckett. Come on Mariners you can do it.
Bottom 4th: Cruz, grounds to Hill, throw to Lind, one down. Murphy, lines it to Thames in right, a long single. One on one down for Torrealba, there goes Murphy, Arencibia throw is wrong side of the plate. Murphy safe at second. Torrealba grounds to Encarnacion, throw to Lind, two down for Davis. 2-2 count, lines it to Thames in right, here comes Murphy 2-1 Rangers. Moreland, singles to Thames in right. Murphy holds at second. Two on two down for top of the order Kinsler. Here comes Bruce Walton to settle him down. 2-2 count, pops it up to Hill, leaving two out there, but that was an expensive inning.
Top 5th: Jays hitters in Texas, 3 runs in 15 innings, that will not win many games. They need to break out and fast. Hill, nice swing but pops it up to left. One down. Snider, 2-2 count. Takes strike three, Travis not very happy out there this week. Two down for Davis, full count, strike three looking.
Bottom 5th: Could be Villanueva’s last inning. Perhaps we will see Ledezma. Andrus leading off. Lines it to left but Encarnacion makes great save and throw to Lind, one down, great play Edwin. Hamilton, singles to right, one on one down for Young. Lines it to left but right at Snider for the second out. Cruz, there goes Hamilton, throw not in time. Full count, doubles the ball to the wall in left, here comes Hamilton, 3-1 Rangers. Murphy lines first pitch to Davis in centre.
Top 6th: For all the offence this game is by no means out of reach. Villanueva has done his job and kept it close, it is the hitters that are failing once more. 14 innings for 3 runs is pathetic. Time to get it going here. Arencibia, there we go JP, HAMMERS this one in to the left field seats WOW what a hit. Another home run. Great swing. 3-2 game. Now can this get the others going? Escobar, 3-1 count, this will do it, lines it down the left field line, and safe at second. Thames now, go ahead run !!! perfect lines it into right corner, here comes Escobar 3-3 game and Thames going to third and safe on the throw. Harrison getting beat up, home run double and now triple, now can Jose make it count here. Bullpen working for Rangers, 2-0 count. no problem, lines it into right centre, his bat shatters, Thames scores and Jays go out ahead 4-3. Still nobody out. Lind with Bautista at first. Grounds to second to the bag over to first, double play. Two down for Encarnacion. Lines to Cruz in right but Jays have broken out big-time here and Villanueva in line for the win !!! How games change so fast.
Bottom 6th: Villanueva out again on 93 pitch count. Torrealba, grounds to Hill great play Aaron going to his right and quick off balance throw to Lind great save by Lind to get the out. One down for Davis, 2-2 count, high pop up to Rajai Davis in centre, two down for Moreland, singles to right. Kinsler. That is it for Carlos. 105 pitches and he kept the team in the game. That is all we can ask against a very good hitting team. Dotel now pitching. Two down one on. 1-2 count, very nice Kinsler takes strike three looking.
Top 7th: Now can Jays add to their lead here. Hill leading off. 1-2 count, strikes out swinging. One down for Snider, come on Travis, break out of your slump here big-time. Full count, strikes out, his third of the night, ouch Travis. Davis,100 pitches now for Harrison. Grounds to first and SPEED kills, Rajai beats Moreland to the bag. WOW. And now you know what will happen he will make life misery for the pitcher even if he does not steal. That is it for Harrison. If nothing else Rajai has done that. Tateyama sidearmer now pitching. Arencibia, throw over to first, pitch out, not going this time friends. It has gone very quiet in Texas. Another throw over, keep it going Rajai. There he goes throw down and gets him. Tough way to end the inning but the right call by Rajai unless JP hits a double next inning.
Bottom 7th: Jason Frasor now pitching. Andrus grounds to Hill, throw to Lind, one down for Hamilton. 3-3 tonight. 1-2 count, bounces to Escobar, throw to Lind, two down for Young. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging, nice Jason.
Top 8th: Arencibia leading off, left out there last inning by Davis steal attempt. 1-2 count, takes strike three, Davis is off the hook. Escobar, takes strike three, come on guys. Thames, two down. 2-2 count, pops it up to Andrus backpedalling behind short for the out. Mariners have lost yet again. Perhaps tomorrow will be the day.
Bottom 8th: Frasor still out there, Cruz, 0-2 count, strikes out swinging, wow on three pitches. Very nice Jason. Murphy, off the end of his bat and dribbles ten feet. But safe at first no throw. One on one down for Torrealba. 1-2 count. perfect Murphy running on the pitch but Torrealba lines to Thames in right, throw to Lind, Murphy is at second and cannot get back in time, and a great double play to end this one. Nice. I love those plays.
Top 9th: Jays big bats, but can they add to this one run lead. Who will pitch the bottom of the 9th? Francisco pitched last night. Mark Lowe now pitching for Rangers. Bautista leading off. 3-1 count. Ball four inside, throws very hard but control not that great so far. One on for Lind, strikes out at high pitch outside. One down, one on for Encarnacion. 2-0 count, pops up to Kinsler behind first base, two down for Hill. This guy is long overdue, there you go Aaron, singles to right, Jose to second, two on for Snider. Travis you are also long overdue. But that is it for Lowe, here comes Washington. Darren Oliver now pitching. Lefty lefty matchup. A base hit is all we need Travis. Fly ball to Hamilton for third out leaving two out there.
Bottom 9th: Rzepczynski now pitching. Patterson in right for Thames. Napoli pinch hitting for Davis. full count, oh boy ball four. You can’t do this Marc. You had him 0-2. Moreland. Showing bunt. Oh no. Bunts back to Rzepczynski, barehanding it, looks at second and throw to Lind, pulls him off base, error to Rzepczynski. How many times are you drilled go for the certain out. That was awful and could be very costly, here comes Farrell. Rauch now has the almost impossible task of getting the three top hitters without giving up a hit. Gentry pinch running at first. Kinsler, bunting , Rauch throw to first gets one, but now go ahead run is in scoring position. Andrus, squeeze play here comes the runner to score but Arencibia throw to first for second out. 4-4 game. Hamilton intentional walk. Young with winning run at third and two down. 1-2 count, lines it to right, Patterson all turned around and cannot get to this one. That is the play Bautista routinely makes. Jays lose 5-4 but it is Rzepczysnki tonight who blows a huge opportunity for the Jays to win.
The excellent: JP third home run in two days. Jays three run sixth inning.
The very good: Great defensive plays by Jays, Snider a couple of great plays, Encarnacion also. Frasor two great innings to keep it close. Jays hitters fight back to go ahead in the sixth.
The really terrible and unforgiveable: Rzepczysnki, the goat of the night, walking the first hitter but also messing up the play on Moreland which turned out to be so crucial. It demonstrates to me at least how crucial it is to have a reliable closer. It certainly is not Rzepczysnki. Jays lose the series instead of fighting tomorrow for the win.
Jays have optioned JoJo Reyes poor guy, never had any run support all season long and suffered. There were several games he could have had more wins. I hope he lands with another team and does well. A lefty starter is always in demand. Meantime Jays have called up Ledezma. Yankees have already lost today.
Line-ups: Jays: Escobar, Thames, Bautista, Lind, Encarnacion, Hill, Snider, Davis Arencibia and Villanueva pitching. Let’s see if moving Travis back to left affects his production. It has totally disappeared in his three starts in centre. Jose is DH tonight to give that ankle a rest.
Rangers: Kinsler, Andrus, Hamilton,Young, Cruz, Murphy, Torrealba, Davis, Moreland and Harrison pitching.
