Extra innings thriller loss by Jays

Jays v Athletics. Game two of four. Jays losing streak now at five, will it end tonight with Cecil pitching? Jays face minor league callup Dan Straily tonight, lots of hype preceding this guy, not only is he a rookie but also an amazing strikeout ratio, that does not look good for the freeswinging Jays tonight. My guess on attendance last night was right on. 10,838 ouch and that is when they are in the playoff role. What would it be if they were out of it. One change from last night’s lineup, Mathis catching tonight. Last night they had their hits and in fact outhit Oakland but unable to bring them in when it counted. Rasmus had his two hits but unable to get one in the ninth with two on, Edwin finally broke his 0-13 slump, maybe he is now on a hit streak, this team needs his bat. But for the rest of them sadly missing in action and time to perform. Yankees have already won and ended the Mariners win streak. Boston, Tampa beats the Orioles. Jays need to win just to stand still. Jays: Lawrie, Rasmus, Encarnacion, Johnson, Escobar, Cooper, Davis, Mathis, Gose and Cecil pitching. In his last three starts Cecil run support has been under 1.00, wow that hurts a pitcher. Cannot win with that kind of support. Athletics: Crisp, Gomes, Reddick, Cespedes, Carter, Inge, Norris, Rosales, Weeks and Straily pitching. Gose, Cooper and Sierra have hit against him in Vegas with Sierra hitting a home run off him but he is not in the lineup tonight. Your guess is as good as mine. Crowd looks a lot larger than last night, most probably in to see what the fuss is about Straily. Top 1st: Lawrie, full count, takes strike three. Looked low and Lawrie also thought so. One down for Rasmus, 0-2 count, singles into centre, Colby continues his hitting streak on this road trip. Encarnacion one on one down. 2-2 count, another pop up to second, Edwin has been doing that all week. Timing is really off for some reason and he knows it slamming his bat on the ground. Two down one on for Johnson, 3-0 count, takes it all the way. Full count, ball four, two on two down for Escobar. 1-1 count, Pulls it to Inge at third steps on the bag to get Rasmus. Time to think about moving Yunel down the order John. Jays push Straily hard this inning but to no result. Whoa. 29 pitch count for Straily. Welcome to the big leagues. Bottom 1st: Oh dear, Vizquel is in for Lawrie defnsively. Looks as if he might have done something to muscle in his side at this at bat. Another starter and bat out of the lineup. Crisp leading off. Singles into centre. One on for Jonny Gomes, grounds to Escobar, shovels it to Joihnson, over to Cooper double play ball to help Cecil lout here. Two down but Jays killer Reddick at the plate. Not this time grounds to Cooper steps on the bag himself for third out. Nice start for Cecil. Seven pitches. Top 2nd: Cooper, lifts it softly to short, Rosales makes it more difficult than it really was, one down for Davis. Takes a swing at a first pitch way outside half way to first. His signature swing. Looks ridiculous Rajai, bounces to short, throw to first, two quick outs. Mathis, two down. 0-2 count, waves at high ball outside. Jays are getting themselves out. Nine pitch inning for Straily gets his pitch count down. Bottom 2nd: Cespedes grounds to Vizquel at third, long throw not in time. Carter, full count, low ball four, two on and nobody out. Danger time for Cecil. Inge, 0-2 count, lines it to Davis in left, here comes Cespedes scores on the throw by Davis way off target. 1-0 A’s. Norris, two on and still nobody out. 1-1 count, bounces it half way to the plate, ugh. Caught his spike. Here comes trainer and Farrell. All ok. Norris grounds to Johnson flip to Escobar over to Cooper not in time, one down runners at the corners. That’s better Rosales first pitch grounds to Escobar, to Johnson to Cooper double play ball. Pitch count 24. Top 3rd: Gose leading off. 0-2 count, grounds to Straily, tags Gose out half way to first. One down. Vizquel. 