0/4 Runners in scoring position. Jays lose chance to sweep Boston.

Toronto v Boston Series finale. Boston tries to avoid sweep.

Lineups: Boston: Pedroia, Drew, Youkilis, Bay, Lowell, Ortiz, Varitek, Ellsbury, Green and Lester pitching.
Toronto: Scutaro, Hill, Rios, Wells, Lind, Rolen, Millar, Barajas, Bautista and Romero pitching. Second team in there today for lefty Lester.

Francona made changes today but very interesting to contrast with Cito in the way he handles the lineup.. Boston has dropped four of five, all away from home, and scored just 13 runs during that span. Boston 17-6 at Fenway Park, where they average 6.3 runs per game. On the road, however, Boston is 11-16 and averages 4.2 runs.

It's the first time this season that Ellsbury has started and not batted leadoff, and the first time Pedroia has led off. Pedroia's on base percentage is .419 while Ellsbury's is just .332. Ellsbury is batting .299 with one homer and 15 RBIs.

The good: Two stolen bases Scutaro and Rios.
The bad: 0/4 with runners in scoring position. Jays had a big cance to sweep this team and send big message to Fenway and Yankee land.

Top 1st: Pedroia pops up to Millar at first base. Drew strikes out. Two down for Youkilis home run to centre. 1-0 Boston. Bay doubles to right. Lowell strikes out but Boston strike first.
Bottom 1st: Scutaro infield single to short. Hill strikes out. Rios full count and walks, Scutaro to second. Double steal both safe. Scutaro at third. Rios at second. Wells fly ball to Bay in left run scores 1-1 game. Lind strikes out.

Top 2nd: Ortiz grounds to Scutaro throw to first baseman Millar. Varitek grounds to Rolen throw to Millar. Ellsbury singles to centre. Romero's wild pitch, Ellsbury to second.
Green 3-0 and walks on four pitches. Green caught stealing, catcher Barajas throw to first baseman Millar, Green out.
Bottom 2nd: Rolen full count and walks. Millar, wild pitch, Rolen to second. Millar strikes out. Barajas grounds to Lowell throw to first base Youkilis. Bautista strikes out.

Top 3rd: Pedroia grounds to Rolen throw to Millar. Drew singles to right. Youkilis grounded out, third baseman Rolen to first baseman Millar, Drew to second. Bay walks. Lowell strikes out.
Bottom 3rd: Scutaro infield single to short. Hill grounded into fielder's choice, shortstop Green to second baseman Pedroia, Scutaro out. Rios pops up to second base Pedroia. Wells grounds to Lowell at third throw to first base Youkilis.

Top 4th: Ortiz doubles to centre. Varitek walks. Two on and no outs. Ellsbury bunting first baseman Millar to second baseman Hill and moves both runners, Ortiz to third, Varitek to second. Two in scoring position and one down. Green strikes out. Pedroia,home run to left, Ortiz and Varitek and Pedroia score. That’s the way to bring them in. 4-1 Boston. Drew strikes out.
Bottom 4th: Lind strikes out. Rolen infield single to third. Millar strikes out. Barajas strikes out.

Top 5th: Youkilis full count and walks. Bay walks, Youkilis to second. That’s it for Romero, not his greatest outing. Am not sure he is ready for the majors. Richmond pitching with two on and no outs. Lowell doubles to left, Youkilis scores, Bay at third. 5-1 Boston. Ortiz pops up to Rolen. Varitek lines out to first baseman Millar. Ellsbury intentional walk. Green grounds to, Scutaro throw to Hill, Ellsbury out. Richmond did well to get out of this inning without major damage.
Bottom 5th: Bautista strikes out. Scutaro strikes out. Hill walks. Rios strikes out. Jays hitters ina rush to get out on the town tonight. Romero today allowed five runs and six hits in five innings. He has walked five and struck out five.

Top 6th: Pedroia fly ball to Wells. Drew pops up to Bautista. Youkilis strikes out. Bottom 6th: Wells fouls out to catcher Varitek. Lind strikes out. Rolen strikes out. Jays continue to rush.

Top 7th: Camp pitching. Bay strikes out. Lowell doubles to left. Ryan pitching. Ortiz fouls out to Rolen. Varitek intentional walk. Ellsbury fly ball to Bautista in left.
Bottom 7th: Masterson pitching. Millar grounds to third base Lowell throw to first Youkilis. Barajas strikes out. Bautista full count and walks Scutaro lines out to right fielder Drew.

Top 8th: Wolfe pitching. Green doubles to center. Pedroia sacrifices, Hill to first base Millar, Green to third. Drew sac fly to Wells, Green scores. 6-1 Boston.. Youkilis home run to left. 7-1 Boston. Bay home run to left first pitch. 8-1 Boston. Lowell strikes out and Wolfe may be on the next boat to Vegas.
Bottom 8th: Hill grounds to short Green, throw to first base Youkilis. Rios there she goes to left, home run Alex.8-2 Boston. He has been playing much better recently. Wells pops up to first base Youkilis. Lind singles to left. Lind also coming around again. Rolen grounded out, first baseman Youkilis unassisted.
Top 9th: Johnny McDonald in at short. Inglett in for Wells in centre. One of these days these defensive moves will backfire on Cito in the bottom of the ninth when Jays mount a big 5 plus runs comeback. Ortiz strikes out. Varitek full count walks. Ellsbury flied out to left fielder Bautista. Green fly ball to Rios.
Bottom 9th: Ramirez pitching. Millar pops up to Green at short. Barajas pops up to Drew. Bautista walks. McDonald pops up to first base Youkilis. Ramirez allowed only two runs in 22 previous games this season.
What they said: "The players we have, not everybody but a lot of them, are suited for Fenway," manager Terry Francona said. "There's guys on our club who know they can reach out and hook something and hit it off that wall. Some of these road games, you can go out and hook it and fly out. There's a difference. It's been something we've been trying to figure out for a while. Our home and road, there's a lot of disparity. I would like, hopefully, to figure it out by tomorrow."
Re Baldelli and injury sliding in to the wall to make a catch."He bruised his kneecap pretty good," Francona said. "I think everybody involved thought it was worse when he first did it, including himself. We'll certainly stay away from him tomorrow. I think we dodged a bullet there because he hit that wall pretty hard."
Rios "We haven't lost our confidence,". "We've been working hard and we're going to keep working hard. We're going to get out of this and we're going to start winning and everything will be good."