Top 1st: Escobar, full count, grounds to Andrus at short and drops the ball, Escobar safe at first, no throw and error to Andrus. Jays get a break, they had few breaks last night. Thames. There goes Escobar and throw gets him at second, that was a very risky play with his (lack of) speed and totally backfired. Thames lines it into corner in right, safe at second. That would have scored Escobar. Bautista. Strikes out swinging. Two down for Lind. There you go Adam, lines it into right field corner and here comes Thames 1-0 Jays with Lind at second. Encarnacion, full count, strikes out swinging. Could have should have been more but for Escobar brain cramp. Pitch count 22.
Bottom 1st: Kinsler leading off. High pop up to Encarnacion at third. Andrus, full count, lines it to Thames in right, two down for Hamilton. Shift right on for Hamilton. Another full count, singles to Thames in right, one on two down for Young. Another full count, he has had all four hitters at 0-2 count but unable to get that third strike. This is why his pitch count is 30 already. Lines it into right. Hamilton to third, Young at first. Cruz. Another 0-2 count. Lines to Escobar throw to Hill for the out, they have the lead but an expensive pitch count inning. We wish that the Jays get that discipline at the plate. But this group are free swingers.
Top 2nd: Hill, 0-2 count, pops it up to Moreland playing at first. One down for Snider, full count, strikes out swinging. Two down for Rajai Davis, grounds to second, throw to first for the final out. Jays go very quietly.
Bottom 2nd: Villanueva has to figure out how to finish Rangers hitters off here or he will be out of the game by the fourth inning. Murphy leading off, lines it to Davis in centre, one down for Torrealba, high pop up to Thames in right, two down for Chris Davis, replacing Beltre injured in last night’s game. Drives it to Snider in left. 10 pitch inning, that’s much better.
Top 3rd: Arencibia, hitting number nine again tonight. It will be interesting to see if his hitting streak continues tonight. Great swing but pops it up high to left for the out. One down for Escobar. Singles into right. Now just stay there Yunel. Thames. Grounds to second, throw to the bag, over to first, double play ball.
Bottom 3rd: Moreland leading off, strikes out swinging, one down for Kinsler. Lines this one off the wall in left, and safe at second on the throw by Snider. One on one down. Andrus, grounds to Encarnacion, nice play and throw to Lind for the second out. Kinsler stays at second. Hamilton hammers it to the wall in centre past Davis all the way to third as Kinsler comes home, 1-1 game. Young, two down one on, 3-1 count. Lines it into left, Oh Yes Travis, makes brilliant running diving catch. Highlight reel. 57 pitch count.
Top 4th: Bautista leading off. Full count, strikes out swinging for second time tonight. Lind, pulls it to second, throw to Moreland, two down for Encarnacion. Grounds to Andrus, throw to Moreland for the out. Mariners have just scored in Fenway, home run to Carp 1-0 in the 7th Beaven v Beckett. Come on Mariners you can do it.
Bottom 4th: Cruz, grounds to Hill, throw to Lind, one down. Murphy, lines it to Thames in right, a long single. One on one down for Torrealba, there goes Murphy, Arencibia throw is wrong side of the plate. Murphy safe at second. Torrealba grounds to Encarnacion, throw to Lind, two down for Davis. 2-2 count, lines it to Thames in right, here comes Murphy 2-1 Rangers. Moreland, singles to Thames in right. Murphy holds at second. Two on two down for top of the order Kinsler. Here comes Bruce Walton to settle him down. 2-2 count, pops it up to Hill, leaving two out there, but that was an expensive inning.
Top 5th: Jays hitters in Texas, 3 runs in 15 innings, that will not win many games. They need to break out and fast. Hill, nice swing but pops it up to left. One down. Snider, 2-2 count. Takes strike three, Travis not very happy out there this week. Two down for Davis, full count, strike three looking.
Bottom 5th: Could be Villanueva’s last inning. Perhaps we will see Ledezma. Andrus leading off. Lines it to left but Encarnacion makes great save and throw to Lind, one down, great play Edwin. Hamilton, singles to right, one on one down for Young. Lines it to left but right at Snider for the second out. Cruz, there goes Hamilton, throw not in time. Full count, doubles the ball to the wall in left, here comes Hamilton, 3-1 Rangers. Murphy lines first pitch to Davis in centre.
Top 6th: For all the offence this game is by no means out of reach. Villanueva has done his job and kept it close, it is the hitters that are failing once more. 14 innings for 3 runs is pathetic. Time to get it going here. Arencibia, there we go JP, HAMMERS this one in to the left field seats WOW what a hit. Another home run. Great swing. 3-2 game. Now can this get the others going? Escobar, 3-1 count, this will do it, lines it down the left field line, and safe at second. Thames now, go ahead run !!! perfect lines it into right corner, here comes Escobar 3-3 game and Thames going to third and safe on the throw. Harrison getting beat up, home run double and now triple, now can Jose make it count here. Bullpen working for Rangers, 2-0 count. no problem, lines it into right centre, his bat shatters, Thames scores and Jays go out ahead 4-3. Still nobody out. Lind with Bautista at first. Grounds to second to the bag over to first, double play. Two down for Encarnacion. Lines to Cruz in right but Jays have broken out big-time here and Villanueva in line for the win !!! How games change so fast.
Bottom 6th: Villanueva out again on 93 pitch count. Torrealba, grounds to Hill great play Aaron going to his right and quick off balance throw to Lind great save by Lind to get the out. One down for Davis, 2-2 count, high pop up to Rajai Davis in centre, two down for Moreland, singles to right. Kinsler. That is it for Carlos. 105 pitches and he kept the team in the game. That is all we can ask against a very good hitting team. Dotel now pitching. Two down one on. 1-2 count, very nice Kinsler takes strike three looking.
Top 7th: Now can Jays add to their lead here. Hill leading off. 1-2 count, strikes out swinging. One down for Snider, come on Travis, break out of your slump here big-time. Full count, strikes out, his third of the night, ouch Travis. Davis,100 pitches now for Harrison. Grounds to first and SPEED kills, Rajai beats Moreland to the bag. WOW. And now you know what will happen he will make life misery for the pitcher even if he does not steal. That is it for Harrison. If nothing else Rajai has done that. Tateyama sidearmer now pitching. Arencibia, throw over to first, pitch out, not going this time friends. It has gone very quiet in Texas. Another throw over, keep it going Rajai. There he goes throw down and gets him. Tough way to end the inning but the right call by Rajai unless JP hits a double next inning.
Bottom 7th: Jason Frasor now pitching. Andrus grounds to Hill, throw to Lind, one down for Hamilton. 3-3 tonight. 1-2 count, bounces to Escobar, throw to Lind, two down for Young. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging, nice Jason.
Top 8th: Arencibia leading off, left out there last inning by Davis steal attempt. 1-2 count, takes strike three, Davis is off the hook. Escobar, takes strike three, come on guys. Thames, two down. 2-2 count, pops it up to Andrus backpedalling behind short for the out. Mariners have lost yet again. Perhaps tomorrow will be the day.
Bottom 8th: Frasor still out there, Cruz, 0-2 count, strikes out swinging, wow on three pitches. Very nice Jason. Murphy, off the end of his bat and dribbles ten feet. But safe at first no throw. One on one down for Torrealba. 1-2 count. perfect Murphy running on the pitch but Torrealba lines to Thames in right, throw to Lind, Murphy is at second and cannot get back in time, and a great double play to end this one. Nice. I love those plays.
Top 9th: Jays big bats, but can they add to this one run lead. Who will pitch the bottom of the 9th? Francisco pitched last night. Mark Lowe now pitching for Rangers. Bautista leading off. 3-1 count. Ball four inside, throws very hard but control not that great so far. One on for Lind, strikes out at high pitch outside. One down, one on for Encarnacion. 2-0 count, pops up to Kinsler behind first base, two down for Hill. This guy is long overdue, there you go Aaron, singles to right, Jose to second, two on for Snider. Travis you are also long overdue. But that is it for Lowe, here comes Washington. Darren Oliver now pitching. Lefty lefty matchup. A base hit is all we need Travis. Fly ball to Hamilton for third out leaving two out there.
