Part 2.

Jays v Mariners. Game one of three.

Line-ups: Mariners: Suzuki, Ryan, Ackley, Olivo, Smoak, Gutierrez, Carp, Figgins, Halman and Pineda pitching
Jays: Escobar,Thames, Bautista back in the line-up but DH tonight, Lind, Encarnacion, Snider, Hill, Arencibia, Patterson and Cecil pitching.

You know that the Mariners have to break the losing streak one day, and with rookie All-Star Pineda pitching you also know that Jays could be in trouble tonight. Not a bad crowd here tonight for a Tuesday. Roof has opened just before the game. I thought we might get some relief from the heat but not to be. It is very sticky out here.

Top 1st: Ichiro leading off, always a danger, lines it to left for Patterson. Snider is now in centre. Ryan, 2-2 count, lines it into left corner, safe at second on the throw. Ackley with runner in scoring position, there goes Ryan and safe on the throw to third, stolen base, singles to Snider in shallow centre, here comes Ryan and Mariners go out ahead 1-0. Olivo with runner at first, still only one out. Singles to right, two on one down. Cecil not fooling anyone. Smoak, full count, pops it up to Thames in shallow right. Two down. Grounds to Escobar, throw to Hill for final out not a good inning by Cecil though, he needs to get that pitch count down.
Bottom 1st: Escobar, singles back up the middle, good response to that one run lead. Thames, first pitch fly ball to centre or first out. Bautista, great ovation from everyone here. First pitch swinging and fly ball to Ichiro for out number two. A little impatient Jose ? Lind, 2-2 count, Adam gets hold of this one, no doubt about this, drives it to right and into the second deck, home run Lind and 2-1 Jays. Encarnacion, pops it up to Ichiro in shallow right. Jays help out Cecil.

Top 2nd: Carp, 0-2 count, drives this one over the head of Patterson in left to the wall and safe on the throw to second. Lead-off double. Figgins, bunting to Hill but no chance here even for a play, safe at first and Carp to third. Number nine Halman, nobody out, two on, 2-0 count, Oh boy, drives this over the head of Patterson into the left field seats, home run and scores three ! Mariners 4-2 lead. Only his second home run this season for Halman. That is the first home run for Mariners since the All-Star break. Still nobody out, Cecil is a mess here. Ichiro, lines it to right but Thames is there to make the catch and first out of the inning. Ryan, 3-1 count, Cecil looks shell-shocked out there. No way, Ryan hammers this one into the Jays bullpen another home run, how bad is this is? his first home run of the season, 5-2 Mariners they have Cecil’s number tonight. Lots of boos now at Cecil. Ackley with only one out. Taps it back to Cecil throw to Lind two down, Bronx cheer from the fans. Olivo, nobody working in the bullpen but it might not be long at this rate. Finally strikes out on high ball. Cecil gives back the lead and looks as if he is ready for another bus trip to Vegas. Might be one way ticket. Mariners are on a nine game losing streak and Cecil has given them five runs in first two innings, can you imagine what that does for their confidence and with Pineda on the mound this is not going to be easy for Jays to get back. I wonder if having the roof open is making these balls fly out. If so it should be the same for the Jays hitters.
Bottom 2nd: Snider, 2-2 count, Pineda is throwing very hard. Snider strikes out looking, one down for Hill, drives it hard to centre but a long out. Two down for Arencibia, lines first pitch to at second. Jays go quietly.

Top 3rd: Smoak leading off. Pops it up to Snider in centre, one down. Gutierrez, full count, high ball four. His first walk but he has been going deep into counts and his pitch count is far too high. Carp pops it up to Escobar at short, Two down for Figgins ball in the dirt and Gutierrez off to second, throw to Hill in time but Hill drops it. Runner at second, Mariners taking it to Cecil and the Jays tonight. Figgins, grounds to Encarnacion, throw to Lind for the out. Cecil escapes this time.
Bottom 3rd: Patterson pops it up to Ichiro, one down for Escobar, full count, Escobar limping here out comes trainer and Farrell. Working on the left knee, must have done something but stays in, we don’t need to los Escobar. Strikes out. Pineda mowing them down. Thames two down. Singles it into centre, here comes Bautista. Blows this one past Jose, 96mph. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging. Pineda dominant here so far. Cecil may have dug too deep a hole tonight.