2-1 count, singles to left, way to go Omar. Rasmus with one on and one down. Showing bunt, takes ball one. Pops it up to Norris behind the plate, two down for Encarnacion. Pops it up to Rosales for the out. Edwin having a rough time these days. Bottom 3rd: Weeks, pops it up and Cooper sprints to make very nice catch. That was great catch. One down. Crisp, bounces slowly to Cecil, throw to Cooper, two down for Gomes, 0-2 count, hammers this to left and this one is over the wall, home run and 2-0 A’s. Reddick, 1-1 count, singles to centre. One on two down for Cespedes. Grounds to Johnson, throw to Cooper to end the inning. Two runs is not a huge deficit normally but with this team right now to score three is probably too much to expect. Sad. Top 4th: Johnson leading off. Singles to left, the hits are coming but with no results to show for them. Escobar, 1-2 count, there goes Kelly, fly ball to right for the out and he has to retreat, one down. Cooper, 2-2 count, fouling them off here as Kelly does wind sprints. There he goes again and this time Cooper connects and drives it to the wall in centre. Johnson to third on the play. Double for Cooper. Two in scoring position for Davis. One down. Have to score here Rajai. 1-2 count, awful swing. Finally fly ball to centre, Kelly tags and scores 2-1 A’s. Two down for Mathis Cooper had to hold at second. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging. Awful. Pitch count for Straily now at 73. Bottom 4th: Carter, 2-1 count, high fly ball to left and this one is out of here, another home run. 3-1 A’s. Get one back give it back straight away, not good Brett. Inge, 0-2 strikes out looking. One down for Norris. Full count, singles to Gose in right. One on one down for Rosales. Need a ground ball here Brett. HA !!! they have Norris picked off, throw to Cooper and over to Johnson to make the tag. Two down. Rosales lines it hard to third and a great catch by Vizquel. Two pitches two outs, we like it. Pitch count at 53. Top 5th: Can Jays hitters take some heart here with those two outs? Gose leading off. Bunting and pops it up over the netting Gose escapes there. 1-2 count, strikes out swinging. One down for Vizquel, full count, grounds to short, throw to first for the out. Two down for Rasmus. 1-2 count, strikes out swinging. 87 pitch count. Bottom 5th: Weeks leading off. Singles to left. One on for top of the order Crisp. Grounds to Vizquel throw to Johnson at second gets Weeks but that is all. No chance for two. Gomes, one on one down. 3-1 count, lines it to left off the wall throw by Davis to second holds Gomes to a long single. Crisp at third. Here comes Reddick. And here comes Bruce Walton. What are we going to do? Walk him? No pitching to him. OK. 1-1 count, high fly ball to right centre, Rasmus and Gose go for it, collide by Colby has it and throw home not in time but Mathis throw to second gets Reddick a little greedy there. Double play to end the inning. 4-1 A’s but could have been more. Question in outfield though on that play, Colby takes it as centre should but did Gose ruin chance for play at home to get the runner? Top 6th: Encarnacion, 1-2 count, high fly ball to left but not far enough. Edwin cannot buy a home run these days. One down. Johnson, 0-2 count, grounds to third, throw to first, two down. Escobar, 2-1 count, lines it to the wall and missed by the left fielder Cespedes, that was catchable, double for Yunel. No error given. Can Cooper bring him in? A’s bullpen working in a hurry. 2-0 count, pops it up to Inge for the out and slams his bat down. Lots of frustration right now in the Jays clubhouse. They should be a fan watching the games after midnight for five days. Bottom 6th: Brandon Lyon now pitching. Cespedes leading off. Grounds to Johnson and beats out the throw. Carter, 2-2 count, there goes Cespedes and safe on the throw. Full count. strikes out. Inge, Cespedes stealing third and throw gets him. Two down. 0-2 count, Inge strikes out swinging, very nice Brandon. Top 7th: New pitcher Grant Balfour. Davis leading off. Base runners Rajai. First pitch, grounds to Inge, throw to first for the out. Awful but that is Davis. Mathis, grounds back to Balfour, throw to first two quick outs, gets worse. Gose. 1-2 count, strikes out swinging. Bottom 7th: Lyon still out there, Norris, 0-2 count strikes out swinging. Rosales, grounds to cooper, throw to Lyon as Rosales dives headfirst, no quite sure why as he was out easily, maybe trying to impress his manager. Two down for Weeks. 