Bottom 9th: Rzepczynski now pitching. Patterson in right for Thames. Napoli pinch hitting for Davis. full count, oh boy ball four. You can’t do this Marc. You had him 0-2. Moreland. Showing bunt. Oh no. Bunts back to Rzepczynski, barehanding it, looks at second and throw to Lind, pulls him off base, error to Rzepczynski. How many times are you drilled go for the certain out. That was awful and could be very costly, here comes Farrell. Rauch now has the almost impossible task of getting the three top hitters without giving up a hit. Gentry pinch running at first. Kinsler, bunting , Rauch throw to first gets one, but now go ahead run is in scoring position. Andrus, squeeze play here comes the runner to score but Arencibia throw to first for second out. 4-4 game. Hamilton intentional walk. Young with winning run at third and two down. 1-2 count, lines it to right, Patterson all turned around and cannot get to this one. That is the play Bautista routinely makes. Jays lose 5-4 but it is Rzepczysnki tonight who blows a huge opportunity for the Jays to win.
The excellent: JP third home run in two days. Jays three run sixth inning.
The very good: Great defensive plays by Jays, Snider a couple of great plays, Encarnacion also. Frasor two great innings to keep it close. Jays hitters fight back to go ahead in the sixth.
The really terrible and unforgiveable: Rzepczysnki, the goat of the night, walking the first hitter but also messing up the play on Moreland which turned out to be so crucial. It demonstrates to me at least how crucial it is to have a reliable closer. It certainly is not Rzepczysnki. Jays lose the series instead of fighting tomorrow for the win.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Jays bats silent as Texas wins 12-2 but Arencibia goes deep twice
Jays v Rangers Game one of three
Short road trip for the Jays three game series with Texas. Bautista returns to third base. This will be tough series against the west division leaders. Texas has had a twelve game win streak end a couple of games ago and have won their last nine at home. Jays are once again above .500, can they stay there.
Line-ups: Jays: Escobar, Thames, Bautista, Lind, Encarnacion, Snider, Hill, Patterson, Arencibia and JoJo Reyes pitching.
Rangers: Kinsler, Andrus, Hamilton, Beltre, Young, Cruz, Napoli, Torrealba, Gentry and Colby Lewis pitching.
Top 1st: Escobar, grounds to Beltre at third, throw to Napoli at first one down. Thames, pops it up to Hamilton in left, two down. Bautista, 3-1 count, ball four down and away, one on for Lind. Grounds to Kinsler at second throw to Napoli at first to end the inning.
Bottom 1st: Kinsler leading off. 2-2 count, grounds to Bautista at third, throw to Lind one down. Andrus, bounces to Hill at second, throw to Lind, two down for Hamilton. 2-2 count, grounds to Hill throw to Lind to end the inning.
Top 2nd: Encarnacion strikes out, one down for Snider. Strikes out swinging, two down for Hill. Grounds to Andrus and Jays go quietly three up and down.
Bottom 2nd: Beltre, 3-1 count, inside ball four, one on for Young, singles past diving Escobar to left, Beltre all the way to third, two on for Cruz, nobody out, Reyes in trouble here. Lines it into left field corner, here comes Beltre, Hamilton stops at third and Cruz into second, 1-0 Rangers still nobody out. Napoli, 3-1 count, in danger of loading the bases. Full count. Grounds to Escobar, looks Cruz back to second, throw to Lind for first out as run scores 2-0 Rangers. Torrealba, 2-2 count, strikes out swinging. Two down for Gentry. Full count. Lines it deep to left centre for Snider to make the catch. Could have been a lot worse inning for Reyes. But pitch count already high at 44.
Top 3rd: Patterson leading off. Ugly pop up to Beltre at the mound. One down for Arencibia, when did he last hit number nine spot. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging, he is having a miserable time right now hitting, average sinking fast to .200. Escobar again with two down. Takes third strike. Jays not doing much against Lewis so far.
Bottom 3rd: Kinsler leading off. 2-2 count, grounds to Hill, nice play Aaron going to his left, throw to Lind for the out. One down for Andrus, bounces first pitch high back to Reyes, great play by Reyes to snare it and throw to Lind, two down. Hamilton, high fly ball to Snider for third out. Great quick inning by Reyes to the top of the order.
Top 4th: Thames leading off.3-1 count, ball four, Thames walks for Bautista. 2-1 count, 3-1, whoa, long drive to left centre but not far enough as caught by Gentry at the wall. But Jose really hammered that one. Lind, fly ball to Cruz in right, two down. Encarnacion. 0-2 count, strikes out swinging, Thames left out there at first.
Bottom 4th: Beltre lines it very hard past a diving Bautista into the left corner for stand up double. Young, 3-1 count, slow roller to third, Bautista throw not in time two on. Farrell arguing that runner impeded Bautista. Cruz with two on hammers this one to left centre, no doubt about this one 5-0 Rangers. Napoli pops it up to right Thames cannot get there. Torrealba, pops it up to Thames one down. Gentry, grounds to Hill, throw to Escobar to get Napoli, no chance for double play, two down for Kinsler. Pops it up to Escobar for third out. Pitch count 70.
Top 5th: Reyes needs some run support. Jays hitters missing big-time tonight. Lewis no hitter so far. Snider, 3-1 count, grounds to third, throw to first one down for Hill. Full count, pulls it hard to left great catch by Hamilton to rob Hill of at least a double there. Patterson, whoa this one just misses right field foul pole. The luck tonight is all with Lewis. 2-2 count, pops it up to Beltre at third. But Jays hitters hitting Lewis hard now. That could be 5-2 game with a bit of luck.
Bottom 5th: Andrus, strikes out but pitch goes to the backstop and Andrus reaches first, once again Reyes gets no break, that is one tough play. Hamilton, Andrus going and Arencibia throw gets away into centre, Andrus to third. Error to Arencibia. As we were saying the poor guy not getting any breaks tonight. Hamilton strikes out swinging. That should be two out and nobody on base. Beltre, 0-2 count, singles to right, here comes Andrus 6-0 Texas. Young, 2-0 count, lines it to left over the head of Patterson to the wall and Beltre grabs his hamstring. Yes he is out of there and probably for the series. Runners at second and third. Quintanilla pinch running. Here comes Manager Farrell, that is it for Reyes but don’t blame this guy, he has had no run support and poor defence behind him tonight. Camp now pitching. Cruz, singles back up the middle. Here come two runners 8-0 Texas. Napoli, rolls it to Bautista throw to second and gets Cruz .Two down. Torrealba, off the end of his bat and finally Arencibia does something right with throw to first to get Torrealba.
Top 6th: Jays have a big hill to climb. Break up this no-hitter would be a start. Arencibia chance to make it up to Reyes here. 2-2 count, FINALLY Arencibia gets hold of this one and deep into left field corner seats, home run for JP at long last, breaks up the no hitter 8-1 Texas. Number nine hitter as well, that would hurt Lewis. But for Jays fans it is good to see Arencibia connect for a change after long drought. Escobar grounds to short, throw to first one down. Thames. 2-2 count, drives it to right, Cruz makes the catch two down. Bautista just missed home run last at bat. 0-2 count, off the end of his bat lines it into centre for Gentry.
Bottom 6th: Gentry, hits him in the back. Not the best way to start the inning. One on for Kinsler. Singles to left centre, two on for Andrus. 3-1 count, high pop up to Patterson in left, both runners tags and move into scoring position. Hamilton, intentional walk to load bases, Quintanilla with bases loaded one down. 0-2 count. Bounces to Hill, throw to second no chance for two as run scores. 9-1 Texas. Two on for Young with one down, 3-3 tonight. Not walking him. 2-1 count, lines it into right, Thames error on play two runs score, 11-1 Texas. Young 4-4 Farrell may have wished he had walked him. Cruz singles into right, another run scores 12 -1. Napoli slow roller to third, no chance on the throw and runner safe at first. Nothing going Jays way tonight. Two on for Torrealba, grounds to Bautista at third throw to second to get the runner. Camp will not like his ERA.