Jays take number two from Boston and give Tallet a win.

Toronto v Boston Game two of three.

Jays on a roll now, can they take a second game from Boston today? Tallet pitching.

Lineups: Boston: Ellsbury, Pedroia, Youkilis, Bay, Lowell, Ortiz, Varitek, Baldelli, Drew, Green and Penny pitching.
Toronto: Second team today with Chavez and Inglett playing. Scutaro, Hill, Rios, Wells, Lind, Bautista, Overbay, Chavez, Inglett and Tallet pitching.

The good: Tallet and the bullpen. The top five in the lineup with 11/14 hits (finally !). Rios 4-4 including two doubles. Lind a home run to end the drought by Jays players. Tallet (3-3) won for the first time in four starts but not through any fault of his own.
The bad: Nothing today.

Top 1st: Ellsbury fly ball to Inglett in left field. Pedroia walks.Two on. Youkilis strikes out. Bay walks, Pedroia to second. Lowell singles to centre.Pedrioia scires. 1-0 Boston.Bay to third. Ortiz linres out to Overbay at first. Nice catch Lyle.
Bottom 1st: Scutaro fly ball to right field Baldelli. Hill singles to right. Baldelli an error, Hill to second. Rios singles to centre, Hill scores. 1-1. Wells fly ball to centre field Ellsbury. Lind pops up to Bay. Baldelli home run to left. Green strikes out.

Top 2nd: Varitek full count and walks. Baldelli home run to left, Varitek scores. 2-1 Boston. Baldelli Home run to left Varitek scores 3-1 Boston. Come on Brian.. Green strikes out. Ellsbury grounds to Overbay. Pedroia walks and steals second. Youkilis strikes out.

Bottom 2nd: Bautista grounds to Lowell throw to Youkilis at first. Overbay doubles to centre. Chavez strikes out. Inglett singles to left, Overbay to third. Scutaro grounds to shortstop Green to second baseman Pedroia, with Inglett out.

Top 3rd: Bay fly ball to left fielder. Lowell grounds to Chavez throw two down.. Ortiz in number six position today strikes out.
Bottom 3rd: Hill fouls out to catcher Varitek. Rios doubles to centre. Wells grounds to Lowell throw to Youkilis at first base. Lind singles to left, that is good to finally see some production coming from Lind. Rios scores. 3-2 Boston. Bautista strikes out.

Top 4th: Varitek strikes out. Baldelli lines out to center field Wells. Green flied out to left fielder Inglett.
Bottom 4th: Overbay grounds to second base Pedroia throw to first for the out. Chavez fly to right fielder Baldelli. Inglett strikes out.

Top 5th: Ellsbury fly ball to Rios in right field. Pedroia hit by a pitch. Youkilis pops it up to the right. Pedrioa caught stealing popped out to right fielder Rios. Pedroia was caught stealing, pitcher Tallet to first baseman Overbay to second baseman Hill, Pedroia out.
Bottom 5th: Scutaro singles to centre. Drew in as right fielder. Scutaro was caught stealing, catcher Varitek to second baseman Pedroia, Scutaro out. Hill fly ball to left field Bay. Rios doubles to right. Wells fly ball to right field Drew.

Top 6th: Bay lines out to third base Bautista. Lowell fly ball to left fielder Inglett. Ortiz strikes out.
Bottom 6th: Lind gets hold of this one just over bullpen into left field seats. 3-3. Lind breaking out today. Bautista strikes out. Overbay strikes out. Chavez singles to centre. McDonald pinch-running for Chavez. Inglett lines out to Lowell at third base.

Top 7th: Barajas in as catcher. Varitek fouls out to Rios. Drew lines out to right field Rios.
Green doubles to left. Ellsbury grounds to Bautista throw to first baseman Overbay.
Bottom 7th: Ramirez pitching. Scutaro infield single to short. Hill fly ball to center field Ellsbury.
On Ramirez's wild pitch, Scutaro to second. Rios singles to centre, Scutaro scores. 4-3 Jays. Wells doubles to centre, Rios scores. 5-3 Jays. Lind intentional walk. Bautista fly ball to right fieldecr Drew. Okajima pitching. Overbay fouled out to first baseman Youkilis.

Top 8th: League now pitching. Pedroia fly ball to right fielder Rios. Youkilis strikes out. Bay grounds to catcher Barajas great off-balance play and throw to Overbay.
Bottom 8th: Barajas grounds to second base Pedroia flip to first base Youkilis. Inglett fly ball to left field and Bay. Scutaro infield single to short. Delcarmen pitching. Hill pops up to Pedroia at second.

Top 9th: Downs pitching. Lowell singles to right. Ortiz lines out to right fielder Rios. Varitek fly ball to Rios. Drew grounds out to Scutaro throw to first base Overbay.

Jays fans, a convincing win today. Definitely does not hurt to bring Boston back to the crowd.
Fourteen hits today.

Jays finally win one behind Janssen, the bullpen and ten hits.

Toronto v Boston. Game one of three.
Lineups: Boston: Ellsbury, Pedroia, Drew, Youkilis, Bay, Ortiz, Lowell, Kottaras, Lugo and Wakefield pitching.
Toronto: Scutaro, Hill, Rios, Wells, Lind, Rolen, Millar, Overbay, Barajas and Janssen pitching.

The good: Everybody but Millar had a hit, Rolen and Barajas two hits each. Janssen and the bullpen. Janssen (1-1), who missed the 2008 season after shoulder surgery, started for the second time since being called up from Triple-A Las Vegas last Friday. He allowed three runs and 11 hits in seven innings to win for the first time since May 24, 2007, at Baltimore. He walked two and struck out two. Downs save number six out of seven.
Bad: Jays bats 4/11 with runners in scoring position.