Top 4th: Escobar back out there. Looks ok walking around. Halman, oh boy hits him. Way inside with that pitch, nothing going right for Cecil tonight. Ichiro singles back up the middle, hit number eight for Mariners. Two on nobody out. Still nobody working in the bullpen. Ryan pops up first pitch to Thames in shallow right. Ackley, pops it up to Hill, two down for Olivo, pops up to Thames. Cecil escapes damage here after first two were on base.
Bottom 4th: Lind, strikes out swinging, 98mph overpowered Adam. Encarnacion, full count, lines it to left for out number two. Snider, strikes out swinging. Number five for Pineda.

Top 5th: Cecil still out there. That is the problem with Perez now in Vegas, and with Villanueva now in the rotation Jays have no long relief. Rzepczynski may be the only option. Should be interesting dilemma for Farrell if a starter fails in three or four innings, who will he use. Smoak, pops it up to Thames. One down for Gutierrez, grounds to third throw to Lind for the out. Carp, drives it the wall in centre but Snider runs it down for the third out. Cecil still hanging in there but Pineda is pitching even better.
Bottom 5th: Hill leading off. Grounds to third, throw to first, one down for Arencibia, lines to Ichiro in right, two down for Patterson, singles to centre, one on for Escobar. 1-2 count, hit and run and singles to right, Patterson to third. Jays have something here now for Thames. Grounds to second throw to first to end this rally.

Top 6th: I can`t believe that Cecil is still out there. Somehow he has managed to get out of more trouble although is still three games behind and Pineda is pitching very well. Figgins, 3-0 count, lines it to left, Patterson diving for the catch and makes great catch, one down for Halman grounds first pitch to Escobar, throw to Lind, two down. Ichiro, his fourth at bat and only the sixth inning, 0-2 count, lines it to centre, oh a great diving catch by Snider. Cecil is being helped big-time by his teammates out there.
Bottom 6th: Bautista leading off. Grounds it hard to third but under the glove of Figgins into left, that was so hard. Error given but that was a tough play the hit was scorched by Jose. Lind, grounds to short, over to the bag on to first, double play ball. Two down for Encarnacion. WOW, Edwin hammers this one high into the fifth deck but foul by the left field foul pole, he really got hold of it though and showed his power. Full count and ball four, Snider grounds to second, throw to first for the out.

Top 7th: Ryan lines it to Snider in centre, oh great play by Travis, throw to the bag and out by a mile. One down for Ackley. 2-2 count, bounces to Lind takes it himself for second out. Olivo, strikes out swinging and Cecil gets through seven. You could have made money on that five innings ago. However Jays still have to score themselves and get three at least, not easy at all with the way Pineda is pitching and with lights-out Brandon League in the ninth, Jays are running out of time to catch up.
Bottom 7th: Hill, first pitch swinging, hammers this to left, off the Jays bullpen wall, and Aaron has stand up double. Arencibia, strikes out looking, one down for Patterson. 3-1 count, Pineda struggling for the first time in the game. Full count, Ball four, two on one down. Here comes the pitching coach, leaving Pineda in there. Escobar, that`s better lines it down the first base line into right field corner, here comes Hill 5-3 game and runners now at second and third for Thames. That is it for Pineda. Amazing when you think he has pitched so much better than Cecil and leaves the game before him. Ah well he is still pitcher of record. Laffey now pitching for Mariners.This will do it drives it to Halman in left Patterson tags and scores from third. 5-4 Mariners. Bautista with runner Escobar at second. Jeff Gray now pitching. Will they walk Jose here. Crowd is now into the game for the first time since the bottom of the first, they don’t need the signs to make noise, it is the game that stimulates the noise and Rogers Centre cheerleaders should realise that. Outside ball one, low ball two, low again but Jose does it, singles back up the middle and here comes Escobar throw not in time and this game is all tied up. 5-5 amazing. Cecil could get the win and Pineda could lose. Lind, lines it to second for the out. But a whole new ballgame. No decision for Cecil.