Top 7th: Jays need a big comeback here. Lind leading off, singles to centre, that`s a start. Encarnacion. Grounds up the middle Andrus fumbles it big-time steps on the bag without the ball, and both runners safe, Jays luck changing here. Snider with two on and nobody out. Drives it to centre, Lind tags and gets to third. Texas bullpen working now. Jays have seen Lewis out of the game at least. One down two on for Hill, just missed home run tonight, he could mess up Lewis ERA right now, 2-2 count. Pops it up to shallow centre, Gentry throw on the mark and Lind holds at third. Now Ron Washington out to help out Lewis here and his ERA. He can see Jays hitters getting to him. I don’t think Patterson would be the one to hurt it though. Arthur Rhodes now pitching. Rajai Davis pinch hitting for Patterson. Lines it to Hamilton in left. Jays get Lewis out of the game but fail to bring the runners in.
Bottom 7th: Dotel now pitching. Johnny Mac in at third for Bautista, resting his ankle. Gentry grounds to Escobar, throw to Lind one quick out. Kinsler pops it up to Davis in centre, two quick outs. Andrus lines it to Thames in right, four pitch inning by Dotel. Overpowered the Texas hitters or do they want out n the town.
Top 8th: Arencibia leading off, OH YES JP drives this one to deep centre over the wall in to the grass, deepest part of the ballpark, whoa, second home run of the night. The guy was 0-15 before tonight`s game.12-2 Texas, that quiets the crowd. Escobar, first pitch lines to right, one down. Thames. Fly ball to Gentry. Two down for Johnny Mac. Grounds to third, throw to first to end the inning but HUGE for JP and great to see his bat come around.
Bottom 8th: McCoy now playing third, McDonald at short. Francisco pitching. Garbage inning, let’s see what he does. Hamilton leading off. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging. One down for Quantanilla, strikes out swinging, two down. Murphy pinch hitting. 0-2 count, strikes out swinging, very nice Frankie. Dotel and Francisco two great innings.
Top 9th: Jays need 10 to spoil the party here. Lind leading off. Scott Feldman now pitching. First start of the season off the DL. Grounds to second nice play by Kinsler to get to the ball and throw right on the mark to get Lind. Encarnacion, pulls it to third, throw to first, two down for Snider. 0-3 tonight. I am beginning to believe Carole Jays theory of Snider playing in centre negatively impacting his hitting, this is the third game that he has played in centre without a hit. Full count, strikes out swinging, 0-4 night for Travis.
Jays lose big but from this seat at least there were a lot of iffy plays, I counted at least three balls that could have been turned into double plays but were not. Patterson, Bautista and Hill all had hits to the wall or just foul. Arencibia throwing error. Some great defensive plays by the Rangers helped Lewis. This game was by no means a blowout. Reyes had no support. Camp was another story and we have said this before, his arm looks very dead right now. He is a shadow of his earlier reliability. Has he been overused?
The great stuff tonight: JP Arencibia two home runs for all of the Jays offence but when you consider that his average was going south rapidly and he came into the game 0-15 this is a huge game for him and for the Jays. Much too good a bat to be hitting number nine but just maybe the lack of pressure on him will help. Let’s see where Farrell puts him tomorrow.
The other good, at least from this seat, was the pitching of both Dotel and Francisco. Both scoreless innings, sure at the end of a high scoring game but they mean a lot to the Jays to see Francisco in particular strike out the side.
The not so good: JoJo Reyes but once again this guy had zilch run support.
Short road trip for the Jays three game series with Texas. Bautista returns to third base. This will be tough series against the west division leaders. Texas has had a twelve game win streak end a couple of games ago and have won their last nine at home. Jays are once again above .500, can they stay there.
Line-ups: Jays: Escobar, Thames, Bautista, Lind, Encarnacion, Snider, Hill, Patterson, Arencibia and JoJo Reyes pitching.
Rangers: Kinsler, Andrus, Hamilton, Beltre, Young, Cruz, Napoli, Torrealba, Gentry and Colby Lewis pitching.
Top 1st: Escobar, grounds to Beltre at third, throw to Napoli at first one down. Thames, pops it up to Hamilton in left, two down. Bautista, 3-1 count, ball four down and away, one on for Lind. Grounds to Kinsler at second throw to Napoli at first to end the inning.
Bottom 1st: Kinsler leading off. 2-2 count, grounds to Bautista at third, throw to Lind one down. Andrus, bounces to Hill at second, throw to Lind, two down for Hamilton. 2-2 count, grounds to Hill throw to Lind to end the inning.
Top 2nd: Encarnacion strikes out, one down for Snider. Strikes out swinging, two down for Hill. Grounds to Andrus and Jays go quietly three up and down.
Bottom 2nd: Beltre, 3-1 count, inside ball four, one on for Young, singles past diving Escobar to left, Beltre all the way to third, two on for Cruz, nobody out, Reyes in trouble here. Lines it into left field corner, here comes Beltre, Hamilton stops at third and Cruz into second, 1-0 Rangers still nobody out. Napoli, 3-1 count, in danger of loading the bases. Full count. Grounds to Escobar, looks Cruz back to second, throw to Lind for first out as run scores 2-0 Rangers. Torrealba, 2-2 count, strikes out swinging. Two down for Gentry. Full count. Lines it deep to left centre for Snider to make the catch. Could have been a lot worse inning for Reyes. But pitch count already high at 44.
Top 3rd: Patterson leading off. Ugly pop up to Beltre at the mound. One down for Arencibia, when did he last hit number nine spot. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging, he is having a miserable time right now hitting, average sinking fast to .200. Escobar again with two down. Takes third strike. Jays not doing much against Lewis so far.
Bottom 3rd: Kinsler leading off. 2-2 count, grounds to Hill, nice play Aaron going to his left, throw to Lind for the out. One down for Andrus, bounces first pitch high back to Reyes, great play by Reyes to snare it and throw to Lind, two down. Hamilton, high fly ball to Snider for third out. Great quick inning by Reyes to the top of the order.
Top 4th: Thames leading off.3-1 count, ball four, Thames walks for Bautista. 2-1 count, 3-1, whoa, long drive to left centre but not far enough as caught by Gentry at the wall. But Jose really hammered that one. Lind, fly ball to Cruz in right, two down. Encarnacion. 0-2 count, strikes out swinging, Thames left out there at first.
Bottom 4th: Beltre lines it very hard past a diving Bautista into the left corner for stand up double. Young, 3-1 count, slow roller to third, Bautista throw not in time two on. Farrell arguing that runner impeded Bautista. Cruz with two on hammers this one to left centre, no doubt about this one 5-0 Rangers. Napoli pops it up to right Thames cannot get there. Torrealba, pops it up to Thames one down. Gentry, grounds to Hill, throw to Escobar to get Napoli, no chance for double play, two down for Kinsler. Pops it up to Escobar for third out. Pitch count 70.
Top 5th: Reyes needs some run support. Jays hitters missing big-time tonight. Lewis no hitter so far. Snider, 3-1 count, grounds to third, throw to first one down for Hill. Full count, pulls it hard to left great catch by Hamilton to rob Hill of at least a double there. Patterson, whoa this one just misses right field foul pole. The luck tonight is all with Lewis. 2-2 count, pops it up to Beltre at third. But Jays hitters hitting Lewis hard now. That could be 5-2 game with a bit of luck.