Jays really needed this one after losing nine in a row. It definitely didn’t hurt that it was against Boston.

Top 1st: Ellsbury lined out to shortstop Scutaro. Pedroia singles to centre. Drew fly ball to Rios. Youkilis walked on a full count, Pedroia to second. Bay infield single to third, Pedroia to third, Youkilis to second. Ortiz fly ball to Wells.
Bottom 1st: Scutaro strikes out.Hill singles to short and beats the throw. Rios safe on fielder's choice and Pedroia's error, Hill to third. Wells walked, Rios to second. Lind grounds to second base Pedroia throw to short Lugo to Youkilis at first base, Wells out.

Top 2nd: Lowell singles to right. Kottaras fouls out to Rolen. Lugo singles to centre, Lowell to second. Ellsbury doubles to right, Lowell scores 1-0 Boston. Lugo moves up to third. Pedroia lines a bullet out to first base Overbay Drew grounds out to Hill on to first base Overbay..
Bottom 2nd: Rolen lines out to Ellsbury in centre field. Millar full count and walks. One on for Overbay. Overbay full count and walks, Millar to second. Two on for Barajas strikes out.Passed ball Millar to third, Overbay to second. Scutaro fly ball to Drew I right field.

Top 3rd: Youkilis singles to left. Bay grounds to Scutaro throw to Hill throw to get Overbay, Youkilis out. Ortiz lines out to first baseman Overbay.
Bottom 3rd: Hill fly ball to centre field Ellsbury. Rios pops up to second base Pedroia. Wells singles to right. Lind singles to centre, Wells to third. Rolen doubles to left scoring Wells, 1-1. Lind to third. Millar strikes out.

Top 4th: Lowell grounds to short Scutaro throw to Overbay. Kottaras doubles to right. Lugo 3-0 count and walks on four pitches. Ellsbury singles to centre, Kotteras scores, 2-1 Boston, Lugo to second. Pedroia grounds into a shortstop. Scutaro to Hill to Overbay, double play ball.
Bottom 4th: Overbay grounds to Youkilis flip to pitcher Wakefield Barajas strikes out. Scutaro singles to right. Hill strikes out.

Top 5th: Drew grounds to Janssen throw to Overbay. Youkilis fly ball to Rios. Bay doubles to left.Ortiz fly ball to Wells.
Bottom 5th: Rios hit by a pitch. Wells grounds to Lowell throw to Pedroia at second Rios out. Lind at bat, Wells steals second. Lind grounds to Pedroia on to first base Youkilis, Wells to third. Rolen doubles to left, Wells scores, 2-2 . Still no outs for Millar full count and walks. Overbay doubles to right, Rolen scores, 3-2 Jays. Millar to third, Overbay at second. Barajas singles to left, Millar scores, Overbay scores and Jays go out 5-2. Scutaro doubles to centre, Barajas scores 6-2 Jays. Scutaro to third. That’s it for Wakefield, not fooling the Jays bats this inning. Bard now pitching. Hill fly ball to Drew in right field, but lots of hits and runs tonight.

Top 6th: Lowell grounds to Rolen throw to first base Overbay. Kottaras lines out to Rios in right field. Lugo bunt single to third. Ellsbury grounds to Hill throw to Overbay.
Bottom 6th: Rios popped out to second baseman Pedroia. Wells 3-0 and walks on four pitches. Lind strikes out. Rolen strikes out.

Top 7th: Pedroia grounds to Rolen, throw to Overbay for first out. Drew home run to centre on 3-1 count. 6-3 Jays. Youkilis strikes out. Bay strikes out.
Bottom 7th: Millar strikes out. Overbay strikes out. Barajas strikes out.

Top 8th: League pitching. Too bad he did not pitch last game with Halladay. Ortiz fly ball to Lind. Lowell strikes out. Kottaras grounds to Overbay.
Bottom 8th: Saito pitching. Scutaro grounded out, pitcher Saito to third baseman Lowell to first baseman Youkilis. Hill grounds back to pitcher Saito throw to first base Youkilis. Rios doubles to centre. Two down for Wells strikes out.

Top 9th: Downs pitching.Lugo fly ball to Rios. Top of the order, Ellsbury grounds to Hill throw to Overbay. Pedroia fly ball to Rios. Jays finally win one and big one against Boston, most important to get that first one of series.

Jays win big tonight 6-3.

Toronto v Baltimore. Series finale.

Toronto v Baltimore. Series finale.
Jays on eight game losing streak, will it be nine and a complete 0-9 road trip? Halladay pitching but that does not guarantee a win anymore as the hitters fail to hit.

This one hurts. Worst road trip in franchise history. Ouch. Jays will have a miserable trip home thanks to Carlson and Wolfe, and hitters when it counts, why was Overbay not in there defensively at first? Why did Cito pull Ryan for Wolfe ? Where was League ? and is that the last straw for Halladay? And Cito again why did you pull Halladay him at the end of the seventh? Loads of bigtime mistakes by the Manager today. All adds to the fuel that Cito cannot manage when things go wrong. Cito note that Francona has moved Ortiz down the order, Rios ????
Baltimore gets four rbis from four pinch hitters. Cito dies not use one pinch hitter.
The big questions now, will Jays get swept by Boston and go 0-12 ? Will Cito shake this lineup bigtime or will he be shipped out? and will Cito be fired this weekend ?

The good: Halladay for seven.
The bad: Jays find ways to give this one up not just once buy twice. Carlson the goat but lots of others today. Alex in first inning thrown out at home plate. No not aggressive, stupid.

Jays find several ways to lose this one. Pitching finally cracks bigtime.

Lineups: Toronto: Scutaro, Hill, Rios, Wells, Lind, Rolen, Millar, Barajas, Bautista and Halladay pitching.
Baltimore: Roberts, Jones, Markakis, Huff, Mora, Scott, Pie, Reimold, Moeller and Hill pitching.