3-1 count, grounds to Cooper throw to Lyon for the out. Weeks does not dive headfirst. Top 8th: Vizquel, 1-2 count, drives to centre for Crisp to make the out. One down for Rasmus. 2-2 count, strikes out swinging, two down. Encarnacion, 0-3 tonight. 2-18 on the road trip. Swings wildly at first pitch. 0-2 count, strikes out on a pitch way down and away. Not good Edwin, you are supposed to be a leader on this team. Bottom 8th: Oliver now pitching where has he been hiding? Has not pitched for so long. No use waiting for winning situations John. You might as well use Janssen tonight as well. He needs the work as does Oliver. Jays last won a game last Saturday. Ouch a week. Top of the order Crisp. 2-2 count, lines to centre, Rasmus, off his glove and kicks the ball and Crisp to second, error on the play. Gomes, grounds to Vizquel, looks Crisp back to second and throw to Cooper for the out. Reddick, one down. There goes Crisp stealing third and throw high. That is called rubbing it in with a 4-1 lead, Jays will remember when tables are turned. Reddick fly ball to Rasmus for the out. Crisp hold two down. That is it for Oliver and guess who is coming out. Casey Janssen. Farrell has no option as there may not be a bottom of the ninth and Casey has not pitched in at least a week. Not good for a closer. This could be trouble. Taylor pinch hitting. Full count, takes strike three. Good to see that the Oliver-Janssen combo is still working well, but the problem is they don’t get into any games. Top 9th: Deja vu last night. Closer Ryan Cook in for the save. Johnson, 2-2 count, strikes out swinging, one down. Escobar, 0-2 count, strikes out swinging. Well off the plate. Cooper, singles to left. Davis or pinch hitter Sierra? Please John Sierra. No, pinch runner Sierra for Cooper. Oh my. Davis 0-2 count, singles into right, two on again just like last night but now no pinch hitter. Has to be Mathis. Two on two down. Tie run. Full count. Three staright balls. OH MY !!!!!!!!! Mathis has hammered this one to left center, and this one is over the 388 sign, three run home run and this one is all tied up 4-4. Lots of smiles in the Jays dugout. Gose now, 2-2 count, off the end of his bat throw to first gets him but this is a different game if Janssen can hold them here. Bottom 9th: Gomes in at first for Cooper. Carter leading off. 1-2 count, fly ball to Gose in right for the first out. Inge, full count. Pops it up to Gomes at first. Two down for Norris. Full count, takes strike three. Extra innings whooooeee. Who would have thought. And Manager Farrell delighted that he has a reinforced bullpen for this. Top 10th: Jerry Blevins pitching, Vizquel pops it up to first for the out. Rasmus, 2-1 count, hits him. One on one down for Encarnacion. 3-0 pitching Edwin carefully here, way outside ball four, pitch got away lucky break for Blevins here in ball four. Two one down for Johnson. Drives it to shallow right but Reddick makes nice running catch, two down and here comes the manager. Pat Neshek, sidearmer now pitching. Escobar with two on. Grounds to third throw to first for the out. Escobar should never be allowed to hit with two outs and men on base. Bottom 10th: Brad Lincoln now pitching, maybe we start to see the value in Alex’s new hirings. Sogard pinch hitting for Rosales, 0-2 count, strikes out swinging. One down, Weeks. 1-1 count, singles past diving Johnson off his glove into centre. One on one down for Crisp. Full count, weeks going, ball four. Two on one down for Gomes. 1-1 count, ball gets away and runners move up. 3-1 count, high ball four. Bases loaded. Here comes Farrell. Strategy. Rajai Davis in as fifth infielder. Reddick bases loaded. 