Bottom 5th: Andrus, strikes out but pitch goes to the backstop and Andrus reaches first, once again Reyes gets no break, that is one tough play. Hamilton, Andrus going and Arencibia throw gets away into centre, Andrus to third. Error to Arencibia. As we were saying the poor guy not getting any breaks tonight. Hamilton strikes out swinging. That should be two out and nobody on base. Beltre, 0-2 count, singles to right, here comes Andrus 6-0 Texas. Young, 2-0 count, lines it to left over the head of Patterson to the wall and Beltre grabs his hamstring. Yes he is out of there and probably for the series. Runners at second and third. Quintanilla pinch running. Here comes Manager Farrell, that is it for Reyes but don’t blame this guy, he has had no run support and poor defence behind him tonight. Camp now pitching. Cruz, singles back up the middle. Here come two runners 8-0 Texas. Napoli, rolls it to Bautista throw to second and gets Cruz .Two down. Torrealba, off the end of his bat and finally Arencibia does something right with throw to first to get Torrealba.
Top 6th: Jays have a big hill to climb. Break up this no-hitter would be a start. Arencibia chance to make it up to Reyes here. 2-2 count, FINALLY Arencibia gets hold of this one and deep into left field corner seats, home run for JP at long last, breaks up the no hitter 8-1 Texas. Number nine hitter as well, that would hurt Lewis. But for Jays fans it is good to see Arencibia connect for a change after long drought. Escobar grounds to short, throw to first one down. Thames. 2-2 count, drives it to right, Cruz makes the catch two down. Bautista just missed home run last at bat. 0-2 count, off the end of his bat lines it into centre for Gentry.
Bottom 6th: Gentry, hits him in the back. Not the best way to start the inning. One on for Kinsler. Singles to left centre, two on for Andrus. 3-1 count, high pop up to Patterson in left, both runners tags and move into scoring position. Hamilton, intentional walk to load bases, Quintanilla with bases loaded one down. 0-2 count. Bounces to Hill, throw to second no chance for two as run scores. 9-1 Texas. Two on for Young with one down, 3-3 tonight. Not walking him. 2-1 count, lines it into right, Thames error on play two runs score, 11-1 Texas. Young 4-4 Farrell may have wished he had walked him. Cruz singles into right, another run scores 12 -1. Napoli slow roller to third, no chance on the throw and runner safe at first. Nothing going Jays way tonight. Two on for Torrealba, grounds to Bautista at third throw to second to get the runner. Camp will not like his ERA.
Top 7th: Jays need a big comeback here. Lind leading off, singles to centre, that`s a start. Encarnacion. Grounds up the middle Andrus fumbles it big-time steps on the bag without the ball, and both runners safe, Jays luck changing here. Snider with two on and nobody out. Drives it to centre, Lind tags and gets to third. Texas bullpen working now. Jays have seen Lewis out of the game at least. One down two on for Hill, just missed home run tonight, he could mess up Lewis ERA right now, 2-2 count. Pops it up to shallow centre, Gentry throw on the mark and Lind holds at third. Now Ron Washington out to help out Lewis here and his ERA. He can see Jays hitters getting to him. I don’t think Patterson would be the one to hurt it though. Arthur Rhodes now pitching. Rajai Davis pinch hitting for Patterson. Lines it to Hamilton in left. Jays get Lewis out of the game but fail to bring the runners in.
Bottom 7th: Dotel now pitching. Johnny Mac in at third for Bautista, resting his ankle. Gentry grounds to Escobar, throw to Lind one quick out. Kinsler pops it up to Davis in centre, two quick outs. Andrus lines it to Thames in right, four pitch inning by Dotel. Overpowered the Texas hitters or do they want out n the town.
Top 8th: Arencibia leading off, OH YES JP drives this one to deep centre over the wall in to the grass, deepest part of the ballpark, whoa, second home run of the night. The guy was 0-15 before tonight`s game.12-2 Texas, that quiets the crowd. Escobar, first pitch lines to right, one down. Thames. Fly ball to Gentry. Two down for Johnny Mac. Grounds to third, throw to first to end the inning but HUGE for JP and great to see his bat come around.
Bottom 8th: McCoy now playing third, McDonald at short. Francisco pitching. Garbage inning, let’s see what he does. Hamilton leading off. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging. One down for Quantanilla, strikes out swinging, two down. Murphy pinch hitting. 0-2 count, strikes out swinging, very nice Frankie. Dotel and Francisco two great innings.
Top 9th: Jays need 10 to spoil the party here. Lind leading off. Scott Feldman now pitching. First start of the season off the DL. Grounds to second nice play by Kinsler to get to the ball and throw right on the mark to get Lind. Encarnacion, pulls it to third, throw to first, two down for Snider. 0-3 tonight. I am beginning to believe Carole Jays theory of Snider playing in centre negatively impacting his hitting, this is the third game that he has played in centre without a hit. Full count, strikes out swinging, 0-4 night for Travis.
Jays lose big but from this seat at least there were a lot of iffy plays, I counted at least three balls that could have been turned into double plays but were not. Patterson, Bautista and Hill all had hits to the wall or just foul. Arencibia throwing error. Some great defensive plays by the Rangers helped Lewis. This game was by no means a blowout. Reyes had no support. Camp was another story and we have said this before, his arm looks very dead right now. He is a shadow of his earlier reliability. Has he been overused?
The great stuff tonight: JP Arencibia two home runs for all of the Jays offence but when you consider that his average was going south rapidly and he came into the game 0-15 this is a huge game for him and for the Jays. Much too good a bat to be hitting number nine but just maybe the lack of pressure on him will help. Let’s see where Farrell puts him tomorrow.
The other good, at least from this seat, was the pitching of both Dotel and Francisco. Both scoreless innings, sure at the end of a high scoring game but they mean a lot to the Jays to see Francisco in particular strike out the side.
The not so good: JoJo Reyes but once again this guy had zilch run support.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Jays win a thriller 7-5 with clutch hititng from McCoy and Davis
Mariners v Jays. Series finale.
Jays going for the sweep this afternoon, a midday game I love these always full of energy with the children. Today it is Camp day and the fifth deck is almost filled to the foul line in left. Plus they have closed the roof thank goodness in this heat, a record for Toronto for July 21st. Humidity is 47 % with temperature in the high 30’s. It is HOT… Today Romero pitching and Seattle trying to avoid twelve game losing streak, but then again this is the type of game Jays consistently lose.
Line-ups: Mariners: Suzuki, Ryan, Kennedy, Olivo, Smoak, Bard, Gutierrez, Figgins, Wilson and Fister pitching. How do you select a team that has lost eleven in a row? Manager Wedge has a nightmare of a job.
Jays: Escobar, Thames, Bautista, Lind, Encarnacion, Snider, Arencibia, Patterson, McCoy and Romero pitching. Jose still DH today to get than ankle fit again plus the artificial turf in Toronto is not very friendly for the injury so he may return in Texas series.
Top 1st: Ichiro grounds to McCoy at second, cannot handle it and no chance to get Ichiro at first. Poor guy not a great start subbing for Hill today. Ryan, that’s better, grounds to Escobar, throw to McCoy over to Lind just gets Ryan at first, that was an excellent double play as Ichiro runs very hard and McCoy has not had many chances at second to turn those, he will feel much better after that first play got away. Kennedy, strikes out. Great first inning for Romero six pitches. A little different from the high 20’s that Morrow had last night. I think it is important for Jays to get going early today and totally depress the Mariners on that eleven game losing streak.
Bottom 1st: Escobar on a 24 consecutive base reaching game streak, grounds to Wilson playing at second today, throw to Smoak at first, one down. Escobar not running to first and gets at least a couple of fans calling him out on that. Thames strikes out, two down for Bautista, listen to that ovation, nothing like 20,000 plus young children able to shout as loud as they like. No luck here though as he grounds to Smoak at first to end the inning. Fister looks good out there.
