Sloppy Jays embarrass thenselves as they lose yet another series and continue to slide

Jays v Mariners. Game two of three. Last night’s trades of Snider and Thames for Brad Lincoln from Pittsburgh and Steve Delobar from the Mariners has strengthened Jays bullpen but different takes from fans. Pittsburgh fans very upset about losing Brad Lincoln who has been having a great season to date. Jays fans more than upset about losing Travis but not so much re losing Eric Thames. Most fans believe Travis had a rough deal firstly with Cito who was old school tough guy with Travis, never getting a fair deal even this season being overlooked for Gose who has done little since he arrived and is clearly over his head at this level with his bat. Travis we hope you get to the World Series and hit that winning run at the bottom of the ninth, nothing sweeter, we will never forget you and those moon shot home runs. Most believe that other teams were asking too much for their starters and Alex was not giving up the future. BUT with Ryan Dempster going to Texas for only two minor leaguers, makes one wonder what the Cubs and other teams wanted from the Jays. Jays bats in yet another slump for the last couple of games. Tonight let’s hope someone gets it going early. Lineups: Jays: Lawrie, Rasmus, Encarnacion, Cooper, Escobar, Johnson, Davis, Mathis, Sierra and Laffey pitching. Whoa. This looks a very weak hitting lineup after the top three. Without Bautista, Snider, and Arencibia, not a strong lineup at all. Not sure about Cooper hitting behind Encarnacion, it will be interesting to see whether they pitch around Edwin to get to Cooper. But all of a sudden this team does not look like the hitting machine that they were a few weeks ago. Mariners: Ackley, Wells, Saunders, Montero, Seager, Carp, Olivo, Robinson, Ryan and Vargas pitching. Top 1st: Lawrie back leading off again, maybe that will help him as he had the very worst game last night. The last three at bats all strikeouts and all on three pitches. Maybe his head is elsewhere with so many family and friends around. 1-2 count, takes strike three, can you believe it ? His last five outs. One down, Rasmus, 1-2 count, strikes out swinging. Jays carry on from last night when they struck out 14 times, two more already. Edwin, 2-2 count, as his bat goes into the crowd. Full count, strikes out swinging. This looks like a short game tonight as Vargas strikes out the side. Bottom 1st: Ackley, first pitch pulls it to right and into the seats, 1-0 Mariners. Hmm. Wells, grounds to Escobar, throw to Cooper at first, one down, Saunders. First pitch fly ball to left but Davis makes the catch, two down for Montero. Grounds first pitch to Escobar, throw to Cooper for third out. Six pitch inning !!! Mariners in a hurry. Weird game. Top 2nd: Jays have not scored since the first pitch of last night’s game and worse still they have not looked like scoring. Cooper leading off. Lefty lefty matchup. 1-2 count, fly ball to left for Robinson to make the out. Escobar, full count, grounds to third, throw to first, two down. Johnson, 1-2 count, fly ball to centre for the out, six up six down. Awful. Bottom 2nd: Seager, 2-1 count, lines to Cooper who makes a nice catch, one down. Carp, 0-2 count, bounces it back up the middle, one on one down for Olivo. Lines first pitch to the wall in left, off the wall for stand up double as Carp holds at third. What is it about Laffey’s first pitches? Robinson, lines first pitch to Rasmus in centre, here comes Carp, 2-0 Mariners. Olivo holds at third and Robison goes to second on the throw. Ryan, two in scoring position. 2-2 count, singles to Sierra in right, Olivo scores 3-0 Mariners. Top of the order for Ackley. Runners at first and third. Grounds to Cooper throw to Escobar back to Cooper not in time to get Ackley as run scores 4-0 Mariners two down. Wells, first pitch fly ball (mercifully) to Davis in shallow left to end this agony. Top 3rd: Davis, 1-2 count, fly ball to centre for the out. One down for Mathis. 0-2 count, a hit, singles to right. Sierra his first at bat since the trade last night. One on one down, 2-2 count, fights it off and single into centre, two on but here comes Lawrie. Five strikeouts in a row. 2-1 count, that’s better Brett, lines this to left into the corner here comes Mathis, followed by Sierra sliding headfirst and safe on the throw home and Lawrie to second. Maybe Sierra will add some energy to this lethargic lineup. 4-2 Mariners. Rasmus, one on one down. 1-1 count, pulls it to first for the out as Lawrie to third. Two down for Encarnacion. 2-0 pitching him away to get to Cooper. Low ball three, down and away ball four. I think we will see this a lot now. Cooper you can change their strategy two on two down. Grounds to second throw to first for the out. Message to Alex and Farrell: Edwin needs someone behind him. Jays get two back but leave two out there. Pitch count 63. Bottom 3rd: Saunders, 2-1 count, grounds to Cooper, throw to Laffey to make the out, one down. Montero, 2-1 count, singles to right, Sierra throws it back in quickly to hold him at first. Seager, one on, one down. 3-0 count, high ball four, two on one down for Carp. Full count, if he loses him to load them up I think that with all the long relief now in the bullpen they will be working soon. That’s better grounds to Escobar, flip to Johnson over to Cooper double play ball. Laffey’s best friend right now. Pitch count 42. Top 4th: Escobar lines it hard to left but Seager makes a great catch. One down, Johnson. shatters his bat as he grounds to Carp at first, two down. Davis, 1-2 count. Pops it up foul to right and ball drops, lucky break for Rajai. Pops next pitch up to second. Jays go meekly three up and down. Bottom 4th: Olivo, pulls it to left wide of Lawrie, Escobar on the grass makes a great play and throw to Copper at first to get Olivo, very nice. One down. Robinson, 1-2 count, lines to left centre, Davis unable to make stop cleanly and Robinson to second, Davis should have left that to Rasmus, in much better position to make the throw to second, Error to Davis. One on one down for Ryan, singles to left, Robinson to third, two on again for Ackley. Laffey needs help again here. 2-2 count, grounds to Johnson, flip to Escobar throw to Cooper wild and pulls Cooper off the bag. Run scores 5-2 Mariners. Two down runner at first. Wells, pops it up foul but Cooper cannot make the catch, oh boy that was catchable. 1-2 count, Laffey spending a lot of time on Lackey threat to steal, now they have him picked off, throw to Cooper over to Johnson for the tag. Nice play by Laffey. Top 5th: Mathis, gets under this one and high pop up to third for the out. One down for Sierra 1-1 count, grounds to second, throw to first for the out, two quick outs again. Lawrie, bounces slowly back to Vargas, throw to first. Laffey had hardly sat down, what’s the rush here? Bottom 5th: Surely time to see the long relief in the Jays bullpen working. Wells leading off, full count, low ball four. Saunders grounds to Johnson, throw to Escobar, throw to Cooper wide and Cooper falls off the bag and runner safe. Another lousy throw by Escobar. If Edwin had been there maybe a double play. One down one on. Montero, 1-2 count, fly ball to Rasmus in centre, two down for Seager. 2-0 count, Lines to right, Seager at first as Saunders to third on the play. Brandon Lyon now working in bullpen. Laffey hits his shirt, bases loaded. That is it for Laffey, not really his fault here tonight, poorly supported by his defence and lack of run support. Lyon now pitching bases loaded and two down. Olivo, singles back up the middle, two runs score 7-2 Mariners. Robinson, 0-2 count, strikes out swinging. Escobar miscue cost Jays two runs. Top 6th: Is there any offence on this team? Rasmus leading off. Fly ball to right, first pitch out, One down for Encarnacion, will he get anything to hit? 2-2 count, frustrated and swinging, full count, goes down to get this one, ball four and golfs it high to left but Robinson makes the out, two down for Cooper. So far as with Gose, way overmatched by this level of pitching. 1-2 count, strikes out swinging. Bottom 6th: It really does not matter if the bullpen manages to close down Mariners here, there is no offence from the Jays to even get any runs. Four runs in the last three games. Lyon out again Ryan at bat, full count, takes strike three. Ackley, 3-1 count, grounds to Johnson who fumbles it, no chance for a throw, sloppy sloppy fielding again tonight for the second game in a row. One on for Wells, pops it up Escobar makes the out. Two down for Saunders. 3-0 count, there goes runner no throw as Saunders takes a strike, a little tacky by Ackley with a five run lead. Padding his stats, full count, strikes out swinging. Top 7th: Lots of blue in the stadium again tonight but Jays fans have had nothing to cheer tonight. Escobar, 0-2 tonight. Pulls it into left. One on for Johnson, having a horrible stretch again. Grounds to first throw to second to get Escobar back to first not in time but Mariners will take the out, Davis singles to left, Johnson to second. Mathis, with two on and one down. Pops it up to centre, two down. Sierra 2-2 count, fly ball to right center for the out. 103 pitch count. Bottom 7th: Steve Delabar making his debut for Jays. Last night he was on the other team. How weird is that. Montero pops it up to Johnson for the out. Seager, 2-2 count, singles to Sierra in right. One on one down for Carp, full count, there goes Seager, perfect strikes him out and throw him out at second as he slides into the tag, not very smart but Jays will take the double play ball. We like it. Top 8th: Top of the order, not much output tonight besides Lawrie. Shawn Kelley now pitching. Lawrie, at least he has not struck out four times. Trying his best here though. 1-2 count, singles to right for his second hit of the game. One on for Rasmus, 0-3 tonight. 3-1 count, pops it up to Carp, one down. Encarnacion, 1-2 count, ball gets away Lawrie takes second, throw is wild bounces into centre and Lawrie to third as the ball hits him on the neck. Encarnacion wild swing pops it up 20 feet to short for the out, that was one lousy at bat by Edwin there. Two down for Cooper who has been outmatched tonight, Can redeem himself here. Full count, strikes out swinging at a ball in the dirt. Bottom 8th: Drew Carpenter now pitching. So much for all the major league arms in the bullpen. Poor guy should be in Vegas but for Fraser injury, but surely they have enough arms in that bullpen to let him free and get some hitting which they now need. Olivo 0-2 count, strikes out swinging. One down for Robinson. 3-1 count, ball four. One on one down for Ryan, 0-2 count, pops it up to shallow right, two on one down for top of the order Ackley. Full count, pops it up to Lawrie. Two down. Wells, 1-2 count, bounces to Escobar throw to Johnson for the out. That might be last pitch for Carpenter as he could be sent on to Vegas for another bat. Top 9th: Josh Kinney now pitching. Escobar leading off. 1-2 count, strikes out swinging. One down for Johnson, groan. 0-3 tonight, 0-2 count, strikes out swinging to end another poor game for Johnson, two down for Davis. 1-2 count, swings at a pitch halfway to first to end yet another dismal performance by a struggling side. Another series lost and another three game losing streak. My guess is that Happ will be pitching in five days and Laffey in long relief. Carpenter may be on the bus to Vegas and another bat on its way. Cooper has to DH as Edwin clearly bored out of his skull sitting for so long. Looked totally disinterested in the game tonight even more than he usually does. When this team is bad they are very, very bad and right now they are playing like the bottom team in the division that they are. The good: Nothing in this game. Lawrie two hit bounce back from last night’s nightmare. Maybe Sierra first hit and run. Scraping the barrel. The lousy: Two poor throws by Escobar to Cooper. Cost the Jays, Poor play by Davis in the outfield. If there is no offence these errors are magnified. Sloppy fielding by Escobar, Davis, and Johnson