2-2 count, WOW great pitch strikes out looking wow froze him. Two down. Moss pinch hitting, Davis retreats to left field. 1-1 count, grounds to Escobar, low throw to first for the out. Gomes nice play to dig it out, but how about Lincoln, wow great pitching Brad. Top 11th: Now can Jays take advantage here ? Neshek still pitching. Gomes 1-2 count, strikes out swinging. One down for Davis. Full count, strikes out swinging, two down for Mathis. 0-2 count, strikes out swinging. Pitch was way outside. Bottom 11th: Lincoln still out there. Carter, pops it up to Davis in shallow left, one down. Inge, grounds to Escobar, much better throw to Gomes, two down. Norris, 1-1 count, drives it to Rasmus in centre for the out. Another great inning by Lincoln. Top 12th: Come on guys it is almost 2.00am in Toronto, some of us are getting tired. Doolittle now pitching. Gose, full count, takes strike three. One down for Vizquel, singles to left centre, one on for Rasmus. This is trouble, Colby slices it into the left field corner and here comes Vizquel, throw by Moss gets Omar at the plate. Not the speediest guy is our Omar. Should he have gone? Or stayed at third? Rasmus at second for Edwin, you have to come through here not getting the chance intentional walk. Johnson, make them pay Kelly. Grounds to second, flip to the bag for the out. Maybe Omar should have stayed at third. Bottom 12th: Lincoln grabs his glove. Oh no, Colby is being called off the field. Hope that does not mean trade. Sogard grounds to Johnson, throw to Cooper, one down. Weeks, same play and out at first. Just. Two down for Crisp. Grounds to Johnson, throw to Cooper. That was good. Top 13th: Travis Blackley now pitching. Escobar leading off, chance to be a hero Yunel. Full count, pulls it past a diving shortstop into left. Nice start. Gomes, have to move him over Yan. 2-0 count, pops it up one down. Davis, 1-2 count. Grounds to short, throw to second over to first not in time for two. Two down one on for Mathis. NO !!!!, Davis is picked off, that was insane play by Davis, no excuse for that. Takes the bat out hand of Mathis. His teammates should let him know what they think. Bottom 13th: Gomes, strikes out looking. Reddick, no here comes Farrell. That is it for Lincoln pitch count 42, did a superb job for 3 1/3 innings. Loup to face Reddick. Singles to right. One on one down for Moss. 1-2 count strikes out swinging two down for Carter. 2-2 count, they have him picked off throw to Edwin at first throw to Johnson, pulled off the bag and Reddick safe at second, Carter strikes out looking. Whoa. Nice pitching by Loup. Top 14th: Mathis leading off. Grounds to second, throw to first one down. Gose, 0-5 night. Time he counted. 3-1 count, grounds to first for the out. Two down for Vizquel, 2-5 night. 1-2 count, takes strike three. Bottom 14th: Inge, 1-2 count, grounds to Vizquel throw to Encarnacion for the out. Norris, grounds to Escobar, throw to Edwin, two down. Sogard, 2-2 count, takes strike three. Another excellent inning by Loup. Top 15th: Loup first major league at bat. Crazy. Grounds to short, throw to first for the out. Encarnacion, 0-4 with two walks, 3-1 count, ball four. One on one down for Johnson, There goes Edwin and no throw stolen base. Wow that was unexpected. I told you, get Edwin into the game and he will be much happier, 2-2 count, takes strike three Two down for Escobar, another chance to be a hero here Yunel. 2-6 tonight. 2-0 count, putting him on. Ball four. Two on two down for Gomes. Grounds to short, Sogard off balance throw to third gets Edwin sliding. Inches but a great play to get him. Bottom 15th: Weeks, lines it into the right field corner and a lead off triple. Speed. Crisp, anything here will score him, swing away. 1-1 count, lines it to left for the out,. Weeks tags and scores. A’s win 5-4 but Jays can hold their head high on this one. The (very) good: Mathis three run home run with two down and two strikes to tie the game up. The bullpen. Lincoln in particular but Loup, Janssen, Oliver. The very bad: Davis, picked off in the 13th for the third out, no excuse.