Top 8th: Camp now pitching, Smoak leading off, shift right is on, lines it over the head of Hill to the wall in right. Thames gets it back fast and long single. Jack Wilson pinch running, Gutierrez, bunting and Camp, bobbles it on the line and throw not in time. Two on nobody out, here we go again just as the game is tied up. Carp, 1-2 count. That`s better, grounds to Hill over to Escobar throw to Lind double play ball. Wilson to third on the play, Figgins, full count, ball four, two on for Halman, Camp faking the throw to third and again, trying to get Figgins to commit. Oh great throw, he picks off Figgins at first, great play by Camp to end this one. That is huge, if Jays can get one here Jays go into the ninth in the lead.
Bottom 8th: Encarnacion, pulls it to Figgins at third, throw to first one down for Hill. Snider, strikes out swinging third time tonight. Hill, two down. singles to centre, one on two down, Arencibia, there goes Hill and great throw by catcher, gets Hill, perfect throw to get him.

Top 9th: Jon Rauch now pitching. Halman leading off grounds to Escobar throw to Lind, on down for Ichiro. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging, two down for Ryan, needs a triple for the cycle. Not this time pops it up to Lind for third out. Now can the Jays get that run.
Bottom 9th: Arencibia 0-3 tonight. strikes out swinging on three pitches. Patterson, grounds to Ryan at short, no chance with throw from his knees. Patterson safe at first, one on for Escobar. Oh boy, there goes Patterson and throw is in time to get Patterson. Close call here comes Manager Farrell, not wining this one. Looked out from our seats. Two down though, 3-0 count, ball four, pinch runner Rajai Davis. Thames, Will Rajai be stealing here. Gray thinks so, throwing over to keep him at first. He is at least distracting Gray. Another throw over, number three. There he goes, and throw is wild gets away at second and Rajai goes to third on the play. WOW does he ever make a difference to the game. I have said many times I think he should be in this team permanently, he makes such a huge difference with his speed. Grounds to Wilson, throw to first for the final out but Jays almost steal one here.

Extra innings.
Top 10th: Loads of changes defensively now for the Jays. Davis stays in the game at centre so Travis moves to left. Patterson moves to right and Thames is out of the game. Johnny Mac is in at short. Jason Frasor pitching. I hope he pitches better than his two outings both high pitch counts and oh so slow. Ackley leading off, singles to Patterson now in right. One on for Olivo, excellent, grounds to Johnny Mac throw to Hill over to Lind, double play. Wilson, singles to right. That play now more important. Gutierrez, two down runner at first, strikes out. Frasor escapes damage.
Bottom 10th: Pauley now pitching. Bautista leading off, can win this thing with one hit. Not this time, strikes out. One down for Lind, grounds to Ryan at short throw to first, two down for Encarnacion, singles to left. One on two down for Snider, strikes out.

Top 11th: Frasor still pitching. Carp leading off, doubles to centre. One on for Figgins. There goes Carp and Arencibia throw gets him at second. Full count, ball four and that’s it for Frasor. Dotel now pitching. Halman pops up to Lind, two down. That’s it for Dotel, Manager Farrell wants Rzepczynski. Ichiro, grounds to Johnny mac throw to Hill to get Figgins, smart choice because I don’t think they would have Ichiro at first.
Bottom 11th: Hill leading off, grounds to Figgins at third, throw to Ackley at first, one down. Arencibia, same play, JP is having a miserable night at the plate. Two down for Patterson, pops up to Figgins, one-man show by Figgins as Jays go far too quietly with game on the line.