Bats missing again as Jays fall to Mariners and Travis is traded for Lincoln

Jays v Mariners. Game one of three. Romero’s last chance? Happ is awaiting. He has to have a good start tonight. As written here last week Cooper now recalled. Not sure why they waited so long with Lind, back injuries do not heal quickly he will be gone for a long time. Jays missed great opportunity yesterday to close the gap with Rays and Orioles, they have to take advantage in this series because they are heading into Oakland after this. No Ichiro and no Hernandez who pitched yesterday, but Jays should not be taking this series lightly, that is when they get into deep trouble. Lots of blue shirts and Jays fans in town from Vancouver and other BC towns for this series. Not just for the Jays but for home boy Brett Lawrie. Plus home boy Washington State Travis will have his cheering section of friends and family. Lots of incentive for them this series but I have a feeling it will be the pitching that will be the key especially tonight. Late nights for everyone in the east for next week. Lineup: Jays: Same as last game. Davis, Rasmus, Lawrie, Encarnacion, Snider, Escobar, Johnson, Mathis, Gose and Romero pitching. Mariners: Ackley, Saunders, Montero,Jaso, Seager, Wells, Carp, Peguero, Ryan and Iwakuma pitching. Top 1st: Davis, full count, WOWeeeee Rajai connects on this one, and over the wall in left, home run 1-0 Jays. Rasmus, 1-2 strikes out swinging, one down for Lawrie, listen to this crowd. Sounds like Rogers Centre. No pressure Brett. Strikes out looking. Encarnacion, 1-2 count, grounds to second, throw to first to end the inning. Pitch count 17. Boston has just beaten Tigers and Orioles have beaten the Yankees. Tampa is in Oakland. Bottom 1st: Ackley, 1-2 count, lines it into right field corner for stand up double. One on for Saunders, bunting first pitch a beauty, slow roller to Johnson, no chance for a throw and both runners safe, Ackley to third and Romero in trouble already with nobody out. Montero. Full count, lines it to second but hits the umpire and dead ball that could have been double play. Bases loaded instead. Man, Ricky not getting any breaks from baseball gods. Jaso, 1-1 count, that’s better grounds to Johnson, to Escobar over to Edwin that’s a double play. Run scores and runner to third but two outs. 1-1 game. Seager, lines first pitch to left here comes second run. Wells, now they have Seager picked off and out at second. A break there for Romero but another eventful inning. Lucky that only 16 pitches but he needs major run support from his offensive teammates tonight. Top 2nd: Snider, 2-2 count, strikes out swinging. One down for Escobar, 3-1 count, low ball four, one on one down for Johnson. Bunting and a beauty Iwakuma throw to first gets away and Kelly safe as Escobar goes to third on the throw. Error to Iwakuma. Two on one down for Mathis. 1-1 count, lines to third, throw to the plate gets Escobar, two down, Johnson to second. Gose, first pitch, grounds to first throw to Iwakuma gets Gose. Jays playing sloppy ball here, Romero has enough problems without this. Pitch count 32. Bottom 2nd: Wells continues his at bat. 3-1 count, grounds to Johnson at second, throw to Edwin one down, Carp, 1-2 count, grounds it into right centre. One on one down for Peguero. 1-2 count, wow throws this one over the back of Peguero to the backstop, Carp to second. When you are going bad nothing goes well for you. 2-2 count strikes out, first one for Romero tonight. Two down, Ryan. Another way high pitch outside, another and a wild pitch off glove of Mathis, gets away, Carp to third. Oh boy, grounds to Lawrie at third and he fumbles it, no throw as run scores. Oh my !!!! that was third out for Romero. Error to Lawrie, he makes those outs routinely. Wow. Romero must weep. 3-1 Mariners. Ackley, 2-2 count, strikes out looking. Pitch count 41 but thanks to his very sloppy teammates. They owe him a big inning here. Top 3rd: Davis leading off. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging at ball three. One down for Rasmus, First pitch high fly ball to right but got under that one for the out. Two down for Lawrie, 0-2 count, strikes out swinging on three pitches that was one lousy at bat by Lawrie, forget all your family and friends Brett, get your head in this game and just concentrate on playing ball here. Pitch count 42, and Romero is back out there before he has sat down. Bottom 3rd: Saunders, 1-2 count, grounds to Lawrie throw to Edwin for the out. That’s more like it Lawrie. One down for Montero, 1-2 count, strikes out swinging. Two down, Jaso, 1-2 count, strikes out looking, Ricky very nice inning. 13 pitches. Pitch count 54. Top 4th: Encarnacion, 1-2 count, takes strike three, arguing, not good Edwin, get out of there. Snider, full count, outside ball four, Travis learned from his last at bat and did not swing at that one. One on one down for Escobar. Singles into left, two on one down for Johnson. 0-2 count, strikes out swinging, two down. Mathis, oh boy, grounds first pitch to second, throw to Carp at first to end this one. He is having a lousy game with bat and glove. Jays are 0-4 runners in scoring position already. Mathis has two of those at bats. Pitch count 58. Bottom 4th: Seager, 2-2 count, oh wow, lines this to centre and Rasmus makes a brilliant diving play wow. Seager cannot believe it. Wells lines first pitch to Rasmus in centre for the out, the Colby show here two down. Carp, 1-2 count, strikes out swinging. Look at Ricky striding off. No head down tonight. Pitch count 65. Top 5th: Gose, showing bunt, ball one, full count, low ball four, now maybe some action. Speed on the bases to distract Iwakuma. Davis, 0-2 count, strikes out swinging, one down for Rasmus. Hammers this one to centre but out at the wall, almost. Two down for Lawrie. Not having a good night himself. There goes Gose and throw down gets him. Manager Farrell disagrees and out to question call. Replay shows safe. Pitch count 73. Bottom 5th: Peguero, 0-2 count, strikes out swinging, number six for Ricky tonight. Ryan, lines first pitch to left centre for stand up double. Ackley, 1-1 count, fly ball to Snider in left for the out. Ryan holds at second, two down. Saunders, 2-1 count, lines it to right, Ryan scores, stand up double for Saunders, 4-1 Mariners. Montero, two down, 3-0 count, inside ball four. Jaso, here comes Bruce Walton. Ricky had been sailing along there pitching so very well. First pitch high fly ball to Rasmus for the out. Pitch count 82. Top 6th: Can this team give Romero run support tonight. Pathetic hitting so far. Lawrie resumes, don’t be a hero here, we need base runners. 0-2 count, strikes out swinging on three pitches for second time tonight. Not good. Encarnacion, also 0-2 tonight and not looked like hitting anything. 1-2 count, high pop up to left, two down. Red Sox already level with Jays, if they lose tonight they drop back into the basement. Snider, 1-1 count, way to go Travis, singles to right, one on two down for Escobar. 2-2 count. Strikes out swinging. 88 pitch count. Bottom 6th: Seager 2-2 count, lines it right back at Romero and off his glove into centre. One on for Wells, 2-2 count. Loup warming up in Jays bullpen, that’s better grounds to Lawrie, throw to Johnson over to Edwin double play ball., Two down for Carp, 3-0 count, high ball four. Peguero, 2-2 count, thought that was a strike. Full count. strikes out swinging. Number seven and 102 pitch count, 62 strikes. This was a much, much better outing for Ricky. Has earned another start. Top 7th: Johnson leading off. That’s better, lines the first pitch into right field corner, stand up double. But we have been here before to no avail. Mathis, horrible night with the bat. At least he is not trying to bunt here. Fly ball to right for the out. Gose, takes it right down the middle, oh my, first pitch. 1-2. Strikes out swinging, welcome to the big leagues son. Please Jose get back in his lineup, and put Gose out of his misery. Two down for Davis. 1-2 count, strikes out swinging. 12 strike outs. Pitch count 100. Jays 0-6 with runners in scoring position. Romero must be weeping somewhere. Bottom 7th: Gomes now in for Snider in left. They have pulled Travis. Interesting. HE IS TRADED. NOT Travis. Oh man. To Pittsburgh for pitcher Brad Lincoln. Loup pitching, Ryan lines to Johnson for the out. One down Ackley, strikes out looking. Two down for Saunders, 1-2 count, strikes out swinging. Top 8th: Rasmus, grounds to second, throw to first one down. Lawrie, 0-2 count, takes strike three, swing the bat Lawrie, that is what you are paid for. Nine pitches three strikeouts, that is lousy however which way you want to look at it for Lawrie. Encarnacion, 1-2 count, pops it up to shallow centre. Jays pitiful tonight. Bottom 8th: Carpenter now pitching, Montero lines to Lawrie at third one down. Jaso, 3-1 count, ball four. One on one down, Seager, pops up to Lawrie, two down. Wells, there goes Jaso and safe on the throw. Not much that Mathis can do right tonight. 2-2 count, wild pitch gets away and runner to third. Full count. Low ball four, come on Carpenter. Two on two down for Carp, grounds to Johnson, flip to Escobar to get Wells at second. Top 9th: Last chance for hapless Jays tonight, but most of us are too upset about Travis trade. Of all the players. Josh Kinney now pitching. Gomes leading off, 0-2 count. strikes out swinging. One down for Escobar. 2-2 count, strikes out. Two down for Johnson, 3-0 count, low ball four. Johnson on base, two down for Cooper. Now they want to change pitchers? With two out in the 9th? That is tacky by Seattle manager. Luetge the closer. Come on David hit him out. 0-2 count, grounds it in the hole at short throw to first just gets Cooper. Almost embarrassing end to that one for Seattle. Jays sink to the bottom of the division and that might be it for this team this season. The good: Has to be Romero despite the loss, he was for the most part locked in and with run support he could have won this one. The lousy.When Rajai Davis is the hitting star tonight you know that this was not good hitting display. Poorly played, sloppy defensive play by the Jays tonight. No help at all to Romero. Poor fielding by Lawrie cost them a run. His hitting was even worse. Lousy hitting all round apart from the Davis leadoff home run and Kelly Johnson. Encarnacion looked in a dream out there tonight. Mathis a terrible game with glove and bat. But the really bad stuff tonight is saying goodbye to Travis. Every Jays fan will wish him luck in Pittsburgh. He always had a rough deal with the Jays and perhaps now he can be appreciated and perform as an All-Star that he really is.