Top 1st: Scutaro fly ball to Jones in centre, one down. Hill singles to centre. Rios grounds to Hill the pitcher and safe on Hill's error, Hill to second. Two on one down for Wells strikes out. First one left in scoring position, what’s new? Lind at bat with two down and two on, passed ball, Hill to third, Rios to second. Lind 3-0 count and walks on four pitches. Bases loaded two down. Rolen singles to left, 1-0 Jays. Hill scores, Rios to third and coming home Pie’s throw gets Alex at home plate. That should have been bases loaded with only two out. Instead promising inning ends.
Don’t you love Alex. What a dumbo. Let’s hope that doesn’t hurt at the end of the day.
Bottom 1st: Roberts grounds to Hill on to Millar. Jones grounds to Millar. Markakis grounds to Millar. If Halladay continues like this, it might be a win today.
Top 2nd: Millar strikes out. Barajas fly ball to left field Pie. Bautista strikes out. I don’t think this lineup is going to threaten Boston at the weekend.

Bottom 2nd: Huff strikes out. Mora full count and walks. Scott there this one goes, home run to centre, 2-1 Baltimore. Pie grounds back to Halladay flip to Millar. Two down. Moeller strikes out.

Top 3rd: Scutaro fly ball to left field Pie. Hill fly ball to Pie. Rios pops up to first base Huff. Three up and down by Jays.
Bottom 3rd: Andino singles to centre. Roberts strikes out. Jones grounds to Rolen throw to second Hill, Andino out. Markakis fly ball to Bautista.

Top 4th: Wells singles to left. Lind walks, Wells to second. Rolen full count and walks, Wells to third, Lind to second. Millar singles in the gap in left centre, Wells scores, Lind scores, 4-1 Jays. Rolen to second. Barajas fly ball to Pie in left. Barajas with two on and one down, doubles to right Rolen scores, 5-1 Jays. Millar to third. Scutaro doubles to left Millar scores, Bautista scores 7-1 Jays. Where were these guys for the last eight games ????? That’s it for Hill. Bass now pitching to Hill grounds to Mora at third throw to Huff at first for second out. Rios singles to left, Scutaro scores. 8-1 Jays. Wells for second time this inning safe on failed fielder's choice, Rios to second and called safe by umpire, Alex goes off the bag and tagged out by Roberts. Second time today running error by Alex.
Bottom 4th: Huff grounds to Millar at first. Mora fly ball to Rios. Scott grounds to Scutaro throw to Millar.

Top 5th: Lind strikes out. Rolen fly ball to Jones in centre. Millar full count and walks. Barajas singles to centre, Millar to second. Bautista grounds to shortstop Andino throw to first base Huff.
Bottom 5th: Pie singles to left. Moeller grounds to Scutaro throw to Hill on to Millar, Pie out. double play. Andino singles to centre. Roberts doubles to right, Andino to third. Jones grounds to Rolen Andinoe scires, Roberts to third and Jones safe at second. 7-3 Jays. Markakis grounds to Hill to first baseman Millar.

Top 6th: Ray pitching. Scutaro walked on a full count. Hill flied out to right fielder Markakis Rios doubled to right, Scutaro to third.Wells sac fly to left field Pie, Scutaro scores on the tag. Lind strikes out. 8-3 Jays.
Bottom 6th: Huff strikes out. Mora fly ball to Rios. Scott grounds to Hill throw to Millar for third out.

Top 7th : Rolen strikes out. Millar pops out to pitcher Ray. Barajas fouls out to first baseman Huff.
Bottom 7th: Pie struck out. Moeller walked on a full count. Andino singled to right, Moeller to second. Roberts flied out to right fielder Rios. Jones infield single to short, Moeller to third, Andino to second. Markakis fouled out to right fielder Rios.

Top 8th: Walker pitching. Bautista fly ball to Jones in centre. Scutaro grounds to short Andino throw to first base Huff. Hill pops up to Huff.
Bottom 8th: Carlson now pitching. Huff infield single to third. One on. Mora singles to left, Huff to second. Two on for Scott. Scott walks to load the bases with no outs. Carlson self-destructing here. Huff to third, Mora to second. Reimold pinch-hitting for Pie. Reimold strikes out. Moeller now hit by pitch. Huff scores, 8-4 Jays. Mora to third and Scott to second, bases remain loaded. Andino singles to left, Mora scores, Scott on third, 8-5 Jays. Andino singles to left Mora scores 8-5 Jays. Scott moves up to third, Moeller to second. That’s more than enough for Cito, maybe just one too many Cito. Downs now pitching. Roberts sacrifice fly to Wells, Scott scores and Moeller moves to third. 8-6 Jays. Jones singles to left, Moeller scores 8-7 Jays Andino at second. Jones singles to left, Andino scores and unbelievable this game is 8-8 game. Jays have juts given up a five run lead in one inning and as important, Halladay for second consecutive game not getting a well deserved win. Jones coming home but great relay from Hill to Barajas gets Jones dead in the wayer at home plate.

Top 9th: Reimold in as left fielder. Baez now pitching. Rios strikes out. Wells grounds to Andino at short, throw Huff at first base. Lind flyball to Reimold in left.
Bottom 9th: Frasor now pitching. Huff singles to right. Mora sacrifices back to Frasor throw to Millar at first, Huff to second. Scott intentional walk. Reimold strikes out. Zaun pinch-hitting for Moeller strikes out.