Top 2nd: Olivo grounds to Encarnacion, may be playing his last game at third for a while at least if Jose returns in Texas. There are also rumours that Lawrie might join the team in Texas but I am not sure about that as he had a rough double header yesterday going hitless. Smoak, lines this very hard bit right at Encarnacion, two down. Bard strikes out.
Bottom 2nd: Lind leading off, strikes out. One down for Encarnacion pops it up to Ryan at shirt, two down for Snider, grounds to Smoak at first who flips to Fister covering for the third out. Fister matching Romero here for low pitch count and speed of the innings. This game will be over in an hour at this rate.
Top 3rd: Gutierrez grounds to third, hits the bag and bounces into left. Figgins with one on, strikes out. Wilson fly ball to Snider playing centre field today. Ichiro, there goes Gutierrez and safe at second. Not sure Ricky saw that coming. Ichiro 3-0 and ball four, two on for Ryan, here goes Ichiro and Gutierrez, double steal and both safe. Ryan strikes out looking, leaving two in scoring position. Strike out number three for Romero.
Bottom 3rd: Patterson, strikes out. One down for Arencibia, pops up to Smoak at first, two down, the gossip is that JP is still hurting with the thumb injury, probably makes sense as he is not getting a lengthy time to let it heal but that is probably occupational for all catchers. He is certainly not throwing or hitting the way he can. McCoy lines this one to centre but Gutierrez has it to end the inning. Fister and Romero are going at it head to toe here. Nine up and down for Fister.
Top 4th: Kennedy, lines it to Patterson in left for the out. Olivo fly ball to centre but Snider has it no problem. Two down for Smoak, grounds to Escobar, throw to Lind for the out. Another three up and down for Romero, this game is hustling along.
Bottom 4th: Escobar leading off, grounds to Ryan at short throw to Smoak, one down for Thames. There we go first hit for the Jays as he lines it into right. One on for Bautista. Wild pitch and Thames moves up to second. Jose lines it to centre but Gutierrez has no problem with this one for the out. Two down for Lind, fly ball to Figgins in left to end the inning and leave Thames out there. Right now Fister is pitching just as well if not better than Romero.
Top 5th: Bard, fly ball to left but Patterson has it for the out. One down for Gutierrez, grounds to Escobar at short, throw to Lind, two down. Figgins, ball four and second walk by Romero. Not the guy he wants to walk though. Wilson, there goes Figgins and steals second easily. Wilson 3-0, Romero seems rattled again with the runner on as he was in the third inning. Ball four and another walk and to the number nine guy. Two on for Ichiro. What happened there? Romero waking off he thought it was strike three, no he just got a piece. Ichiro doesn’t miss this chance for s second shot. Singles to Snider in centre, here comes Figgins to score first run, Ichiro goes to second as the throw misses the cut-off guy, Wilson at third, two now in scoring position, that could be a costly error by Snider. 1-0 Mariners. The way Fister is pitching this could be enough today. Ryan, whoa great curve and strikes out Ryan, that was a great pitch. Romero needed that badly. Second time that Ryan has left two on.
Bottom 5th: Jays need some runs here. Encarnacion, full count, ball four. Good start. Snider, pops up to Kennedy at third, one down. Patterson, fly ball to Ichiro in right, two down one on for Arencibia. Pouch that hurts, hits him and Arencibia to first. Two on two down for McCoy. Way to go Mikey lines this one to left. Here comes Edwin, 1-1 game. Arencibia being held at third. McCoy has a double. Top of the order again Escobar, no Yunel, first pitch grounds to Wilson at second throw to Smoak for third out. Not sure about that and I hope Butterfield did not hold up Arencibia at third for Escobar at bat.
Top 6th: Romero back even. Kennedy leading off, fly ballot left but Patterson has it, one down. Olivo, grounds to Escobar, throw to Lind, two down. Smoak, strikes out. Romero makes short work of those three.
Bottom 6th: Thames strikes out, oh dear. Go on Eric., he didn’t realise the ball got away from Olivo and is now running and gets to first without a throw from Olivo. That was very lucky. Bautista with Thames at first, OH Jose, hammers this one to left, here comes Thames and Jays go ahead 2-1. That is what is called sheer luck… after striking out the guy gets a run. Mariners must wonder what they have to do to win a game. That was really bad luck. Lind now with Bautista at second, chance for a big inning here. Grounds to Wilson at second, throw to Smoak at first, one down but Bautista to third. Encarnacion, pops it up to Wilson at second, one of those high pops up specials from Edwin, no chance for Bautista to come home. Two down for Snider. Lines it to centre to Gutierrez for the third out, that was the hit Edwin should have made. Jays get one but very lucky one and fail to bring in Bautista on three chances, that is not good at all, but on the other hand give some credit to Fister.
Top 7th: Bard, strikes out. Gutierrez, strikes out, Romero really bearing down here with this one run lead. Figgins, he strikes out. Ricky strikes out the side and looked mean doing it. His best inning of the game. Nine strikeouts today for Romero.
Bottom 7th: Patterson leading off, grounds to short, but beats out the throw, very nice speed Corey. Arencibia, bunting here, or at least trying to, Fister is missing, 3-0 count, ball four, two on nobody out for McCoy. He bunts and grounds back to Fister, oh he fumbles it and McCoy safe at first, error to Fister, he had plenty of time to make the play. Bases loaded for Escobar, there you go Yunel, singles back at Fister and that looked as if it hit his glove, ball into centre field, here comes Patterson, 3-1 Jays. And Escobar, has his base reaching streak extended to 25 consecutive games. Thames, full count, Fister really has fallen apart here, he had been so good. Ball four and here comes another run, 4-1 Jays. Davis pinch running for Thames. And with Bautista coming to bat that is it for Fister. Tough ending for him. Ray now pitching, Davis there we go Jose fly ball to Gutierrez in centre, more than enough for McCoy to tag and score, 5-1 Jays. Escobar goes to second but Davis holds at first on the throw. Lind, there goes Davis without a throw. Two now in scoring position. Ooops they are walking Lind now, maybe that was not a good idea Rajai. Bases loaded for Encarnacion. Oh dear Edwin, not your day is it, pops it up yet again to Wilson at second and no chance for runner to score. That is the second time he has done that with runners at third. I hope he is not reverting back to that early season trend. Snider fly ball to Figgins in left. Jays get three but that could have a lot more with bases loaded and one out.
Top 8th: Romero now has a four run lead to work with. Davis moves to centre, Snider to left and Patterson to right. Wilson grounds to Escobar, throw to Lind, one down. Ichiro grounds to Lind at first but Romero too slow to get to the bag to take the throw and Ichiro takes first, he still has that speed. Ryan grounds to Escobar at short and beats the throw. Two on one down for Kennedy, ball three, Romero not sharp here, ball four and he has loaded them up. Oh boy… and here comes Farrell. Both pitchers had pitched so well for six innings. Casey Janssen now pitching with bases loaded and one down. Olivo, NO, NO, Casey, I don’t believe it, he has hammered this one to centre, Davis turns and looks at it and this game is all tied up 5-5, can you believe it? This place is dead silent, everyone is as shell shocked as Janssen, and Romero must be devastated. It may well be that the Mariners are due for some good luck but this is too much. I have rarely heard this stadium so quiet. And off Janssen of all people, such a solid performer all season long. Jon Rauch is warming up in the bullpen. Smoak, singles to Davis in centre, Janssen is obviously still upset. Bard with one on and one down, singles to Davis in centre. This is bad and Farrell also thinks so and he is out of the dugout fast. That is it for Casey, whoa I would never have imagined that. Rauch now pitching with two on and one down, this may not be over yet friends. Halman now pinch running for Smoak. Gutierrez pops it up to Escobar, two down. Figgins, strikes him out, you can hear that cheer miles away but this one is a whole new ball game and neither starter will get the win.