Cecil falls short as bats are silent today and Tigers avoid the sweep

Tigers v Jays. Series finale. Jays incredibly going for a sweep of the Tigers. This team has scratched and clawed its way to within one game of the Rays and Orioles, if they both lose today and Jays win they are all tied up. However and a big however, Tigers will have other thoughts as they are losing ground to the White Sox, plus it is Cecil pitching today. We live in hope. Lineups: Tigers: Jackson, Infante, Cabrera, Fielder, Young, Raburn, Peralta, Boesch, Laird, and Fister pitching. Jays: Davis, Rasmus, Lawrie, Encarnacion, Snider, Escobar, Johnson, Mathis, Gose and Cecil pitching. Cecil weakness giving up the home runs will have to watch out for Cabrera and Fielder or he could have an ugly afternoon. Another huge crowd. Yesterday over 40,000. Top 1st: Jackson, fly ball to Gose, one down. Infante, strikes out swinging, Cabrera full count, ball four, one on for Fielder, not good Brett. Shift right on for Fielder. Two down one on, pops it to shallow right and Lawrie takes it out of glove of Rasmus, that was not a good play by Lawrie. That was Rasmus ball. Don’t sit next to Colby in the dugout. Pitch count 15. Bottom 1st: Davis, singles over the head of Peralta into shallow left. Rasmus, 2-2 count, there goes Davis and throw gets away at second into shallow centre and Davis to third. Full count, grounds to third, here comes Rajai to score, throw to Fielder for the out. SPEED. 1-0 Jays. One down for Lawrie. Bounces to Infante at second, throw to Fielder for second out. Encarnacion, grounds to Cabrera throw to Fielder for the third out. Pitch count 12. Top 2nd: Cecil has a lead to work with. Young, full count, outside ball four, walk number two, not good Brett, playing with fire with this lineup. Raburn. 2-2 count, lucky break here as he lines it hard to left and off the wall, stand up double as Young to third. But nobody out and two in scoring position. Cecil in a mess. Peralta, full count, high fly ball to left and into the bullpen, three run home run. 3-1 Tigers, just like that Cecil gives away the lead, awful. He had better remember that Happ is looking for starting role. Because Cecil is giving a good audition for the bullpen. Still nobody out. Boesch, 0-2 count, strikes out swinging, but only the first out of the inning. Laird, 1-2 count, strikes out swinging, two down for top of the order again. Jackson, full count, high ball four, walk number three. Here comes another walk, by Bruce Walton. Infante, two down one on. Lines it to Rasmus for the third out. Too little too late. One awful performance by Cecil. 51 yes 51 pitches two innings, that is bush league pitching by Cecil and not appreciated by the rest of his teammates. Bottom 2nd: Snider, 1-2 count, takes strike three, one down. Escobar, grounds to Cabrera at third, throw to Fielder for second out. Johnson, full count, takes strike three. Three up and down easy inning for Fister. 25 pitch count, compare that to Cecil at 51. Top 3rd: Cabrera, 0-2 count, grounds to Escobar, throw to Edwin for the out. One down for Fielder. 2-1 count, pops it up to shallow left for Snider to make running catch, two down for Young. Grounds to Lawrie at third throw to Edwin for the out. Much better inning for eight pitch inning, 59 pitch count. Bottom 3rd: Mathis, 0-2 count, strikes out swinging, one down for Gose, 2-2 count, strikes out swinging, two down for top of the order Davis. Grounds slowly to Peralta at short and no throw. Safe at first. Rasmus with two down and one on. 2-2 count, grounds back up the middle into centre, Davis holds at second. Two on for Lawrie. Pops it up to Cabrera at third. Pitch count 43. Top 4th: Raburn, 2-2 count, strikes out swinging, one down. Peralta, high fly ball to Rasmus for the second out. Boesch,1-2 count, strikes out swinging. Pitch count 73. Bottom 4th: Jays needs some runs. Encarnacion leading off. 1-1 count, not enough, lines to right but out at the wall. One down. Snider, 0-2 count, takes strike three. Two down for Escobar. 3-1 count, ball four. One on two down. Johnson, 2-1 count, singles into left, two on two down for Mathis. 2-2 count, grounds to Fielder at first. Pitch count 63. Top 5th: Laird, 0-1 count, pops it up to Encarnacion for the out. One down for Jackson, 0-2 count, singles into left. Infante, one down one on. Singles to right, two on for the big guys. Cabrera, you need some help here Brett. 1-2 count, strikes out swinging, two down. Not out of it yet though with Fielder, two down and two on, first pitch high pop up to Lawrie for Cecil to help himself here. Pitch count 84. He will get to six which was unlikely after two. Bottom 5th: Gose leading off, probably bunting. Yes and foul, singles it back up the middle. Davis now with runner at first. 1-0 count, lines it to Raburn in left, one down. Rasmus, 0-2 count, there goes Gose, and retreats as Rasmus pops it up to Cabrera two down for Lawrie. Two down one on. There he goes again and throw not in time, Gose safe at second. 3-1 count, low ball four, two on two down for Encarnacion. 75 pitches. Here comes the pitching coach. Low ball one, inside ball two. Grounds to Cabrera, throw to Fielder to end this one. Jays 0-4 with runners in scoring position today. Pitch count 78. Top 6th: Young, grounds to Lawrie, great play and throw to Edwin for the out. Raburn, 1-1 count, fly ball to centre but Rasmus runs it down for the out, two down. Peralta, 1-2 count, grounds to Lawrie, throw to Edwin for third out. Ten pitch inning 94 pitch count, may mean another in the seventh at least to get one out. Bottom 6th: Snider, pops it up to shallow left, for Peralta to make the out. One down for Escobar, singles up the middle. One on one down for Johnson, lines it hard to right and Boesch makes a great running catch as he hits the wall. Mathis, two down. 0-2 count, strikes out swinging. Seven pitch inning not good hitting by the Jays. 85 pitch count. Top 7th: Boesch, 0-2 count, strikes out swinging. One down for Laird, 1-2 count, grounds to Encarnacion, takes it himself to the bag for second out. Jackson, full count, outside ball four. That is it. 109 pitch count for Cecil. Not a good outing by Cecil, let this one get away early after being staked the lead. Carreno now pitching. Infante now, one on, two down. There goes Jackson, throw gets him at second, great throw by Mathis to rescue Cecil from more damage. Bottom 7th: Gose leading off, Kelly in right in place of Boesch. 1-2 count, takes strike three, Gose needs to learn how to drive it the other way instead of pulling everything. One down for Davis. fly ball to centre, two quick outs. Rasmus, 1-2 count, strikes out swinging. Easy inning for Fister against these free swinging Jays. Top 8th: Infante, pulls it to Lawrie, throw to Edwin, one down. Cabrera, 1-1 count, pops it up to Gose in shallow right, two down for Fielder. Grounds to Lawrie, throw to Edwin for the third out. Nice inning by Carreno. Bottom 8th: Last chance for Jays now to get something going. Lawrie, in front off the mound throw gets him, one down. Encarnacion, 2-1 count, singles to centre, one on for Snider who has had a terrible game today at bat. All at sea with Fister, 1-2 count, in front of the plate, throw to second to get Edwin and over to first not in time. Snider safe. Two down. Escobar, don’t be a hero Yunel, just a base hit here. 0-2 count, goes around strike three, awful but what we expect from Escobar. Top 9th: Young leading off, 2-2 count, lines to centre, Rasmus makes the out at the wall. One down for Raburn, 0-2 count, strikes out swinging, two down. Peralta, 1-1 count, oh boy, hammers this one to centre and over the wall, second home run today for Peralta, 4-1 Tigers. That is it for Carreno. Crawford now pitching. Kelly, 2-2 count. pops it up to Escobar to end the inning but Tigers are in the driver’s seat for this win. Bottom 9th: Good luck with Valverde. The odds of scoring three against Velvarde are about a million to one. Almost the same to get a hit off him let alone a run. Quite a few fans also agree as they head to their cars. Jays get the series but this one was an important one so close to the wild card. Now they have to start over again on the west coast and that is not as easy as it sounds. Johnson leading off. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging at high ball three. Mathis one down. 1-2 count, strikes out swinging, two down for Gose, this should be interesting, babe in the woods against Godzilla. 1-2 count, grounds to short, throw to first for the out. Jays win the series but do not get the sweep and will lose ground in the wild card, close but not close enough. It will be a long flight to Seattle and don’t look now but Romero is pitching tomorrow. The good: Not much today. Good start by Davis and lots of runner on base. Cecil for six innings. 36,000 attendance. The not so good: Cecil, not just the three run hit by Peralta, he had already walked Young and given up a double to Raburn before facing Peralta. Better to have walked Peralta on the full count and taken chances for double play ball with Boesch. Jays outhit Tigers but only one run means not good with runners in scoring position. 0-4 again today.

Jays power from Encarnacion, Escobar and Rasmus supports Alvarez for 5-1 win.

Tigers v Jays. Game two of three. Great series start last night over the Tigers, can the Jays do it again. Alvarez pitching and coming off a lousy start last time out. As predicted here Escobar has decided that his back is recovered, sure Yunel. I think the issue is watching a great performance by the 45 year old Omar Vizquel who had a great game starting at short last night with a double and a triple plus a great barehanded out. Yunel had to sit through that and decide overnight that maybe his back was dramatically better. Too late Yunel we have your number. However Lind injury is being considered seriously and looks as if he might be out for a lot longer with the announcement that it is not just the lower back. Jays will need reinforcements for the bench. Maybe Cooper ? Sierra? Another strange lineup. Escobar is back so no Vizquel, Yunel not my choice. I think Vizquel played an excellent game yesterday. Rasmus DH today, first time in his career, that says it all. Why oh why. Davis leading off, another move I don’t like. No Mathis, no Vizquel. Lineups: Tigers: Jackson, Berry, Cabrera, Fielder, Young, Boesch, Peralta, Avila, Infante, and Sanchez pitching. Jays: Davis, Rasmus, Lawrie, Encarnacion, Snider, Escobar, Johnson, Gomes, Gose and Alvarez pitching. Gomes catching his first game. Top 1st: Jackson, 1-2 count, hammers this to left but Lawrie at third, makes tremendous leaping catch to rob him of at least a double, rescues Alvarez there. Berry 3-1 count, grounds to Encarnacion, steps on the bag for the second out. Cabrera, singles first pitch back up the middle to Gose playing centre for the first time. One on two down for Fielder, 0-2 count, this is trouble lines it to left, oh my, Snider makes a terrific running diving catch full length to catch this and end the inning. Whoa another Snider highlight reel catch to go with the catch he made in Fenway. This one saved the first run. Alvarez owes both Lawrie and Snider. When Jose is back in right, Jays will have an excellent outfield. Bottom 1st: Davis leading off, strikes out swinging. Rasmus, DH today, first time in his career ?? 1-2 count, strikes out swinging, two down for Lawrie, lines first pitch into right field corner to Boesch, stand up double. Why is Lawrie not leading off ? He gives so much to this offense. There is absolutely no contest at all comparing with Davis as leadoff. Encarnacion, lines to right but this time Boesch just makes the out reaching high to catch this one. Top 2nd: Young leading off, 3-1 count, fly ball to Gose in centre, one down. Boesch, 2-2 count, slow bouncer to Johnson at second just beats the throw, one on for Peralta, 2-2 count, fly ball to Davis in shallow right. Rajai, last minute catch, always makes it interesting. Two down. Avila 1-2 count, takes strike three. Good inning for Alvarez. Bottom 2nd: Snider, I like his hitting behind Edwin, 0-2 count, bounces up the middle, grounds to short, Peralta throw to Fielder for the out. One down for Escobar, 1-2 count, fly ball to Jackson in centre, two down. Johnson, grounds back to Sanchez, throw to Fielder. Quick three up and down for Sanchez. Top 3rd: Infante, 2-2 count, strikes out swinging, one down. Jackson lines back up the middle to Gose for a single, Berry, one on one down. 2-0 count, Perfect grounds back to Alvarez, throw to Escobar over to Edwin double play ball to end the inning. It will also help his pitch count. Bottom 3rd: Gomes, singles to Berry in left, he is getting more comfortable now playing regularly. Gose, one on, lines it back up the middle to Jackson in centre for a single. Two on and nobody out. Davis, oh boy bunting first pitch, back to Sanchez, throw to third to get Gomes. That was a waste. One down for Rasmus,0-2 count, wild pitch and Gose to third, Hello Rajai down at first. Now Davis steals second, weird guy. He didn’t run on the wild pitch. This will do it, Colby full count, fly ball to Jackson in centre, here comes Gose to score, 1-0 Jays. Davis stays put. Two down for Lawrie, drives it to Jackson in centre for the third out. But Jays strike first. Top 4th: Cabrera 2-2 count, grounds to Escobar, throw to Edwin, one down. Fielder, bounces one back to Alvarez, throw to Edwin, two down. Young, 1-2 count, lines to Snider in left, one on for Boesch, 2-2 count, this is trouble, lines to the gap in left centre, all the way to the wall for Gose, here comes Young to score and all tied up 1-1. Boesch at second. Peralta, wild pitch but Boesch not going, full count, Peralta strikes out swinging to end the inning. Bottom 4th: Encarnacion leading off, 1-1 count, WHOA Edwin, drives this to right centre, this one is out of here. Home run number 28 and RBI 72 for Edwin. 2-1 Jays. Snider, 2-2 count, grounds hard to Fielder, one down. Escobar, fly ball to Boesch two down. Johnson, 3-0 count, ball four, Sanchez cannot throw strikes here, he has been strike machine all afternoon, one on two down for Gomes, ball one, 3-1 count, there goes Johnson and no throw, ball four to Gomes, back to back walks, two on two down. Gose, swinging at first pitch, not very smart, pay attention Anthony, you take the first one after eight balls and a strike, 1-2 grounds back to Sanchez, throw to Fielder for the out. Jays get one but should have been more. I hope they do not regret it. Top 5th: Avila, 1-1 count, grounds to Escobar, throw to Edwin, one down. Infante, 1-2 count, fly ball to right but Davis runs it down and makes the catch for second out. Jackson, 1-1 count, grounds to Lawrie at third, throw to Edwin for third out. Alvarez humming along now. Bottom 5th: Davis, 1-1 count, grounds to short, Peralta throw to Fielder in time for the out. One down. Rasmus, 0-2 count, lines to Jackson in shallow centre for a single. Lawrie, one on one down, 1-2 count, pulls it hard to Cabrera at third, throw to second to get Rasmus not in time for two at first. Speed from Lawrie. Two down. Encarnacion with Lawrie at first. 2-2 count, there goes Lawrie and safe on the throw, risky play Brett but it came off. Full count. I guess if he were out Edwin would have lead of the next inning. Now base open, high ball four and they walk Edwin. Two on for Snider, 1-1 count, hammers it hard to right but Fielder makes the catch to rob Travis. Top 6th: Berry bunting first pitch, back to Alvarez, throw to Edwin for the out. Thank you very much. One down for Cabrera, 3-1 count, inside ball four, walk to Cabrera, not good here with Fielder to bat. 3-1 count, Alvarez being ultra-careful, low ball four, back to back walks but he is playing safe with those two. Jays bullpen Crawford working though. Young, 1-1 count, fly ball to shallow right but Davis makes the out. Runners hold. Boesch 2-1 count, high pop up to shallow left but Travis makes the out, leaving two on. Alvarez bites the bullet. 95 pitch count. Bottom 6th: Escobar, first pitch swinging, fly ball to left centre and this one is carrying and out of here, home run for Escobar, he will love that. 3-1 Jays. Johnson, 1-2 count, just puts his bat on it and pops up to Peralta at short, one down. Gomes same play, pops up to Peralta, two down. Gose, full count, inside strikes out swinging. Jays get another but two run lead is not enough against a team like the Tigers. Top 7th: Alvarez still out there. 95 pitch count. Peralta leading off, 1-2 count, takes strike three. Avila, 0-2 count, grounds to Edwin, steps in the bag for the second out. Infante, grounds to Lawrie, throw to Edwin. 104 pitch count. Bottom 7th: Top of the order, Rajai Davis. Lines first pitch to left and off the wall, stand up double for Rajai. Nice start. Rasmus now chance for RBI. Rajai stealing now ?? yes, there he goes, and safe on the throw. Not sure about that with Colby at bat. No matter, Colby special here as he hammers it to right and into the crowd. Home run Colby no doubt at all about that one. We have seen that swing all season long. Whoa.... 5-1 Jays. That is it for Sanchez. Villareal now pitching. Lawrie, nobody out. Lifts it into shallow right. Single for Brett. Encarnacion, one on nobody out. 2-0 count, wild pitch 3-0. Outside ball four. Wanted nothing to do with Edwin. Two on for Snider. 1-2 count, double steal but Travis fouls it off. Drives it to left centre for the out at the wall Lawrie tags and gets to third, Edwin almost at second and retreats. Leyland arguing that they passed each other. Lawrie at third, one down. Escobar, 1-1 count, there goes Edwin and out on throw to second, two down. 1-2 count, grounds to third, throw to first, Escobar unable to get the job done this time. But Jays have two more. Top 8th: J. Happ now pitching. I guess he will not be pitching for Romero on Monday. Top of the order, this is not over by any means, big bats looming. Jackson leading off. 3-1 count, high ball four, not good. Raburn pinch hitting. 0-1 count. High fly ball to Gose in centre, one down. Cabrera with one on and one down. This is huge at bat. 1-2 count, perfect, grounds to Lawrie, throw to second over to Edwin for double play ball. Just what doctor ordered. Bottom 8th: Phil Coke now pitching. Johnson leading off grounds to Infante at second, throw to Fielder for the out. Gomes, 2-0 count, this is good, drives it to the wall in centre and stand up double for Yan. Nice hit. Gose with runner in scoring position. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging, two down for Davis. 2-2 count, just misses here as he lines it to left, just foul. Strikes out swinging it took eight pitches to get him but he left Gomes out there and Rasmus in the on deck circle. Jays 1-10 RISP today. Just four of them would have made this lopsided win. Top 9th: Happ still out there, helping out bullpen today. At least that is the theory, Tigers may have other ideas. Fielder leading off. 2-2 count, looked strike three. Full count. Bounces high to Johnson, throw to Edwin, one down. Young, 2-2 count, strikes out swinging, two down for Boesch pops up the first pitch to Johnson down the right field line. Jays win and the series. Going for the sweep tomorrow. The good: Alvarez, seven innings, and apart from the win really helped the bullpen. Encarnacion home run to tie it up early. Escobar home run. Let’s not forget J. Happ two shutout innings. The bullpen looks a whole lot safer than it did before that Houston trade. Deadline is on Monday, will Jays have something to announce? Gomes did a nice job catching his first game. Great plays: First inning, Lawrie catch of line drive. Snider diving catch. Both plays saved the first inning. Not good at all: RISP 1-10.