Top 10th: Zaun in as catcher. Rolen grounds to short Andino throw to first base Huff. Millar grounds to Roberts at second throw to Huff at first. Barajas pops up to Jones in centre.
Bottom 10th: Andino strikes out. Roberts fly ball to Bautista. What a great catch, running and diving to his right. Highlight reel. That was a double all the way. Jones strikes out.
Top 11th: Bautista grounds to short Andino throw to first base Huff. One down. Scutaro singles to center. One on one down for Hill. There she goes for Aaaron in to centre seats just over that wall. Two run home run and Jays go back out in front again 10-8. Rios fly ball to right field Markakis. Two down for Wells singles to right. Lind fly ball to Reimold in left but Jays have the lead again. Can they hold it this time and win that elusive game?
Bottom 11th: BJ Ryan pitching.BJ you have a chance for a save here. Markakis singles to right. Huff pop up to Rolen. One down one on for Mora. Here comes Cito, sorry BJ I guess Cito does now want you to have the save here. Wolfe now pitching. Wolfe ??? for BJ ? Ah well, Cito knows best. Mora singles to right, Markakis to second. Scott singles to right, Markakis scores and Mora at third. Cito rolled the dice wrong this time. BJ would also agree. Izturis pinch-running for Scott. Reimold there it goes into left field seats, three run home run to come from behind yet again and win this one 12-10. Cito not a great decision. Never sure why he does a lot of things but this one definitely backfired, for all his shortcomings, BJ does understand pressure, and would have been much better than placing Wolfe in that situation.
So where do we go from here? carry on is all they can do but surely Cito has to make wholesale changes, and not just sitting a guy for a game.

How bad is another two runs, and 2/13 in scoring position?

Toronto v Baltimore game two of three.

Jay sink lower and lower. Seven in a row and still same old runners in scoring position issue, double play balls. And awful hitting all round. Shades of last year’s team.
Baltimore crowd smart tonight they have not even bothered to turn out for this one. Only 10,130 fans, the smallest crowd in the 18-year history of Camden Yards. Jays are not much of a draw even if the home side is beating them up.
Does anyone care anymore on this team?

Lineups: Toronto: Major changes (for Cito) Scutaro, Hill, Lind, Wells, Millar, Rolen, Overbay, Barajasa, Inglett and Romero pitching back from disabled list. He did not pitch very well in his rehab in the minors and don’t forget that he too is a rookie. I agree with sitting Rios but I think Cito could make a stronger point by putting him number seven or eight in the lineup. My other gripe is Inglett, this guy should not even be in the majors let along in the lineup.
Baltimore: Roberts, Jones, Markakis, Mora, Huff, Wigginton, Reimmold, Zaun, Izturis and Jason Berken pitching.

The good: ? I don’t think so.
The bad, no the awful yet again. 2/13 with runners in scoring position. Almost everyone in the lineup has their token hits but once again not when it counts. Cito has no answers, he has to go. Seriously. If he can’t inspire this team they have to find someone who can. Should Tenace go with him? Probably. He obviously has no solution to the runners in scoring position issue. Even if they were to win tomorrow it will be tainted with the Halladay factor. My concern is going into the Boston series even with a Halladay win 1-8 in last nine. Boston sweeps again and season is over for Jays.
And more important, so far the pitching has not been bad and has also overachieved, even if the hits were to come what if the pitching bubble bursts? Jays leave ten on base.

Top 1st: Scutaro doubles to centre. Hill lines out to first baseman Huff.Lind doubles to right, Scutaro scores. 1-0 Jays. Wells struck out. Millar grounds to third baseman Mora to first baseman Huff.
Bottom 1st: Roberts singles to centre. Jones grounds to Hill throw to Scutaro in short. Double play ball. Markakis grounds to shortstop Scutaro throw to Overbay.

Top 2nd: Rolen full count and walks. Overbay singles to left, Rolen to third. Overbay to second. Barajas singles to left, Rolen scores, Overbay to third 2-0 Jays. Inglett strikes out. Scutaro grounds to Izturis to Roberts on to first base Huff. .

Bottom 2nd: Mora grounds back to Romero throw to first Overbay. Huff homers to right field on first pitch. Wigginton singles to right. Reimold grounds into fielder's choice, shortstop Scutaro to second baseman Hill, Wigginton out. Zaun also grounds to Hill throw to shortstop Scutaro, Reimold out.

Top 3rd: Hill lines out to center fielder Jones.Lind walks. Wells lined out to center fielder Jones. Millar singles to centre, Lind to second. Rolen fouled out to first baseman Huff.
Bottom 3rd: Izturis grounds back to Romero to first baseman Overbay. Roberts singles to center.Jones strikes out. Markakis grounds out, to Hill throw to Overbay.

Top 4th: Overbay fly ball to Reimold in left field. Barajas grounds back to Huff.
Inglett strikes out.
Bottom 4th: Mora doubles to centre. Huff grounds to Overbay flip to Romero, Mora to third.Wigginton grounds to Scutaro throw to Overbay. Reimold grounds to Hill throw to Overbay.

Top 5th: Scutaro singles to left. Hill fly ball to right fielder Markakis. Lind grounds to Roberts throw to short Izturis, Scutaro out. Wells doubles to centre, Lind to third. Millar walked. Rolen lined out to centre field Jones.
Bottom 5th: Zaun struck out. Izturis grounds to third base Rolen throw to. Roberts at bat full count and walks. Jones home run to left, two runs score 3-2 Baltimore. Markakis singles to left.Mora singles to left, Markakis to second. Huff strikes out.

Top 6th: Albers pitching. Overbay fly ball to centre. Barajas grounds to Roberts throw to first base Huff. Inglett lines out to right fielder Markakis.
Bottom sixth: Wigginton doubles to right. Reimold hone run to centre, two runs score. 5-2 Baltimore. Zaun fouls out to Rolen. Izturis singles to center. Carlson pitching. Roberts strikes out. Jones fly ball to Wells.

Top 7th: Scutaro doubles to right.Hill fouls out to first base Huff. Lind grounds out, first base Huff to pitcher Albers, Scutaro to third. Wells strikes out.
Bottom 7th: Markakis pops out to second baseman Hill. Mora flied out to right fielder Inglett.Huff grounds to Rolen throw to first base Overbay

Top eighth. Johnson now pitching. Millar grounds to third base Mora throw to first Huff. One down. Rolen walked on a Overbay grounded into a double play, shortstop Izturis to second baseman Roberts to first baseman Huff, Rolen out.
Bottom 8th: Downs pitching has not pitched for a very long, long time……. Jays have not had any winning scores to preserve. Wigginton grounds to Scutaro throw to Overbay. Reimold striles out. Zaun singles to left. Izturis singles to right, Zaun to third. Roberts doubles over head of Wells, why was he playing so shallow? That was a catchable ball if he had not been a hundred feet in from the wall. Zaun scores, Izturis with that speed scores easily from first. Who did Jays get in exchange for Izturis ? Jones lines out to left fielder Lind.