Bottom 8th: How do you come back from that one? Kennedy now at first. Halman in left, Figgins at third. Pauley now pitching. Patterson, grounds to Wilson at second, throw to Kennedy at first, one down. Arencibia, strikes out, two quick outs for Pauley. Number nine McCoy, there we go Mikey, does it again, lines to left and dives in to second to beat the throw. In scoring position but Jays have not been too good today. Escobar, ball three, patience here for Escobar, ball four and walks to out two on for Davis. OH YES Rajai, lines it to right, here comes McCoy and followed by Escobar, running twice as fast as he usually does, Jays get two more and go out ahead 7-5. Mariners really must think they are jinxed. Not over yet as Bautista to the plate, intentional walk, not even giving him the chance. Two on for Lind. Adam show them what you can do. No not this time, fly ball to Halman in left, Jays leave two more on but have two runs, will it be enough this time? And who will take ninth inning?
Top 9th: Jon Rauch out again to try to finish this one off. Ackley for Wilson, pops it up to Escobar, one down for Ichiro, who has been a real pain today. Not this time, fly ball to Patterson in right Corey makes the catch. Two down for Ryan, strike two, we are on our feet, NOISY…. Singles to centre, we all sit down again, this is déjà vu and our hearts can only take so much. Kennedy, strike two, up we get again, YES this time strike three and Rauch pounds his fist and quite right, this was one game that would have been awful to let get away. Jays win 7-5 but what a roller coaster ending. Rauch gets the win.
On to Texas who have just lost their second in a row after their twelve game win streak.
Tough award, today definitely goes to Fister who pitched so very well only marginally less than Romero for seven. But heartbreaker goes to Romero but we all have to feel for Manager Wedge.
The very good: Today I give the awards to Mike McCoy his two hits, and Davis with his game winning double.
The good: Romero who was very, very good for seven then fell apart in the eighth but even so his bullpen should have picked him up for the win. Tough no decision for him but then it could have been a lot worse. However he is now winless in his last four starts. Jon Rauch had an excellent outing, picking up Janssen but also getting the deserved win in the ninth, this would have been one tough loss for the Jays if they had let this one get away.
The lousy: Obviously Janssen, but also Edwin did not play well today leaving runners on base twice at crucial times in the game. But once again the old bugbear runners in scoring position 3-13 today. WOW indeed. Encarnacion and Snider leave nine on base between them, what a change from last night’s game.
Carole Jay has an interesting theory that Snider is so focused on playing centre that his hitting is suffering. I think she has something there as this is the second game he has hit poorly playing centre.
This game had everything though for great entertainment and enough lousy luck for the Mariners to really to wonder who broke the mirror a couple of weeks ago to start this twelve game losing streak when they were within one of the division lead, that is tough indeed.
BUT every Jays fan wishes them luck as they now head to Fenway and hope they can not only break the losing streak but sweep those Red Sox. Go Mariners.
Jays have to play them again in September and it could be very different.
Jays going for the sweep this afternoon, a midday game I love these always full of energy with the children. Today it is Camp day and the fifth deck is almost filled to the foul line in left. Plus they have closed the roof thank goodness in this heat, a record for Toronto for July 21st. Humidity is 47 % with temperature in the high 30’s. It is HOT… Today Romero pitching and Seattle trying to avoid twelve game losing streak, but then again this is the type of game Jays consistently lose.
Line-ups: Mariners: Suzuki, Ryan, Kennedy, Olivo, Smoak, Bard, Gutierrez, Figgins, Wilson and Fister pitching. How do you select a team that has lost eleven in a row? Manager Wedge has a nightmare of a job.
Jays: Escobar, Thames, Bautista, Lind, Encarnacion, Snider, Arencibia, Patterson, McCoy and Romero pitching. Jose still DH today to get than ankle fit again plus the artificial turf in Toronto is not very friendly for the injury so he may return in Texas series.
Top 1st: Ichiro grounds to McCoy at second, cannot handle it and no chance to get Ichiro at first. Poor guy not a great start subbing for Hill today. Ryan, that’s better, grounds to Escobar, throw to McCoy over to Lind just gets Ryan at first, that was an excellent double play as Ichiro runs very hard and McCoy has not had many chances at second to turn those, he will feel much better after that first play got away. Kennedy, strikes out. Great first inning for Romero six pitches. A little different from the high 20’s that Morrow had last night. I think it is important for Jays to get going early today and totally depress the Mariners on that eleven game losing streak.
Bottom 1st: Escobar on a 24 consecutive base reaching game streak, grounds to Wilson playing at second today, throw to Smoak at first, one down. Escobar not running to first and gets at least a couple of fans calling him out on that. Thames strikes out, two down for Bautista, listen to that ovation, nothing like 20,000 plus young children able to shout as loud as they like. No luck here though as he grounds to Smoak at first to end the inning. Fister looks good out there.
Top 2nd: Olivo grounds to Encarnacion, may be playing his last game at third for a while at least if Jose returns in Texas. There are also rumours that Lawrie might join the team in Texas but I am not sure about that as he had a rough double header yesterday going hitless. Smoak, lines this very hard bit right at Encarnacion, two down. Bard strikes out.
Bottom 2nd: Lind leading off, strikes out. One down for Encarnacion pops it up to Ryan at shirt, two down for Snider, grounds to Smoak at first who flips to Fister covering for the third out. Fister matching Romero here for low pitch count and speed of the innings. This game will be over in an hour at this rate.
Top 3rd: Gutierrez grounds to third, hits the bag and bounces into left. Figgins with one on, strikes out. Wilson fly ball to Snider playing centre field today. Ichiro, there goes Gutierrez and safe at second. Not sure Ricky saw that coming. Ichiro 3-0 and ball four, two on for Ryan, here goes Ichiro and Gutierrez, double steal and both safe. Ryan strikes out looking, leaving two in scoring position. Strike out number three for Romero.
Bottom 3rd: Patterson, strikes out. One down for Arencibia, pops up to Smoak at first, two down, the gossip is that JP is still hurting with the thumb injury, probably makes sense as he is not getting a lengthy time to let it heal but that is probably occupational for all catchers. He is certainly not throwing or hitting the way he can. McCoy lines this one to centre but Gutierrez has it to end the inning. Fister and Romero are going at it head to toe here. Nine up and down for Fister.
Top 4th: Kennedy, lines it to Patterson in left for the out. Olivo fly ball to centre but Snider has it no problem. Two down for Smoak, grounds to Escobar, throw to Lind for the out. Another three up and down for Romero, this game is hustling along.
Bottom 4th: Escobar leading off, grounds to Ryan at short throw to Smoak, one down for Thames. There we go first hit for the Jays as he lines it into right. One on for Bautista. Wild pitch and Thames moves up to second. Jose lines it to centre but Gutierrez has no problem with this one for the out. Two down for Lind, fly ball to Figgins in left to end the inning and leave Thames out there. Right now Fister is pitching just as well if not better than Romero.
Top 5th: Bard, fly ball to left but Patterson has it for the out. One down for Gutierrez, grounds to Escobar at short, throw to Lind, two down. Figgins, ball four and second walk by Romero. Not the guy he wants to walk though. Wilson, there goes Figgins and steals second easily. Wilson 3-0, Romero seems rattled again with the runner on as he was in the third inning. Ball four and another walk and to the number nine guy. Two on for Ichiro. What happened there? Romero waking off he thought it was strike three, no he just got a piece. Ichiro doesn’t miss this chance for s second shot. Singles to Snider in centre, here comes Figgins to score first run, Ichiro goes to second as the throw misses the cut-off guy, Wilson at third, two now in scoring position, that could be a costly error by Snider. 1-0 Mariners. The way Fister is pitching this could be enough today. Ryan, whoa great curve and strikes out Ryan, that was a great pitch. Romero needed that badly. Second time that Ryan has left two on.