Vizquel, Snider and Mathis support Villanueva for Jays win 8-3 over the Tigers

Tigers v Jays. Game one of three. It doesn’t get any easier for Jays this weekend. One of the hottest teams in town. Detroit playing hard for the Central division tied with the White Sox. Plus Cabrera-Fielder combo very powerful sluggers. Jays lot happier after the win yesterday. Plus some better news re Morrow, rehab start in Dunedin tomorrow. Bautista should be trying to hit also. Lind, late minute scratch. Hope that is not an injury could be trade ??? No Escobar once more. Another great crowd after that 40,000 yesterday but will probably be much quieter without all the young campers. Lineups: Tigers: Jackson, Berry, Cabrera, Fielder, Young, Boesch, Peralta, Avila, Infante, and Porcello pitching. Jays: Lawrie, Vizquel, Rasmus, Encarnacion, Johnson, Gomes, Snider, Mathis, Gose and Villanueva pitching. Interesting with Vizquel in number two but he played it for many years. Farrell is putting a lot of faith in him. Top 1st: Jackson, fly ball to Snider in left, one down. Berry, fly ball to Rasmus in centre two down. Cabrera, oh dear, fly ball to left but this one is out of here, over the Jays bullpen, no doubt about that one. Home run to Cabrera 1-0 Tigers. Fielder, two down, OH man, first pitch, hammers this one, uppercut swing, to right centre and out of here, home run Fielder, back to back and a quick 2-0 lead for the Tigers. Young, ball four, Villanueva having trouble here getting third out. Boesch, strikes out swinging to end the inning but Jays starting from behind. Bottom 1st: Lawrie, grounds to Cabrera at third, throw to Fielder for the out. One down for Vizquel. Lines to Boesch in right and this one will drop, double for Omar. Rasmus, grounds back to Porcello, throw to first. Two down, Encarnacion. 1-1 count, lines it through the gap into right, here comes Vizquel to score and Jays have one back. 2-1 Tigers. Two down for Johnson, grounds to Peralta at short, throw to first to end the inning but Jays have one back. Top 2nd: Peralta, strikes out swinging, one down. Avila, ball four, second walk by Villanueva today. One on one down. Infante, lines it to centre, Rasmus makes the out. Two down one on for Jackson, fly ball to right but Gose has it for the out. No damage done here. Bottom 2nd: Gomes leading off, grounds to Cabrera at third, throw to first, one down. Snider, grounds to Fielder, throw to Porcello covering the bag, two down. Mathis grounds to Peralta, throw to Fielder to end the inning. Top 3rd: Berry, leading off, singles to Rasmus in centre. Cabrera, fly ball to Rasmus for the out. One down, one on for Fielder. Hits him. Two on for Berry grounds to. Lawrie, over to Johnson on to Gomes at first, double play to help Villanueva out here. Helps his pitch count but now 66, not good after three. Bottom 3rd: Gose, leading off, bunting, misses, now grounds to Infante, throw to Fielder at first, one down for Lawrie, lines out to Peralta at short, two down. Vizquel. Fly ball to Jackson in centre to end the inning. Pitch count only 31. Jays have to do better than this. Top 4th: Boesch, bunting fouls it off. Peralta strikes out swinging but that took nine pitches which Villanueva can ill afford right now over 80 pitches. Avila, fly ball to Snider in left. 81 pitch count. Bottom 4th: Rasmus, singles to centre, one on for Encarnacion, grounds to short, throw to second just gets Rasmus, over to first but Edwin already past the bag. Farrell does not agree with that decision at second and out to argue, I think he may be right but umpire not changing the call. Johnson, 3-1 count, swings at ball four, full count. There goes Edwin but Kelly fouls it off. Goes again, same result, Edwin doing wind sprints here. Come on Kelly help him out here. Low ball four. Two on one down for Gomes. 0-2 count, strikes out swinging. Two down for Travis. 3-0, takes it, 3-1, low ball four to load the bases. Nice at bat by Travis. Here comes the pitching coach. Mathis, bases loaded. Ball one, yes this will do, lines it to the wall in left, this will clear the bases, and Jays go out ahead 4-2. Mathis stand up double. Gose now. 2-2 count, this will do bounces it to first, off glove of Fielder in to shallow right and here comes Mathis, Gose has his first RBI, 5-2 Jays. Top of the order again, Lawrie. There goes Gose, and safe on the throw, Speed wow. His first major league stolen base. 1-1 to Lawrie. Gose going again but Lawrie fouls it off. 1-2 count. There he goes again but Lawrie pops it to Boesch in right to end the inning. 67 pitch count. 36 pitches for the inning, thanks to Mathis but also good to see Gose doing well now. Jays can use his contributions until Jose returns. Top 5th: Villanueva has a good lead now but can he hold it and get into the sixth for the win. Infante fly ball to Snider in left for the out. Jackson lines this one to right and just foul as Gose hits the wall hard. That was a Raoul Mondesi charge at the wall. Maybe not a great idea. Gose still working out that right field position compared to centre field. Lines it to Snider in left for second out. Berry, full count, don’t walk him Carlos with Cabrera on deck. Singles to Gose in right. Cabrera, perfect, drives first pitch to right, Gose makes the third out. 99 pitches though. He may just get Fielder next inning and that is it. Bottom 5th: Vizquel, 1-2 count, bounces to short, throw to Fielder at first for the out. Rasmus, 1-1 count, pulls it to second throw to fielder to get Colby, nice play by Infante. Encarnacion two down. 2-1 count, grounds to Peralta at short, throw to Fielder for the third out. Pitch count 78. Top 6th: Evening over for Villanueva, Aaron Loup now pitching, facing Fielder first at bat for a rookie, that is tough assignment. 1-2 count, strikes out swinging, great pitching Aaron. One down for Young. Lines this one back up the middle to Rasmus, one on one down for Boesch. Bounces to Johnson, throw to Vizquel, over to Gomes at first, not in time. Two down one on. Peralta, 2-2 count, slow roller to Vizquel, great throw barehanded play to Gomes for the out. wow. Bottom 6th: Johnson, lines to Boesch in right, for long single, good to see Kelly in the groove again, two hits yesterday and two more today. Gomes one on, bunts but foul. This time he does it, back to Porcello and throw to first to get Gomes. Kelly to second. Snider, one down. Tigers bullpen working. Come on Travis, 3-0 count, bounces to Infante at second, throw to first to get Travis but Kelly to third. Two down for Mathis. 1-1 count, pops it up to Cabrera at third for the out. Top 7th: Avila, full count, grounds back to Loup, throw to Gomes for the out. That is it for Aaron, Brandon Lyon now pitching, Loup gets a nice ovation. Infante, grounds to Vizquel, great play to save this one but throw not in time to get speedster Infante. Jackson, 1-2 count, strikes out looking, two down. Berry, 2-2 count, there goes Infante, but strike three, even if Mathis throws to second. Nice inning by Lyon. Bottom 7th: Ex-Jay Octavio Dotel now pitching. Gose leading off. Full count, lines it to opposite field left, but Berry makes the out, one down for Lawrie. 1-2 count, lines it to the wall, and Brett husking to third, stand up triple, no throw. Great hustle Brett. Vizquel, showing bunt. Pitch out, not going 2-0 count. Omar lines this one to the wall, same location, and he is going for three, safe at third an easy triple, he was easing up at the end of that triple. Not bad for a 45 year old. Lawrie scores 6-2 Jays Rasmus, 3-1 count, pops it up to Berry in left, not deep enough for tag by Vizquel. Encarnacion, two down. 2-2 count, drives it to Jackson in centre for the out. Top 8th: Darren Oliver now pitching. Cabrera, 3-1 count, lines to the right field corner, good throw by Gose but off the base and Cabrera safe at second. Fielder. Singles to centre, here comes Cabrera and Rasmus throw right on the money, umpire calls him safe 6-3 Jays. Farrell arguing but no good. Young with runner at first. Pops it up to Lawrie. One down for Boesch, 2-2 count, who great breaking pitch, strikes out swinging, two down for Peralta. 2-2 count, strikes him out swinging. The old guys doing it all tonight. Bottom 8th: Duane Below now pitching, Johnson, nice swing and lines it to centre but Jackson makes the out at the wall. One down for Gomes. Casey Janssen warming up. 2-2 count, whoa, lifts it softly to Infante at second but Infante throw is wild and Gomes safe at first. Snider, one on one down. OH WOWEEEEE Travis, classic Travis home run, hammers this drive to right centre, and way into the seats, his third home run of a lefty since he has been recalled. 8-3 Jays. Mathis pops it up to short for second out. Gose, 1-2 count, strikes out swinging. Top 9th: Janssen now pitching. Avila, pops first pitch up to Gose in right, one down. Infante, 0-2 count, strikes out swinging, two down for Jackson. Full count. Grounds to Vizquel, another nice play and throw to get Jackson and Jays win big against the Tigers. 11 pitches for Janssen. Villanueva now 6-0. Not bad for a reliever at the beginning of the season. Yankees beat Boston 10-3. Orioles hammered by Oakland 14-9. That helps the Jays as the wild cards contract one more. Jays now out of wild card. However two more with Detroit to worry about. Man of the game has to be Vizquel, triple !!! and double and a great barehanded out. Not bad for a 45 year old, by far his best game of the season. Watch for Escobar to suddenly be ready for the next game. Snider another home run off a lefty. Mathis 3 run double to put Jays ahead and let’s not forget Encarnacion rbi in the first to get one back after the back to back home runs by Cabrera and Fielder. Bullpen once again comes through. Loup, Lyon, Oliver and Janssen support Villanueva. Great win for the Jays to start the series but they have another tomorrow. Crowd almost 34,000 and that for a Friday game is excellent. Jays crowds are certainly up over last season. This weekend series could easily be over 100,000. That is Yankee and Red Sox territory for the Jays home games series.