Top 9th: Barajas, strikes out on three pitches. Inglett. Hitless tonight should not even be in this lineup. Walks. Scutaro 3-4 tonight but you can get lots of wagers that he is not going 4-5. Inglett a statue on first does not even get a throw over. Not his fault, Cito no way will risk an out five runs down ?? better the double play ball. Scutaro fly ball to left.
Two down and mercifully for Jays fans only one more out to go to end tonight’s misery. Hill hitless like Inglett. Shatters his bat and singles to left, I think the infield were trying to avoid the bat fragments. Whatever 2/12 RISP and Lind at bat. Good news is that will not end on a double play ball. Lind grounds back to Johnson, throw to Huff at first.
Jays lose number eight, end 2/13 with runners in scoring position two more left on and on an on it goes.. beaten by a rookie in his first major league outing.

Jays slide to third after another hitting fiasco and loss number seven.

Toronto v Baltimore Game one of three.

Jays trying to stop slide to seventh consecutive loss.

Lineups Toronto: Scutaro, Hill, Rios, Wells, Lind, Rolen, Overbay, Barajas, Bautista.
Baltimore: Roberts, Jones, Markakis, Mora , Huff, Wigginton, Reimold, Zaun, Izturis.

The good: Hard to think of anything today although Tallet gets the nod, he did his bit even though he takes the loss. Good fielding by Hill in particular.
The bad, no the awful: Hitters yet again, both with runners in scoring position 1/9 yet again and generally. How will they ever score with that type of hitting? And this was the team leading the majors in hits and runs a week or so ago. Up and down the lineup there is no one that I would miss out today. Just as important the lack of any ideas to make up for this lack of offence. Cito you can’t keep on saying not to worry, and they are trying because obviously they are not. They have gone from first to third in a week that must be some record even for Toronto. Manager has to start to take some rap. Do something shake up this lineup. Sink Rios and Wells. Yes Vernon had two hits today but not in the eighth when it was needed. It is as if Vernon freezes when the game is on the line. And why didn’t Rios steal in the eighth to put himself in scoring position? Why didn’t you send more of the runners with Zaun throwing? Sit Rios when he fails to run down those balls in foul territory. Cito the same old, same old stuff only works when you are winning. And my parting shot would be to get Snider back up here. How can he ever be worse than this lot right now ?

Top 1st: Scutaro singles to right. Hill lines out to shortstop ex-Jay Izturis. Rios fly ball to Jones on centre. Scutaro stealing and safe at second. Are they going to run on Zaun today ? Wells singles to centre and Scutaro scores. 1-0 Jays. Lind grounds to Roberts at second throw to Huff at first. Double play ball.
Bottom 1st: Roberts doubles to right. Jones singles to centre, Roberts to third.Markakis grounds to Overbay throw to Scutaro back to Lyle double play ball but Roberts scores and just like that this game is tied 1-1 Mora grounds to Scutaro throw to Overbay for third out.

Top 2nd: Rolen grounds to Mora at third throw to Huff at first. Overbay grounds to Roberts at second throw to Huff at first. Barajas doubles to left. Bautista strikes out.
Bottom 2nd: Huff grounds to Hill throw to Overbay. Wigginton singles to centre. Reimold strikes out. Zaun walks, Wigginton to second. Izturis infield single to first, Wigginton to third, Zaun to second. Bases loaded. Roberts strikes out.

Top 3rd: Scutaro fly ball to Markakis in right. Hill singles to left. Rios fouls out to Huff. Passed ball Hill to second. Wells grounds to Mora at third throw to Huff at first.
Bottom 3rd: Jones strikes out no three pitches. Nice going Brian. Markakis pops it up to Rolen behind third. Mora pops it up way up behind short for Wells running in from centre. Three up and down for Tallet, much better.

Top 4th: Lind desperately needs to get back in his groove. Hit on the arm, well Adam you are on base at least. Rolen fly ball to Jones in centre. Overbay pops up first pitch to Reimold in shallow left. Barajas Lind stealing but throw gets him at second. Lind is not the speediest guy in this lineup. I wonder whose idea that was.
Bottom 4th: Huff doubles into right to the wall in right. Wigginton grounds to Scutaro throw to Overbay for first out. Reimold grounds to Rolen no throw and safe at first. Zaun singles to left, Huff scores, 2-1 Baltimore. Izturis full count fly ball to Bautista two down. Roberts two down two on, grounds to Rolen steps on third to get Zaun but damage is done.

Top 5th: Barajas to continue from last inning when Lind caught stealing. Lines to centre, nice running catch by Jones. Bautista strikes out looking. Scutaro two down. Lines it off Huff diving at first base into right field. Hill Jays have five hits and only one run again today and look as if they are not going to break out of their slump today at least. Hill fly ball to left and Guthrie is cruising here not threatened at all.
Bottom 5th Tallet at 67 pitches. Jones pops one into foul right corner Rios doesn’t get there in time. Alex will never run into the wall. I miss Mondesi in that corner, however the good news is that young Travis Snider will go into the wall for the team. Jones strikes at one in the dirt. Markakis question now re lightning in the area. Cito doesn’t want to come off he is losing. They are continuing. Full count. Pops up to Overbay, two down. Mora bunts in front but great throw by Barajas off balance gets him at first. Highlight reel play.