Bottom 5th: Jays need some runs here. Encarnacion, full count, ball four. Good start. Snider, pops up to Kennedy at third, one down. Patterson, fly ball to Ichiro in right, two down one on for Arencibia. Pouch that hurts, hits him and Arencibia to first. Two on two down for McCoy. Way to go Mikey lines this one to left. Here comes Edwin, 1-1 game. Arencibia being held at third. McCoy has a double. Top of the order again Escobar, no Yunel, first pitch grounds to Wilson at second throw to Smoak for third out. Not sure about that and I hope Butterfield did not hold up Arencibia at third for Escobar at bat.
Top 6th: Romero back even. Kennedy leading off, fly ballot left but Patterson has it, one down. Olivo, grounds to Escobar, throw to Lind, two down. Smoak, strikes out. Romero makes short work of those three.
Bottom 6th: Thames strikes out, oh dear. Go on Eric., he didn’t realise the ball got away from Olivo and is now running and gets to first without a throw from Olivo. That was very lucky. Bautista with Thames at first, OH Jose, hammers this one to left, here comes Thames and Jays go ahead 2-1. That is what is called sheer luck… after striking out the guy gets a run. Mariners must wonder what they have to do to win a game. That was really bad luck. Lind now with Bautista at second, chance for a big inning here. Grounds to Wilson at second, throw to Smoak at first, one down but Bautista to third. Encarnacion, pops it up to Wilson at second, one of those high pops up specials from Edwin, no chance for Bautista to come home. Two down for Snider. Lines it to centre to Gutierrez for the third out, that was the hit Edwin should have made. Jays get one but very lucky one and fail to bring in Bautista on three chances, that is not good at all, but on the other hand give some credit to Fister.
Top 7th: Bard, strikes out. Gutierrez, strikes out, Romero really bearing down here with this one run lead. Figgins, he strikes out. Ricky strikes out the side and looked mean doing it. His best inning of the game. Nine strikeouts today for Romero.
Bottom 7th: Patterson leading off, grounds to short, but beats out the throw, very nice speed Corey. Arencibia, bunting here, or at least trying to, Fister is missing, 3-0 count, ball four, two on nobody out for McCoy. He bunts and grounds back to Fister, oh he fumbles it and McCoy safe at first, error to Fister, he had plenty of time to make the play. Bases loaded for Escobar, there you go Yunel, singles back at Fister and that looked as if it hit his glove, ball into centre field, here comes Patterson, 3-1 Jays. And Escobar, has his base reaching streak extended to 25 consecutive games. Thames, full count, Fister really has fallen apart here, he had been so good. Ball four and here comes another run, 4-1 Jays. Davis pinch running for Thames. And with Bautista coming to bat that is it for Fister. Tough ending for him. Ray now pitching, Davis there we go Jose fly ball to Gutierrez in centre, more than enough for McCoy to tag and score, 5-1 Jays. Escobar goes to second but Davis holds at first on the throw. Lind, there goes Davis without a throw. Two now in scoring position. Ooops they are walking Lind now, maybe that was not a good idea Rajai. Bases loaded for Encarnacion. Oh dear Edwin, not your day is it, pops it up yet again to Wilson at second and no chance for runner to score. That is the second time he has done that with runners at third. I hope he is not reverting back to that early season trend. Snider fly ball to Figgins in left. Jays get three but that could have a lot more with bases loaded and one out.
Top 8th: Romero now has a four run lead to work with. Davis moves to centre, Snider to left and Patterson to right. Wilson grounds to Escobar, throw to Lind, one down. Ichiro grounds to Lind at first but Romero too slow to get to the bag to take the throw and Ichiro takes first, he still has that speed. Ryan grounds to Escobar at short and beats the throw. Two on one down for Kennedy, ball three, Romero not sharp here, ball four and he has loaded them up. Oh boy… and here comes Farrell. Both pitchers had pitched so well for six innings. Casey Janssen now pitching with bases loaded and one down. Olivo, NO, NO, Casey, I don’t believe it, he has hammered this one to centre, Davis turns and looks at it and this game is all tied up 5-5, can you believe it? This place is dead silent, everyone is as shell shocked as Janssen, and Romero must be devastated. It may well be that the Mariners are due for some good luck but this is too much. I have rarely heard this stadium so quiet. And off Janssen of all people, such a solid performer all season long. Jon Rauch is warming up in the bullpen. Smoak, singles to Davis in centre, Janssen is obviously still upset. Bard with one on and one down, singles to Davis in centre. This is bad and Farrell also thinks so and he is out of the dugout fast. That is it for Casey, whoa I would never have imagined that. Rauch now pitching with two on and one down, this may not be over yet friends. Halman now pinch running for Smoak. Gutierrez pops it up to Escobar, two down. Figgins, strikes him out, you can hear that cheer miles away but this one is a whole new ball game and neither starter will get the win.
Bottom 8th: How do you come back from that one? Kennedy now at first. Halman in left, Figgins at third. Pauley now pitching. Patterson, grounds to Wilson at second, throw to Kennedy at first, one down. Arencibia, strikes out, two quick outs for Pauley. Number nine McCoy, there we go Mikey, does it again, lines to left and dives in to second to beat the throw. In scoring position but Jays have not been too good today. Escobar, ball three, patience here for Escobar, ball four and walks to out two on for Davis. OH YES Rajai, lines it to right, here comes McCoy and followed by Escobar, running twice as fast as he usually does, Jays get two more and go out ahead 7-5. Mariners really must think they are jinxed. Not over yet as Bautista to the plate, intentional walk, not even giving him the chance. Two on for Lind. Adam show them what you can do. No not this time, fly ball to Halman in left, Jays leave two more on but have two runs, will it be enough this time? And who will take ninth inning?
Top 9th: Jon Rauch out again to try to finish this one off. Ackley for Wilson, pops it up to Escobar, one down for Ichiro, who has been a real pain today. Not this time, fly ball to Patterson in right Corey makes the catch. Two down for Ryan, strike two, we are on our feet, NOISY…. Singles to centre, we all sit down again, this is déjà vu and our hearts can only take so much. Kennedy, strike two, up we get again, YES this time strike three and Rauch pounds his fist and quite right, this was one game that would have been awful to let get away. Jays win 7-5 but what a roller coaster ending. Rauch gets the win.
On to Texas who have just lost their second in a row after their twelve game win streak.
Tough award, today definitely goes to Fister who pitched so very well only marginally less than Romero for seven. But heartbreaker goes to Romero but we all have to feel for Manager Wedge.
The very good: Today I give the awards to Mike McCoy his two hits, and Davis with his game winning double.
The good: Romero who was very, very good for seven then fell apart in the eighth but even so his bullpen should have picked him up for the win. Tough no decision for him but then it could have been a lot worse. However he is now winless in his last four starts. Jon Rauch had an excellent outing, picking up Janssen but also getting the deserved win in the ninth, this would have been one tough loss for the Jays if they had let this one get away.
The lousy: Obviously Janssen, but also Edwin did not play well today leaving runners on base twice at crucial times in the game. But once again the old bugbear runners in scoring position 3-13 today. WOW indeed. Encarnacion and Snider leave nine on base between them, what a change from last night’s game.
Carole Jay has an interesting theory that Snider is so focused on playing centre that his hitting is suffering. I think she has something there as this is the second game he has hit poorly playing centre.
This game had everything though for great entertainment and enough lousy luck for the Mariners to really to wonder who broke the mirror a couple of weeks ago to start this twelve game losing streak when they were within one of the division lead, that is tough indeed.
BUT every Jays fan wishes them luck as they now head to Fenway and hope they can not only break the losing streak but sweep those Red Sox. Go Mariners.
Jays have to play them again in September and it could be very different.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)