Jays bats pummel the A's 10-4 for fine win.

Athletics v Jays. Game three and series finale. Camp day at the Rogers Centre, I love it, the noise and enthusiasm of the kids is unbelievable, the usual problem is that Jays often do not take advantage and today could be one of these days as A’s try to sweep. They are in this wild card big-time. Unbeaten in eight, sweeping both the Yankees and Red Sox, Jays are their next victims. Can you believe the buses are already unloading at 11. An hour and half to first pitch !!! All the various coloured t-shirts, thousands of them. Inside, the various camp groups are already in the stadium and now doing the camp chants. Amazing, looks like a huge crowd, Jays players need to see and hear the young kids today and make them remember baseball is a kids game, to be enjoyed and not to endure the suffering that they seemed to last night. Romero in particular agonised over every pitch, just throw it Ricky, you are analyzing it to death. No news about his next steps, Farrell says he will be pitching in Seattle on Monday, may not be a bad idea away from the Toronto media and crowds. Looks as if this will be a big crowd today; the fifth deck is full out by the left field foul pole. I do not understand why Rogers Centre/Jays do not play to this captive audience. No Jumbotron activity or film until 30 minutes before the game. The hour could have been perfect to show material on the players and highlights of the team duiring the season, get the kids familiar with the players. The good news, Verlander is pitching against the Indians today so will not be facing the Jays on the next series when Oakland leaves town. Toronto joke today, Mathis is not available to pitch as he pitched last night. Lineups: A’s: almost the same as last night. Crisp, Gomes, Reddick, Cespedes, Carter, Inge, Suzuki, Hicks, Weeks and Milone pitching. Jays: No Gose, no Arencibia, no Lind, no Escobar, I have no problems with this lineup. No way Yunel is going to fight and scratch out a win that Jays really need this afternoon. Trade rumours also re Yunel, no loss as far as I am concerned, yes he has a good glove, but his attitude overwhelms his at bats. Lind has reverted back to his old ways although he is facing a lot of lefties but then so is Travis. Today: Davis, Rasmus, Lawrie, Encarnacion, Snider, Gomes, Johnson, Mathis, Vizquel and Laffey pitching. I do like Travis hitting number five behind Edwin. Edwin should see some better pitches today than he did with Lind behind him. The seats in 200 level are soaking wet, the steam cleaner was a bit over zealous last night, but nowhere for us to move to, not many empty seats. Grin and bear it, at least the roof is closed because of the crazy stormy weather outside. Top 1: Crisp leading off, this guy hit two home runs last night, grounds back to Laffey throw to Gomes playing first today. One down for Gomes grounds to Vizquel at short, throw to Gomes, two down. Reddick DH today, oh boy here we go, hammers this one to right field and over the fence, home run, number 22 for Reddick. And A’s go out ahead 1-0. Cespedes two down, grounds to Lawrie at third, throw to Gomes to end the inning but Oakland draws first blood. Bottom 1st: Davis leading off, grounds Hicks at shirt, throw to Carter at first, one down. Rasmus strikes out swinging. Lawrie, two down, fly ball to Gomes in right for third out. Top 2nd: This was the inning that did in Romero and the Jays last night. Carter strikes out swinging. One down. Inge fly ball to Rasmus in centre, two down. Suzuki fly ball to Davis in right. Laffey looking good so far at least and much, much better than last night for the Jays. They need to get this full house of screaming juveniles into the game. Bottom 2nd: Encarnacion fly ball to Gomes in right, one down. Snider strikes out swinging, two down as Suzuki throws down to Carter at first. Two down for Yan Gomes, grounds to Inge at third, throw to Carter at first to end the inning. Jays have scored one run in the last 20 innings, whoa, not good at all. Top 3: Hicks leading off strikes out swinging. One down for Weeks, grounds to Gomes at first, flip to Laffey covering, two down. Top of the order again, Crisp ball four, first walk given up by Laffey today. Gomes, one on two down fly ball to Davis in right to end the inning. Laffey doing his job, but he needs some run support here. Bottom 3rd: Johnson, takes strike three, one down, last night’s hero, Jeff Mathis, fly ball to Crisp in centre, two down. Vizquel, strikes out swinging. Both pitchers doing well so far but Laffey pitch count much higher than Griffin, one major reason is the free swinging first pitch Jays hitters. Top 4: Reddick leading off, lines to Snider in left, one down. Cespedes, grounds to Vizquel and safe as no throw, Omar could not get his weight on that foot to throw. One on for Carter strikes out swinging. Two down for Brandon Inge, this is big trouble, fly ball to left and Travis watches this one disappear over the fence, two run home run and A’s are now 3-0 on the Jays. Suzuki, two down grounds to Lawrie, throw to Gomes to end the inning. Laffey by no means as bad as Romero was last night but he really needs some run support, this game is not out of reach (yet). Bottom 4th: Davis lines to Gomes in right, leadoff single, that will do to start with. Rasmus lines out to Crisp in centre for the out. Lawrie, lines to Crisp incentre, two on base. Davis all the way to third on that play. Encarnacion, here we go Edwin, as he drives this one to left and over the fence, home run Edwin and here comes Davis to score with Lawrie right behind him, three runs score to tie this one up. 3-3. Just like that, Jays get their first run and then more runs with one hit than they had in the previous 21 innings this series. About time. Snider, strikes out swinging for the second time today. Gomes fly ball to Cespedes in left for third out, BUT Jays have tied this one up. Top 5th: Hicks grounds to Laffey, throw to Gomes. One down for Jemile Weeks, ball four. Number nine guy on base. Crisp lines to Travis in left, stand up double, Weeks to 3rd. Two on for Gomes, oh dear, ball four and bases are loaded. This is not good. Reddick grounds to Johnson throw to Vizquel to get Gomes, no chance for two as Weeks scores 4-3 A’s take lead again. Not out of this one yet. Crisp at 3rd. Reddick at 1st. Two down for Cespedes grounds to Lawrie throw to Johnson to get Reddick at 2nd. But A’s have retaken the lead. Bottom 5th: Johnson bunting back to pitcher Milone throw to Carter at first, one quick out. Mathis, that’s better, singles back up the middle past Milone to Crisp. Vizquel, one down one on, grounds to Suzuki. Mathis to second, now umpire disagrees, calls Vizquel out, batter interference and Mathis has to go back to first, strange play. Davis first pitch swinging, fly ball to Gomes ion right. Milone definitely has the Jays number today and is keeping his pitch count well down although with the free swinging Jays at first pitches, that is maybe not the pitcher but the hitters. Top 6th: Laffey meantime on 94 pitches and may not be out much longer. Carter grounds to Lawrie throw to Gomes at first, one down. Inge strikes out swinging, two down. Suzuki singles to Rasmus in centre and that is it for Laffey. . Pitching Change: Brandon Lyon replaces Aaron Laffey. Nice ovation here for Laffey as he leaves, not a brilliant outing by any means but much much better than Romero last night and he has kept the Jays in this one. Hicks strikes out swinging. Lyon does his job neatly. Bottom 6th: Rasmus, here we go, singles to Gomes in right. Lawrie singles to Gomes in right, busy guy, two on and nobody out. Encarnacion, wild pitch by Milone, Rasmus to 3rd. Lawrie to 2nd. Suzuki was injured on that foul ball, no ok now and back to the game. Encarnacion with two in scoring position and nobody out, takes strike three, and just stands there, I think the umpire gets the message Edwin but it is not changing anything. One down for Snider, crazy he is bunting and a perfect bunt as the throw by Milone to first hits Travis in the back and gets away, Rasmus scores. Now Travis slips on his way to second and hung up there but stretches out the rundown as here comes Lawrie two runs score and Jays take the lead 5-4 for the first time this series !!! Here comes error by pitcher Milone. Gomes two down fly ball to Crisp in centre. But this is huge for the Jays and at the best time in the game with Oliver and Janssen set for the last two innings. Can Lyon now get through the 7th? Top 7: Weeks leading off grounds to Vizquel throw to Gomes. One down. Crisp strikes out swinging. Two down, Gomes strikes out looking to end the inning and a very nice piece of work by Lyon. Romero should be watching this guy, just throwing strikes, simple for some. Bottom 7th: Johnson leading off and going after this one and this one is high to right and out of here, home run for Kelly Johnson, huge and a long time since he had some offense from Kelly. 6-4 Jays. A valuable extra run for the closers. Mathis fly ball to Gomes in right for the first out. Vizquel grounds to Hicks at short, throw to Carter at first. Davis, takes strike three to end the inning. Now can Jays closers finish this one off with the two run lead? Top 8th: Oliver replaces Brandon Lyon. Lyon had an excellent and very important four outs to close the A’s down, useful for Farrell to know that he has another good arm to take an inning before Oliver and Janssen. Reddick fly ball to Davis in right, one down. Cespedes, fly ball to Rasmus, two down. Carter, takes strike three looking to end the inning. Oliver has been huge for Jays successes this season. Bottom 8th: Doolittle now pitching for Tommy Milone. Milone only threw 86 pitches but Jays were starting to zero in on him. Rasmus leading off, fly ball to Cespedes in left, one down. Lawrie, ball four,one on one down. Encarnacion pops it up to shallow right and ball drops in, Lawrie was running, stopped then when he could see ball dropping took off again and gets to third on the play. Not sure he would have scored if he had not stopped. Now runners at the corners and one down for Snider. Yes Travis, drives this to Cespedes in left, here comes Lawrie to score, 7-4 Jays. Lawrie at second, Edwin at third, one down. Big chance to break this open here. Gomes, this will do high fly ball to Crispin centre, both runners tag and Edwin scores 8-4 Jays. Lawrie to third on the play. Gomes a sacrifice RBI. Johnson, yes Kelly, fly ball to Cespedes in left and off the wall, here comes Travis to score, 9-4 Jays. Where did these bats suddenly appear from? Who’s complaining, not Jays fans. That is it for Doolittle, lived up to his name. Evan Scribner now pitching. A righty for change. Mathis, he doubles to the wall in left, here comes Johnson to score, 10-4 Jays. Some wag shouting we want 16… Vizquel, Mathis in scoring position, two down, fly ball to Cespedes in left for third out, but Jays have broken this one open and here comes Casey. Top 9th: Janssen now pitching, not a save situation but he definitely needs the work. Brandon Inge strikes out swinging. One down for Seth Smith, Pinch-hitting Kurt Suzuki. Smith fly ball to Rasmus in centre two down. Another pinch-hitter Brandon Moss for Hicks. Fly ball to Rasmus and Jays have won one, avoided the sweep and some of the bats have come alive after long sleep. Kelly Johnson being one in that category. The very good: I would say Laffey definitely. He had a very difficult job today, trying to stop the bloodletting and avoid a sweep; He was not overpowering but he kept the team in this one which is all that we can ask form a starter. Travis Snider 2-4 today but the squeeze bunt for the tying run and the quick thinking rundown after he slipped and fell were huge runs. Followed by another RBI in the 8th inning to make it 7-4.I think putting him behind Edwin also is going to give Travis the confidence he needs to break out now for the rest of the season. Kelly Johnson, two hit game including the homerun, after struggling for so long he needed a break out game. The pitchers need a special mention with Laffey going six innings, and then Lyon, Oliver, and Janssen to save it. When this team ever gets back to full strength there are not many league teams anywhere that could beat them all factors equal.

