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.