Top 6th: If Jays want to win this thing they had better score this inning if lightning is threatening. Rios, hitless today grounds to Izturis short 0-3 today. Wells, didn’t like that first pitch call. Singles to left centre. Lind first pitch fly ball out to left, didn’t even give Vernon a chance to steal there. I am not impressed with Lind right now he has made two poor decisions this game. Rolen, grounds to Mora throw to Roberts to get Vernon. If Lind had let Vernon steal, Vernon would be at third and still only two outs, little mental errors by Lind have impact. Boston and Yankees winning so it looks as if Jays will drop to third spot today. Ouch and in one week !! How soon before Rays catch them ???? Probably when Boston visits Toronto this week for three.
Bottom 6th: Huff grounds to Overbay, one down. Wigginton strikes out. Reimold full count and walks. Zaun last inning for Tallet. 97 pitches. 3-0 count, pops it up to Scutaro to end inning. Tallet 101 pitches. Any pitcher that can hold the opposition to two in six innings has done his job. It is the hitting plain and simple that is ruining this team right now and hitting when it counts. Well Jays hitters have nine more tries.

Top 7th: Overbay, singles up the middle. Never understand why more hitters (Vernon, Alex) do not do that instead of constantly pulling. Barajas, rain steady now. Strikes out. Bautista hitless today. Full count, and walks. Rain getting heavier. Scutaro 2-3 today but neither with runners in scoring position, we need one here when it counts. But that has been the chorus all week all season long and here he goes again, strikes out looking. Two down for Hill, grounds crew getting ready. Hill grounds to Izturis at short, throw to Roberts at second and Barajas is out.
Bottom 7th: BJ Ryan pitching. Poor guy in the pouring rain so if he makes a mistake he is the goat, I don’t think so. How about the Jays hitters again 1/5 with runners in scoring position? Izturis grounds to Rolen, dropped by Rolen and throw not in time. BJ never gets a break. Roberts triples to the wall in right centre. 3-1 Baltimore. Jones with Roberts at third. Full count and walks maybe semi-intentional. Markakis, Wild pitch, Jones moves to second. Pops it up to Wells in shallow centre, Runners hold. One down. Mora intentional walk. Huff with bases loaded. Fly ball to Wells runner scores two down. If Rolen had not dropped that ball and first out that would be out of the inning. 4-1 Baltimore. Here comes Cito, strange he never does that to hitters when they go 0-20. Wolfe with two outs and two on for Wigginton. Grounds to Rolen throw to second for the out. Too bad Scott that you didn’t do that earlier. Often the box scores do not tell the whole story.

Top 8th: Well time for the much vaunted Jays hitters to attack….. But why is it always Rios and Wells to lead off? Perhaps they might surprise us now. Andino in at second. Baez pitching. Rios singles to left. Wells, pops up to Jones in shallow left centre, well at least it was not a ground ball double play. Lind with one down and one on. Grounds to Huff at first, two down, Rios at second. Rolen time to make up for that fielding gaff Scott. You owe BJ one. Grounds to short, throw to first. Jays hitters continue their futility. If they get swept here in Baltimore this week they will be facing Boston on Friday on a 9-0 losing streak, not a nice thought. Have they ever gone 0-12 ? Could be Jays history this week.
Bottom 8th: Wolfe still pitching Reimold at bat. Lines ones to Hill almost takes head off Wolfe and great throw to Overbay. Exactly my point re Ryan and Rolen last inning made a difference of at least one run. Zaun now hit on knee. Izturis fly ball to Lind in left. Two down. Andino grounds to Hill, nice play Aaron to throw to Overbay for third out. Once again great fielding that Ryan did not get last inning.

Top 9th: Sherrill pitching nine saves this season out of eleven attempts. Overbay to lead off doubles over head of Jones in centre. One on for Barajas Jays 1/6 with runners in scoring position today. Nine hits and only one run yet again. Lines it to Huff at first great catch, one down. Bautista strikes out. Two down. Scutaro now, it’s a hit we need Marco not a walk. Not like that wild swing at first pitch fly ball to Jones and Jays loss streak reaches seven and welcome to third place. Jays finish today 1/9 with runners in scoring position.

Jays lose third consecutive series and two sweeps.How much worse before Cito is fired?

Toronto v Atlanta series finale and Jays trying to avoid second consecutive series sweep.

Correction to last night, Boston lost with that home run review. BUT nothing changed as they win today and Jays are not in first anymore.

Jays lucky night last night as Boston loses again to the Mets in the ninth which means the Jays stay on top albeit on percentage points. But note the Yankees are tied now with Boston and another loss by Jays coupled with Boston and NY wins today would mean Jays could drop to third position.

Lineups:Toronto: Scutaro, Hill, Rios, Wells, Lind, Bautista, Overbay, Chavez, and Richmond hitting and pitching.
Atlanta: Johnson, Kotchman, Anderson, McCann, Prado, Francouer, Hernandez, Schafer and Jurrjens pitching.

Top 1st: Scutaro leading off, his game has really tanked. For the first two months he was the ideal leadoff taking loads of walks and also hitting, now he is awful and it may indeed be time for Cito to replace him, grounds here to second Johnson throw to Kotchman at first. Hill grounds to Hernandez at short throw to Kotchman at first. Rios singles to left. Wells fouled out to Francoeur in right.
Bottom 1st: Johnson here we go, home run to left, 1-0 Braves. Kotchman grounds to Overbay throw to Richmond. One down for Anderson strikes out. Two down for McCann, here we go again, home run to right 2-0 Braves. Not the start Richmond wanted. Prado grounds to Bautista throw to Overbay for third out.

Top 2nd: Lind grounds to Jurrjens throw to Kotchman. One down for Bautista, doubles to left. Overbay full count and walks. Lyle would be my bet right now for new leadoff. He actually knows what patience means. Chavez grounds to Johnson at second throw to Hernandez on to Kotchman a Jays specialty, double play.
Bottom 2nd: Richmond not getting any help from his hitters has to settle here. Francoeur strikes out. Hernandez fly ball to Rios. Schafer strikes out. Much better.

Top 3rd: Richmond grounds to Johnson throw to Kotchman at first one down. Scutaro grounds to Kotchman. Two down. Hill singles to left. Rios grounds to second base Johnson throw to Kotchman.
Bottom 3rd: Jurrjens strikes out. Johnson lines out to Overbay. Kotchman grounds out to Overbay.