Top 12th: Rzepczynski still pitching. Ryan leading off, grounds to Lind, takes it himself, one down Ackley strikes out, two down for Olivo, strikes out. Jays get another shot. This is getting to be a long game but Jays have the advantage and have also won all six of previous extra innings games at home this season.
Bottom 12th: Davis, grounds to Ryan at short, throw beats him to first, one down. Johnny Mac pops it up to Ryan at short. Bautista lines it to right but Ichiro tracks it down for third out.

Top 13th: Wilson grounds back to Rzepczysnki, great play Marc stabbing at the ball and throw to Lind for the first out, helping himself here. One down for Gutierrez, same play grounds back to Rzepczynski, throw to Lind, two down. Carp, singles to Davis in centre, One on two down for Figgins. Pops up to Patterson in left.
Bottom 13th: Jamey Wright now pitching, both bullpens are working overtime tonight. Lind, grounds to Wilson at second, throw to Ackley at first, one down. Encarnacion, ball four, one on, one down for Snider. Mike McCoy in to pinch run for Encarnacion. Hill getting the intentional walk, they would rather pitch to Arencibia, and I definitely agree tonight. Arencibia hitless tonight, strikes out.

Top 14th I am amazed at how many fans still remain. Many of course have last trains to catch but even allowing for that and the usual crowd leaving before the ninth, I would estimate that more than half still remain here. This will be a very tough game to lose for either side but maybe more so for the Mariners who looked to have this one as late as the seventh. McCoy in at third. Casey Janssen now pitching just retuned today from rehab. Halman leading off, strikes out. One down for Ichiro, grounds to Johnny Mac throw to Lind. Ryan, full count ball four. Ackley with two on and one down strikes out. Jays get another shot at this one.
Bottom 14th: Patterson leading off, bunting, up the third base line Figgins, throw to Ackley at first, one down. Davis, that’s more like it, singles to centre, now this should get interesting. Johnny Mac. And with Bautista on deck. Everybody expecting Rajai to steal, there he goes and safe at second. Now the crowd is on their feet, we don't need the flashing signs or music to get us up.
Just a single Johnny Mac will do it. Will Rajai try third ? But if he does and is out it makes Johnny Mac the third out taking the bat away from Jose. Question resolved, there he goes and safe at third. Stolen base number three for Rajai in one game, wow. And he didn’t even come into the game until the bottom of the ninth. Johnny Mac YES he does it, lines this one to Gutierrez, shallow centre but this is Davis tagging and scoring. No throw will catch him, here comes the Jays dugout, both he and Johnny Mac are mobbed.

This is one major comeback for Jays to win this thing. I feel sorry for the Mariners this was one they had and let it slip away after the second inning.
Feel physically drained after this one, much too much in this heat but as I say Jays will be happy but Mariners will lose sleep over this one.

The very good: Jays bullpen to shut out the Mariners. Great defensive plays by all in the outfield tonight. Especially Snider and Patterson with diving catches, Snider with an outfield assist. Everyone bailed out Cecil who dug a deep hole for every one before the game was two innings old. Bautista back and although he didn’t hit a home run, his (very) clutch single in the seventh tied the game up at 5-5.
The not so good: Cecil as above. Managed to get Mariners excited about breaking the losing streak and repeated his previous faults of getting the ball up in the zone in the early innings. Does the catcher share some responsibility here? what about the bullpen coach Hentgen watching Cecil before he comes into the game?
An ever familiar complaint the Rogers Centre attempts to get the crowd into the game by flashing more noise signs at them. They just don’t get it, the crowd responds to the play on the field, when Bautista comes to the plate with game on the line they are LOUD. When Davis steals second and third the crowd goes nuts, ditto for Johnny Mac plays, but they will never stand and shout because the flashing lights tell them to.