Romero fails miserably as A's bats destroy him in 16-0 thrashing

Was this the very worst game this team has played? If not I cannot remember sitting through a game at this stadium worse than tonight’s. Add on losing Arencibia to a broken hand which was bad enough and this was miserable ugly. I have seen them fight back and score a lot to win but not tonight. From the very first inning with Romero taking 26 pitches to get his three outs and giving up a run, this got even more ugly. Forty ? pitches later, yes you read that right, Romero took 66 pitches tonight to get four outs giving up eight runs and was out of the game at the start of the second inning. That was just the start. Beck was not much better, Carpenter whom I actually felt sorry for gave up three solo shots but at least he didn’t walk five like Romero. To rub it even further Farrell who’s mental state must be clearly questioned brings in Mathis, yes Jeff as in catcher tonight replacing Arencibia with a broken hand and makes him pitch an inning. It is totally irrelevant but interesting trivia factoid for the future that Mathis pitched better than the “ace” of the Jays pitching staff. Not sure what ace means anymore, maybe the clown in the blue costume. But the point is did Farrell ever consider what would have happened if Mathis had pulled a muscle or worse pitching? Maybe he wanted to give Gomes an inning catching but come on, catching Mathis is hardly the same. Hello but I thought we had Oliver and Janssen sitting out there, in fact Janssen was up at one point waving the towel around, maybe it was the white flag of surrender but at least he was out there. Now he has to pitch tomorrow or he will be far too strong and will be over pitching again. Manager Farrell misusing no sorry abusing the bullpen once again. Plus the decision to let Happ pitch several innings last night left him unable to come in tonight and provide long relief after Romero, this was exactly the scenario he would have thrived in. Oliver and Janssen did not pitch last night either. Monday was day off. This means they both have to pitch tomorrow. But the highlight for the 100 of us left in the stadium by the ninth, perhaps we need our heads looking at not Farrell. The highlight was not just Mathis pitching but coming out bottom of the inning to lead off the hitting and more to the point striking a fine single to right. I guess it was Alice in Wonderland at the park tonight. Maybe even more fitting as I leave into a torrential rainstorm, pathetic fallacy if ever there was one, this is one game that I would like to forget but probably never will. One run in eighteen innings is also very troubling for a team that demolished Red Sox in Fenway, that seems an awfully long time ago. The very good: Apart from the ace pitcher Mathis. Gose gets his first real hit a nice double in the 8th. That will help the average. A bomb by Travis to right that was caught by Reddick climbing the wire fence and taking it away from Travis, I was already out of my seat and so was the guy on the button for the home run foghorn. An amazing catch that probably epitomised the Jays night. Although in the bottom of the 8th Jays had two on when Farrell, (what was wrong with this guy tonight?) pinch hits for Encarnacion!!! Gomes struck out with two and the best chance all night of scoring any runs, not that they would have scored 16 but a couple would have made the taste a little better for the few fans left. Tomorrow a midday game and the thousands of children from the summer camps, it will be roof on as this weather now is sticking around. I love going to these midweek matinees. The noise will be amazing but this team has a habit of blowing such opportunities and never seem to take advantage of the extra man that the young crowd provides, they cheer everything. But so far this team has given nothing for anyone to cheer about in this series and will be fighting to avoid another sweep, the second in three series, that is not good at all. . Any good news today, yes Morrow threw today in Dunedin and will have first rehab start at the weekend. Santos surgery revealed nothing new and went well should be back by spring training. And evidently Bautista will be swinging a bat at the weekend. That is good news with the Jays offence in a funk. Jays go 0-6 again with runners in scoring position, so far this series 0-12 ouch that is gruesome. Carpenter 4 innings work threw 67 pitches (more than Romero in 1.1) gave up three solo home runs but struck out five. Weird line. Jays pitchers threw 201 pitches. That is enough for two games and it seemed like it as well, must have been rough for the Jays fielders they seemed to be out there the whole night. Meantime the Athletics went 7-14 and did not miss many opportunities to score. Lineups: Athletics. Crisp, Gomes, Reddick, Cespedes, Inge, Norris, Hicks, Weeks and Griffin pitching. Jays: Lawrie, Rasmus, Encarnacion, Lind, Mathis, Johnson, Snider, Vizquel, Gose and Romero pitching. Top 1st: Crisp fly ball to Gose in right. Gomes ball four, one on one down for Reddick, pops it up to Encarnacion at first. Two down. Cespedes, doubles to Rasmus in centre, Gomes scores. Carter, ball four. Inge there goes Cespedes and safe at third without a throw. Inge grounds to Vizquel throw to Edwin to end the inning. Romero 26 pitches for the inning. Not looking good at all and very slow and deliberate. Bottom 1st: Lawrie grounds to Hicks at short , throw to Carter at first for the out. Rasmus, strikes out swinging, two down for Encarnacion, ball four. One on two down for Lind, strikes out swinging. Top 2nd: Norris, ball four, leadoff walk and the second by Romero. Hicks, wild pitch and Norris to second without a throw. Hicks, takes strike three. One down one on for bottom of the order Weeks. Ball four and the second walk of the inning by Romero. Crisp singles to left, Snider fumbles the ball and his throw gets away. Error to Snider as run scores, 2-0 Athletics. Weeks to second, Crisp at first. Here comes Bruce Walton. Gomes singles to Rasmus in centre, Weeks scores. 3-0 A’s. Reddick, lines to Gose in right, 4-0 Gomes to third. Cespedes intentional walk to load them up. Carter, ball four, another run scores, I don’t think that is what Romero and Farrell wanted here, 5-0 Athletics as Gomes scores and bases stay loaded. Romero on 66 pitches, that means he has thrown 40 pitches this inning alone for one out. And there are three runners on base his responsibility. But Farrell has had enough, so have all the fans around my seats. Romero is booed off the field. Head down and straight for the tunnel. Let’s hope he does not punch the wall. Chad Beck now pitching with bases loaded and one down, poor guy. Inge lines to Snider in left, here comes Reddick, here comes Cespedes, 7-0 A’s. Carter at third, Inge at second. Norris, lines to Gose in right, Carter scores, Inge to third. 8-0 A’s. Hicks, grounds to Lawrie, throw to Edwin for the second out, Inge scores 9-0. Weeks grounds to Edwin throw to Beck and mercifully this inning over. Eight runs score and this game is over early. Jays look shell-shocked and believe me the fans are giving the team their opinion. That is one terrible ugly, ugly inning. Bottom 2nd: Mathis now pinch hitting for Arencibia, why is he out of the game. He had one pitch fouled off his bare hand but he shook it off and stayed in there. Mathis strikes out swinging. One down Johnson, fly ball to Crisp in centre. Snider, hammers this on to right and this one is out of here, NO an amazing catch as Reddick climbs the wall and comes down with it. I was already celebrating the home run as was the stadium guy on the foghorn, started to sound it and then cut it. Oh Wow, Reddick climbed that wire fence in the bullpen to make that catch above the wall to end this one, three up and down and Jays are back out there. We will be seeing that catch on highlight reels for the rest of season. Top 3rd: Mathis stays in to catch. Carpenter replaces Beck. This poor guy should be in Vegas and is only there because of Frasor injury. Crisp, oh no, first pitch, high to right and over the fence, home run and 10-0 A’s. This is getting embarrassing; I hope Romero thinks so as well. Gomes, ball four. Yet another walk. Reddick, grounds to Johnson at second, throw to Vizquel covering he bag, to get Gomes. Cespedes, strikes out swinging, two down. Carter lines it right at Vizquel for the third out. Not as bad as the second inning but Jays had better start hitting and getting back in this one. Bottom 3rd: News on Arencibia from the Tweets, he has broken his hand. Can you believe that, the one Jays hitter who had been hot recently and now he is gone. Who knows for how long? Vizquel leading off, pops it up to Norris behind the plate, one down for Gose, grounds to Weeks at second, throw to Carter, two down. Gose still unable to get a clean hit, his sole hit was that bunt single his first at bat in his first game. Lawrie, two down. Grounds to Hicks throw to Carter to end the inning, another three up and down by the Jays. Tope 4th: Inge pops it up to Lawrie at third, one down. Norris fly ball to Rasmus in centre, two down. Hicks strikes out swinging. Great cheers in my section. Beck no damage. Bottom 4th: Rasmus, strikes out swinging, one down. Encarnacion lines this one down the left field line, fan leans over to get the ball, interference called and Edwin has to stop at second. Lind, strikes out swinging. Mathis, ball four, two on two down for Johnson, strikes out swinging to leave two out there. That kind of day for the Jays. Top 5th: Weeks, strikes out swinging, one down for top of the order yet again. Crisp, there he goes again fly ball to right and this one is out of there and his second home run off Carpenter. 11-0 A’s. Gomes one down, strikes out swinging, two down. Reddick, pops it up to Lawrie at third. But A’s have another. Bottom 5th: Snider, strikes out, one down for Vziquel, lines to Gomes on left as he dives and makes the catch, no, third base umpire says no catch and Omar is safe at first. Gose, strikes out swinging, unable to buy a hit. Lawrie singles to short, unable to come up cleanly and make the out. Vizquel to second, Jays have two on. Two down for Rasmus. Colby pops it up to Hicks at short, leaving two out there. Top 6th: Cespedes, pops up to Edwin at first, one down. Carter one down, oh no, not another, fly ball to left and this one is over head of Travis another home run, the third given up by Carpenter. 12-0 A’s. Inge one down, strikes out swinging, two down for Norris fly ball to Rasmus in centre to end the inning but A’s keep adding them on. Bottom 6th: Encarnacion leading off, strikes out swinging. One down for Lind, grounds off the end of his bat to pitcher Griffin, throw to Carter for the out at first. Two down for Mathis. Fly ball to left and Gomes makes the catch. Another three up and down. Top 7th: Loup now pitching for Carpenter. Carpenter actually did a fairly good job of stemming the bloodletting, four innings and three runs but that is ok assuming the Jays offence should be doing their job. Plus this guy should be in Vegas not in Toronto. He ate up the innings for the team and they should see it that way. Hicks takes strike three. One down. Weeks, grounds to Johnson at second, throw to Edwin, two down. Crisp, fly ball to Gose in right. Three up and down for Loup. He did his job. Bottom 7th: That is it for Griffin, he completely fooled Jays hitters all night. Blevins now pitching. Lefty lefty match up as Johnson leads off. Strikes out swinging, one down for another lefty in Snider, strikes out swinging. Two down for Vizquel, fly ball to Gomes in left. Blevins mowing them down here. Top 8th: Gomes grounds to Loup and safe on the slow roller. Nothing going Jays way tonight, get all this hex stuff out of the way and blow Oakland out of the water tomorrow. That’s the theory. Seth Smith pinch hitting for Reddick, grounds to Lawrie, throw to Johnson at second to get Gomes. Cespedes, lines to Gose in right, here comes Smith to score 13-0 Oakland. Error to Johnson on the relay throw and Cespedes goes to third. Carter grounds to Vizquel, not coming home but throw to Edwin at first to get the out. Cespedes scores 14-0. Inge pops it up to Edwin at first. Bottom 8th: Smith in right field, Sogard replaces Inge at third. Jim Miller now pitching. Gose, there we go Anthony, lines it up the middle and he motors easily to second. His first major hit. Crowd gives him a very nice ovation, they are following his at bats. Lawrie, grounds to Hick at shirt as Gose is past him to third. Throw to first to get Lawrie. One down and runner at third, will this be the first run? Top of the order Rasmus and Edwin. No, not Colby as Rajai Davis pinch hitting for him. Strange decision. Ball four, two on one down for Edwin. No, another pinch hitter, I don’t get it with runners in scoring position and chance to get a couple maybe. Yan Gomes ??? pinch hitting for Edwin. Strikes out swinging, well that gamble worked for the Manager. Two down and Lind hitting, if ever there is a need for a pinch hitter it would e for Lind right now, not for Colby and Edwin. Lind hitless tonight, strikes out swinging, leaving two out there. Awful on a night of ugly at bats. Top 9th: Now know Farrell has lost it, Mathis, yes Jeff Mathis is pitching for the second time this season. BUT the difference tonight is that Mathis is now the number one catcher with Arencibia out with broken hand. If Mathis injures himself here, Farrell should be fired. Remember Canseco pitching and unable to hit afterwards. Mathis obviously in to eat up an inning in a meaningless game but surely Oliver or Janssen could do that, both need the work not having pitched since Fenway. Norris leading off, lines to Davis in centre and stand up double to lead off. Hicks, lines to Snider in left, here comes Norris to score 15-0 A’s. OK no mercy. Weeks grounds to Johnson, throw to Lind now at first for the out. What is left of this crowd cheer the out for Mathis. Hicks moves to third. Crisp fly ball to Gose, funny Hicks is not moving on the throw and wow great bullet to the plate without a bounce, that is some arm that Gose has and Hicks obviously knew. Two down. Brandon Moss pinch hitting for Gomes. Lines to Gose in right, here comes Hicks to score 16-0 A’s. Smith pops it up to Vizquel at short for the out. Mathis gets a great ovation and so he should, he actually threw fewer pitches (21) than Romero did (26) in his first inning. I would not like to be the three A’s hitters who made outs for Mathis. For the archival record, Weeks, Crisp (he of the two home runs) and Smith. Bottom 9th: Look who is leading off, Mr Everyman, Jeff Mathis. Yan Gomes catching, I guess he will be the backup for now which could mean we will see Moises Sierra again, he is really lighting up the AAA Vegas 51 team. Mathis lines to Moss in right, leadoff single. He does everything obviously, crowd gives him nice applause, at least one Jay has earned it tonight. Johnson, fly ball to centre for Crisp to make the out. One down one on for Snider, good at bat here for Travis, fouling them off besides us here, everyone getting a foul ball, pops this one up to Carter. Jays down to their last at bat. Vizquel, grounds to Weeks, throw to Hicks to get Mathis at second and this one is finally over. Jays lose one very poorly played game. New for the decision re Romero and replacement for Arencibia.

