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 ?