Snider and Arencibia home runs and good outing by Cecil not enough for Jays to beat Oakland,

Oakland A’s v Jays. Game one of three. A’s have just swept Yankees. Yankees swept Jays last week; this one looks bad for the Jays on paper. But who would have given the Jays any chance to win let alone sweep Boston in Fenway. Cecil is the key tonight, pitching for his spot in the rotation with Happ over his shoulder and maybe even closer than that. No pressure Brett. A’s: Crisp, Gomes, Reddick, Cespedes, Carter, Inge, Norris, Hicks, Weeks and Travis Blackley pitching. Jays: Lawrie, Rasmus, Encarnacion, Lind, Arencibia, Johnson, Escobar, Snider, Davis and Cecil pitching. Top 1st: Crisp, 2-2 count, fly ball to Davis in right, one down. Gomes, 1-2 count, strikes out swinging, two down. Reddick, right field shift, full count. Grounds to Lawrie behind first, throw to Edwin for the out.15 pitches Nice start for Cecil. Bottom 1st: Lawrie leading off. Seems to have made that leadoff spot his. Grounds back to Blackley off his glove and no chance to get speedster Lawrie already at first. Speed kills. Rasmus, wild pitch to the screen and Lawrie to second, thank you very much. 2-1 count, lines it to Reddick in right, here comes throw to third and Lawrie is out. Great throw, two down. Encarnacion, 0-2 count, strikes out looking but (very) late call as catcher frames and holds it there. Hmmm. Pitch count 8. Top 2nd: Cespedes, 0-2 count, strikes out swinging, one down for Carter. Pops it up to Escobar, two down. Inge, 1-1 count, singles past Johnson to Davis in right. One on two down. Norris. Oh boy, first pitch, hammers this one into the seats in left, home run, 2-0 A’s just like that. Hicks, full count, low ball four. One on two down for Weeks. 1-2 count, grounds to Lawrie from his knees throw to second to get Hicks but Cecil has opened the gate. Plus a 36 pitch count for two innings. Bottom 2nd: Lind leading off. 3-1 count, grounds it to weeks at second, throw to first, one down. Arencibia, 3-1 count, lines it to the wall in right centre, he is hot right now. Goes the opposite way today after those two home runs to left in Fenway. Johnson with runner at second, one down. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging. Two down for Escobar. Pops it up to short. Awful at bat by Escobar. Pitch count 24. Top 3rd: Top of the order again for Cecil. Crisp, 2-2 count, takes strikes three inside. One down for Gomes. 1-2 count, grounds to left. One on one down for Reddick, we have been here before. 1-1 count, that’s more like it, grounds back to Cecil, throw to Escobar, over to Edwin, double play ball. Pitch count 50. Might get through six which is not what Farrell is looking for maybe sayonara Brett to the bullpen for next start. Bottom 3rd: Meantime Jays are not yet through the lineup first time. Snider, 0-2 count, NO WAY., drives it to right, and this one is out of here into A’s bullpen, home run for Travis. Welcome home. 2-1 game, that was more a line drive, but he is so powerful with the lower body. but with his power Davis lines first pitch hard to first but great leaping catch by Carter for the out. Lawrie, one down. High fly ball to Cespedes in left but not far enough, two down. Rasmus, 1-2 count. Hits him inside on the shirt, one on two down, Encarnacion, 1-1 count, another wild pitch off the glove of Norris to the back stop, Rasmus to second. 3-1 count, I don’t think you will get anything to hit here Edwin. Outside ball four. Lind, lefty-lefty matchup. Time you came through Adam. Grounds to Carter at first. Throw to Blackley for the out. Maybe time to move Lind down the lineup. Jays get to Blackley though this inning for a 22 pitch inning. Pitch count 46. Top 4th: Cespedes, 2-2 count, strikes out swinging, one down for Carter, 3-0 count, high ball four. One on one down for Inge. 2-1 count, fly ball to centre, Rasmus makes the out. Norris two down with one on, been here before. Not this time, grounds to Escobar at short, throw to Edwin to end the inning. Pitch count 65. Bottom 4th: Arencibia, 1-2 count, strikes out looking, great curve. One down for Johnson, 1-2 count, lines it back up the middle off glove of Blackley and Johnson safe without a throw. One on one down for Escobar. 3-1 count, grounds to third, throw to second, over to first. Escobar does it again, yet another double play. Pitch count 59. Top 5th: Hicks, 1-2 count, strikes out swinging, one down for Weeks. Pulls it to third and off the glove of Lawrie into shallow left, no throw. Weeks at first, one down for Crisp. 0-2 count. Saved again, grounds to Escobar, throw to Johnson, over to Edwin double play ball. 75 pitch count. Bottom 5th: Snider leading off. 1-2 grounds to Carter at first, great diving stop, throw to Blackley just beats Travis. Carter robbed Travis there. Davis, one down grounds to short, throw to first, two down. Lawrie, pulls it to left for a single. Rasmus, long time since we saw Colby hit one high to right. 2-2 count, pops this one up to short. 73 pitch count. Top 6th: Gomes, full count. Takes strike three. One down for Reddick, shift right, 2-1 count, bunts to third, gamble failed again, how many times is that? Cespedes, 2-2 count. Beck warming up in Jays bullpen. Full count. Takes strike three, whoa. Two down. Carter, 1-2 count, strikes out swinging. Pitch count 94. Too many full count at bats pushing that count up. Might be his last hitter. Bottom 6th: Encarnacion, 2-2 count, strikes out swinging. One down, Lind. 1-2 count, takes strike three, not impressed with that at bat Adam. Two down for Arencibia. 0-2 count, strikes out swinging. And only 86 pitch count. He may go eight as Jays (apart from Travis) unable to solve him so far. Top 7th: Cecil finished for the night. Good outing but just not enough tonight, will it give him another start? Probably. Happ warming up in Jays bullpen. Beck now pitching. Inge, 1-2 count, strikes out swinging. One down for Norris, full count, grounds back to Beck, fumbles it but throw just gets Norris at first, very close. Two down. Hicks, lines it past diving Lawrie, to left field corner, stand up double. Weeks, this is trouble, lines it to the wall past Rasmus in centre, bounces off the wall, Hicks scores, 3-1 game. Weeks a triple, and that is it for Beck. Here comes Manager Farrell. Happ now pitching. Crisp lines first pitch into left field corner, Weeks scores. 4-1 Oakland. Stand up double for Crisp. Gomes, full count, high ball four, two on two down for Reddick. Lefty lefty, 3-1 count, double steal but defensive indifference. Ball four anyway. Bases loaded. Cespedes, not many strikes tonight from Happ. 3-1 count. Just cannot find the zone. Swings at ball four, full count. Oh boy, lines it to left, clears the bases 7-1 Oakland. Long single, Cespedes at first but the others were all running on the pitch and thus all score. Carter, pops it up to Davis for third out, but this game is over. Five run inning. Ugly ending. Not a great home start for Happ either. Bottom 7th: No way is this team going to score six tonight in three innings the way they have been hitting so far off Blackley. Bats have been flat and they have not even looked as if they will. Johnson leading off, 1-2 count, takes stroke three, curve ball, he has been throwng it all night they should be ready for it by now. One down for Escobar, no double play at least this time. Lines first pitch to left for the out. Two down. Snider, 1-1 count, strikes out swinging. 97 pitch count. May not pitch two more. Top 8th: Happ still out there, interesting. Inge, 1-2 count, fly ball to Travis in left, one down. Oakland bullpen working. Norris, 2-2 count, pops it up to Davis in right, two down. Hicks, pops it up to right, Davis misses it in foul territory, always an adventure with Rajai fielding. 0-2 count, strikes out swinging. Much better inning for Happ. Bottom 8th: Will Jays hitters go through the motions or try? Scribner now pitching, Davis leading off. 2-2 count, takes strike three, it took eight pitches but he should have swung at that one. Lawrie, 2-3 tonight, one of the few pluses for the Jays hitters. Make that 3-4 as he lines it down the line into left, stand up double for Brett. One on one down for Rasmus. 0-2 count, takes strike three inside. Two down for Encarnacion. Lines this hard to left but great catch by Inge at third base to rob Edwin and end the inning. Top 9th: Weeks leading off. Happ finishing this one off, we hope. 2-1 count, pops it up to Johnson behind first for the out. One down. Crisp, 2-2 count, takes strike three, two down for Gomes. 3-1 count, fly ball to Davis in right, makes no mistake this time. Bottom 9th: Jays just need six against one of the best bullpens in the league. Boston beating Texas tonight so Jays could slip back again. Jim Miller now pitching. Lind leading off another ofer night 0-3. 1-2 count, fly ball to left for the out, 0-4 night for Lind. Arencibia, one down, full count, fouls off ball four outside. Fouling them off here, now he connects, pitch number ten and this one is out of here lines it into the left field bullpen. Great at bat, ten pitches. 7-2 game. Johnson, pops it up to Miller two down. Escobar, 1-1 count, pulls this one into left for a single. Snider with one but two down. Here comes the pitching coach Young. 1-2, strikes out swinging. Jays lose a horrible game tonight. Cecil had a decent outing but only Snider and Arencibia could hit the A’s pitching. The very good: Snider home run and three hit night. Arencibia last at bat ten pitches and finally a home run. Cecil has to get a gold star, really just one mistake but problem was going deep in the count to so many hitters he could not last more than six innings and his bullpen let him down. Six of the eight hits from Lawrie, Arencibia and Snider. Travis home run was off lefty pitcher, Manager Farrell would love that. No need to sit Travis against lefties John. Tampa has beaten Baltimore so Jays do not lose much ground in wild card but on the other hand miss a chance to close one more. Texas now tied with Boston in the 7th. The not so good: Beck and Happ, although Happ improved and seemed to get stronger as he pitched more innings. Runners in scoring position 0-6, same old complaint. Unfortunately both the home runs were solo shots.

Jays power to a sweep in Fenway 15-7 as the bats support the pitching staff

Jays v Red Sox. Finale Game three. Jays have already won this series and would love to sweep today but most of them including Farrell will be happy with two of three at Fenway. This series has seen strengthening of the bullpen despite losing Frasor, return of Lawrie and for most fans return of Travis. Gose is a plus in right. Today you know that Red Sox will be determined not to lose this one and with Lester 11-5 against the Jays, they have a good start, he just loves them. Jays have also picked up two on the Yankees as well as Boston which is not a bad weekend work especially after sweep on New York. Lineups: Jays: Today even more changes. Lawrie, Escobar, Rasmus, Encarnacion, Arencibia, Davis, Snider, Mathis, Vizquel and Alvarez pitching. Red Sox: Ellsbury, Nava, Pedroia, Gonzalez, Ross, Saltalamacchia, Sweeney, Aviles, Punto and Lester pitching. Top 1st: Lawrie, WOWEEE Brett, launches a rocket here to left and over the Green Monster, similar to Arencibia home run last night, 1-0 Jays. Escobar 3-1, outside ball four, one on for Rasmus, first pitch bunting to Punto at third, great bunt and safe on the throw at first, Escobar to second, two on nobody out for Encarnacion, 2-0 count, lines it the other way to right and bounces into the crowd in the corner, ground rule double, here comes Escobar, 2-0 Jays Rasmus to third. Lester having rough start. Arencibia, 2-2 count, grounds to Pedroia, throw to Gonzalez at first for the out as Rasmus scores 3-0 Jays. Edwin to third. One down for Davis. Lines it down third base line to Nava in left, here comes Edwin, stand up double for Rajai. 4-0 Jays. And the beat goes on still only one down. Crowd very restless and with cause. Valentine himself out to the mound, Snider 0-8 against Lester in career. 2-2 count. Davis giving Lester something to worry about but Rajai not going. Travis strikes out swinging, but ball gets away from Saltalamacchia and Travis to first, nothing going right for Lester here. Two on for Mathis. Davis at third. Pitch count 26 already. Bunting, in front of the mound, Saltalamacchia goes after it and Davis scores, throw to first to get Mathis, two down 5-0 Jays. WOW what an inning. Snider at second. Here comes number nine hitter Vizquel. Fly ball to Sweeney in right. Bronx cheers and relief at Fenway but Jays are off and running for Alvarez. Bottom 1st: Ellsbury bounces one over head of Alvarez to Escobar, safe on the throw to first. One on for Nava, shift right, full count, grounds to Lawrie playing at second, throw to Edwin at first for the out as Ellsbury moves to second. One down for Pedroia. Singles past a diving Escobar to Snider in left, Ellsbury to third and Red Sox have two on for Gonzalez. Need a ground ball here to get double play. 0-2 count, OH NO !!!! Fly ball to right centre and this one is out of here, just like that a three run home run and Red Sox are back in this quickly 5-3 Jays. How could he do that with two strikes on him. Crowd loves it, this one is not finished by any means. Ross, 1-2 count, drives it back at Alvarez, nice play, throw to Edwin, two down. Saltalamacchia, 3-0 count, don’t walk him, strikes out looking. But Boston back in this game big-time. Top 2nd: Lester now has second chance. Lawrie, high outside ball four, he will take it. Escobar, one on, bunting to Punto at third, throw to Gonzalez, Lawrie to second. Good bunt by Yunel. One down for Rasmus, fly ball to Nava in left, almost out of his glove, two down. Encarnacion, full count, outside ball four. Lester a little cautious with Edwin.Two on for Arencibia, YES SIRRREEE. JP launches this one to left and this one is into the front row of the Green Monster, his second such home run in two games, he likes this place and he has also been hitting very well since All-Star break. Wow 8-3 Jays. Davis, two down, full count, WOWEEE Rajai hammers this one to left and this time over the Monster, back to back, 9-3 Jays. Only two innings, looks like another slugfest game. Snider, two down. Red Sox bullpen working. Crowd is deathly quiet. Strikes out swinging as bat goes into the crowd. Lester walks off to the boos. Now Alvarez has to shut them down here. Bottom 2nd: Sweeney, fly ball to left, Travis makes the out by the wall, one down for Aviles, same again thanks you. Travis makes the catch, two down. Punto grounds to Escobar, throw to Edwin for the out. Much better for Alvarez, three up and down, exactly what the doctor Farrell ordered. Top 3rd: Mathis singles to Nava in left, one on for Vizquel. Pops it up to Aviles running to the third base line, nice catch. Lawrie, 2-1 count, ouch grounds to Aviles at short, throw to Pedroia over to Gonzalez double play ball to end this inning. Normalcy returning to Fenway maybe. Bottom 3rd: Ellsbury, full count, strikes out swinging, one down. Nava grounds to Vizquel, throw to Edwin two down. Pedroia, grounds to Vizquel throw to Edwin to end the inning, Alvarez also settling down, fortunately. Top 4th: Escobar, lines it high off the Monster in left but just a long single, as it bounces right back to Nava, one on for Rasmus, lines to Ellsbury in centre, a good hit but not enough, one down for Encarnacion, 3-1 count, in the dirt, ball four, his second walk today. Escobar at second and Jays have something going here. Arencibia, with two on, full count, ouch twice over, grounds to Aviles, over to Pedroia on to Gonzalez, another inning ending double play. Crowd are happy with that, but surely not with Lester. Bottom 4th: Gonzalez, lines to Rasmus in centre for a long single, one on for Ross, pops it up to Escobar, Yunel loses it in the sun but recovers and makes the catch, one down one on. Saltalamacchia, lines it off the wall in left but long single as Travis plays it perfectly. Gonzalez to third. Sweeney, ball four, Alvarez has loaded the bases with only one out. Aviles, 1-2 count, this will do it, fly ball to Davis in right for the out and here comes Gonzalez to score. 9-4 game. Two down for Punto, grounds to Vizquel at second, throw to Edwin to end the inning but Boston gets one back. No lead is safe in this place. Top 5th: Davis, ball four, lead off walk, now will he be going? Lester’s headache. Snider, has struck out twice but reached base on the wild pitch strikeout. Drives this one to centre and this one is OUT OF HERE, home run into the black netting in centre, that is one long home run. Travis has that very powerful swing. He just drove that ball. 11-4 game. That is it for Lester. Valentine has had enough. Tazawa now pitching. Mathis fly ball to Nava in left for the first out of the inning. Vizquel pops it up to shallow right, drops in no man’s land between three Red Sox, and safe at first with a single. Top of the order again, Lawrie, NO Brett, grounds to Punto at third, over to Pedroia, on to Gonzalez, a third inning ending double play ball. Nice play by Punto to get it started. Wow. Bottom 5th: Ellsbury, 2-1 count, oh dear, hammers this one to centre field and Rasmus watches it, this one is out of here, home run. Same spot as Travis. 11-5 Boston. Nava, shift right on, grounds right to Lawrie in shallow right, throw to Edwin, one down. Pedroia pops it up to, two down. Gonzalez, fly ball to Snider in left to end the inning but Red Sox get one back. Top 6th: Escobar, takes strike three, one down for Rasmus, grounds to Gonzalez at first, two down. Encarnacion, two down, stakes strike three. Jays three up and down. Tazawa has their number so far or Jays are tired with all this hitting. Bottom 6th: Ross, first pitch, fly ball to Snider in left, one down, Saltalamacchia, pops it up to Escobar, in front of Travis, he ran a long way for that one, two down. Sweeney lines fly ball to Davis in right, Rajai loses sight of it and it drops in, stand up double. Aviles, fly ball to left, off the wall, and here comes Sweeney to score, 11-6 Jays. That is it though for Alvarez, he can’t keep giving the runs back each inning. 104 pitch count and in line for the win. Chad Beck now pitching. Punto, lines it to Snider in left. Aviles scores. 11-7 Jays. Here comes Manager Farrell again, Loup now pitching. Ellsbury grounds to Edwin for the third out. But Red Sox not rolling over just yet. Top 7th: Arencibia, strikes out swinging, one down. Davis, strikes out swinging, two down. Snider singles to Ellsbury in centre, two hit day for Travis. Mathis strikes out swinging. Jays go quickly. Bottom 7th: Loup again. Nava leading off, strikes out swinging. Pedroia, grounds to Vizquel, throw to Edwin, two down. Gonzalez, grounds to Escobar, throw to Edwin for third out. Nice pitching job by Loup. Top 8th: Melancon now pitching. Tazawa, three good relief innings. Vizquel, singles to Aviles at short. One on for Lawrie, singles to Nava in left, Vizquel to second. Jays have not finished here. Escobar, bunting and they let it roll up the line fair ball. Bases loaded and nobody out. Rasmus, singles to Ellsbury in centre, here comes Vizquel and Lawrie sliding safe to beat the throw, two more runs, 13-7 Jays. Escobar at third on the throw. Edwin, this will do it fly ball to Sweeney in right, here comes Escobar, one down. 14-7. Lind pinch hitting for Arencibia. Singles to Ellsbury in centre, Rasmus moves up to second. Valentine out there again, Albers now pitching for Melancon. Davis, singles to Nava in left, bases are loaded for Snider. This will do it, goes to the opposite field and fly ball to Nava, here comes Rasmus, 15-7 Jays. Mathis, two down. Grounds to short, Aviles throw to Gonzalez at first to end this inning but Jays add three more. Bottom 8th: Ross, fly ball to Rasmus for first out. Rough day for Ross fortunately for the Jays. Saltalamacchia, grounds to Escobar, throw to Edwin, two down. Ciriaco now pinch hitting for Sweeney. Strikes out swinging. Loup has done a tremendous job here. Top 9th: Aceves now pitching. Vizquel, grounds to Pedroia at second, throw to first, one down. Lawrie pops it up to Aviles, two down. Escobar, singles to Aviles, one on two down for Rasmus, strikes out swinging. Bottom 9th: Last chances for Red Sox. Andrew Carpenter, the third pitcher of the Houston trade this week, now pitching, He had been assigned to Vegas but with Frasor injury he was recalled from the airport !!! You never know when you get your chance Andrew. Aviles, fly ball to right, no problem this time for Rajai, makes the first out. Punto, strikes out swinging, two down. Ellsbury lines it hard to right but Davis makes the catch for third out, a great win by the Jays today and a historic sweep which also puts them above Boston again in the division. They head to Texas and New York whilst Jays go home to meet the hot Oakland team and then even hotter Detroit Tigers at the weekend. The divison is certainly getting interesting. Excellent today: I give the whole team a gold star. The 15 runs, 18 hits, and RISP today 6-12, that will get the job done. Starting with Lawrie and that leadoff home run to get it all started but up and won the lineup. The home run power of Snider, Arencibia and Davis. The three hit games by two unlikely candidates Escobar and Davis. Lots of patience shown as well with the five walks today. What about the pitching heroes? Alvarez did enough although struggled throughout. Loup and Carpenter scoreless relief. A great weekend in Boston, 6-1, 6-3 and 15-7 is one impressive response to the sweep in New York and loss of Bautista and Lawrie, The team responded very well and even Alex gets a gold start for the Houston pitching he has added to the bullpen and who did a great job in relief.