Top 4th: Wells singles to left. Lind is Vernon stealing? No and full count now. There he goes as Lind strikes out, throw high and Vernon safe but Lind is out. Bautista and there Vernon goes again first pitch. Safe at third, about time Cito started to be aggressive, long, long overdue in my opinion. Something has to change with all these double play balls and constant inability to bring in a runner. Bautista grounds to short and here comes Vernon, throw to first to get second out. 2-1 Jays. It looks as if student Cito has learned something from the master Bobby, but so, so overdue. If a team is struggling with the bat, the Manager has to be more aggressive when the guy gets on base, it should be elementary but Cito hates to do it for whatever reason. Overbay, strikes out. And QED, without those steals Vernon would be on second. Let’s see if Cito continues.
Bottom 4th: Anderson grounds back at Richmond throw to Overbay, one down. McCann singles to centre. Prado doubles to left, McCann to third. Francoeur grounds to Bautista throw to Overbay. Hernandez grounds to Hill throw Overbay.

Top 5th: Chavez singles into right after two brushback pitches. Richmond trying to bunt, strikes out. Scutaro long overdue to do something useful. That’s all it takes note Vernon and Alex, just a push up the middle. Both runners safe. Just made contact and singled between the infield. Hill with two on and one down. Bounces one high off the plate to second, Scutaro out, on replay didn’t even slide in. Chavez at third Hill safe at first. Rios with two down and two on, yes, you got it, grounds to first. When you are playing badly you really look all at sea and that is Alex Rios in May 2009. Another golden opportunity lost.
Bottom 5th: Schafer great drag bunt and great recovery by Richmond to get him at first, just… Jurrjens, wild swing there 360 that could have hurt his shoulder or side, strikes out. Two down… Bobby Cox asks him the same question but he seems ok. But it was not a wise play he could have done a lot of damage for a base hit.. Johnson, singles to left. Kotchman, Richmond luck there as this drive just foul in right corner. Johnson stealing this time great throw by Chavez gets him at second. Chavez does have a great arm and he showed it in Dunedin in spring, the only problem right now is that he does overuse it throwing to third and first and as we have seen it in earlier games it can backfire.

Top 6th: We will see if Jurrjens is ok. Wells, up the middle, I told you Vernon, just stop that pulling to left and you are ok…. A leadoff double here over the head of Schafer to the wall in centre. Lind now another great opportunity for Toronto to at least tie this one up. Lind grounds to second Vernon to third. Bautista should be hammering anything close to him, but a little tentative here full count and walks. We need a hit Jose. Overbay, bullpen up and working for Atlanta. That’s it Lyle lifts it into shallow left centre, Wells scores 2-2 game. Bautista holds at second. Chavez with Millar on deck for Richmond, Cito really playing NL ball today. Jurrjens at 99 pitches now almost half in last two innings, drives it to Francouer for second out. Runners hold. Millar did not perform last night so is ready to make amends here. No, grounds to third throw to second to get Overbay but Jays have at least tied this one up.
Bottom 6th: Carlson pitching, when Cito likes a pitcher he will keep rolling him out there time and again until he doesn’t perform. Grounds to Overbay, throw to Carlson for the first out. Anderson, grounds one off Carlson’s glove deflects it and Scutaro throw just late, McCann with one down and Anderson at first. Grounds to Overbay throw to Hill gets Anderson at second back to Overbay for the third out McCann, double play ball.

Top 7th: Moylan we have seen him before, the sidearmer, Scutaro at bat, singles to short but deep and no chance of a play at first. Scutaro on board at first. Hill Scutaro stealing but Hill fouls it off. Hill strikes out. Rios with one on and one down. Ouch, ouch, that hurts, Rios hit on the back leg, ball behind him. Two on for Wells. 3-0 count, Moylan not on target here, now full count. No double steal here, this is not Joe Maddon managing. Nine pitch count, nine strikes after that 3-0 count. Ball four as Vernon dives to the ground to avoid being hit on the leg. Ten pitch at bat. But bases loaded for Lind and here comes Manager Bobby, not amused at Moylan here. O’Flaherty pitching Lind strikes out. Come on Adam. Here’s Bobby, O’Flaherty did his job. Bennett now pitching to Bautista fly ball to right and once again Jays inability to bring a guy in with one out.
Bottom 7th: Camp pitching Prado grounds to third Bautista throw to Overbay. One down for Francoeur singles to left. Hernandez singles to left, Francouer to second one out two on for Schafer, Chipper Jones on deck. 3-1 count, Camp in trouble here comes Arnsberg. Not much good as Camp walks bases loaded. Cito has had enough, Frasor now pitching. Atlanta exactly the same situation as Toronto in top half of their inning and I will wager it will be very different story. Chipper Jones with bases loaded is money in the bank. Singles to right off Overbay’s glove, run scores, just like that 3-2 and bases remain loaded. The difference between a real team and a pretender. Johnson, ground rule double into right, two more runs, 5-2 Braves. Two more in scoring position. Kotchman intentional walk to load them up and why not Cito, but don’t expect a ground ball here, that’s the way Jays hitters do, this is Atlanta. Anderson fly ball to Wells, another run scores 6-2 Braves. Two down for McCann. Runners at the corners. Full count, Frasor loading them up again? No home run to right instead, scores three. 9-2 Braves have scored seven this inning and are making Jays look minor leaguers. McCann’s second of the game. Prado grounds to Overbay throw to Frasor and one of the most embarrassing innings by this team ends. Camp may have earned himself a trip to Vegas and Frasor certainly will not be pitching for a while. BUT the comparison between two teams in identical situations is the one to look at. Jays cannot do anything with bases loaded Atlanta scores seven.

Top 8th: How will this Jays group react to this? Soriano now pitching. Bautista swing away at first pitch of course grounds to second throw to first one down. Chavez at bat, grounds to third throw to first two down. We are ok here comes giant-killer Inglett. Full count, strikes out. Don’t tell me that this guy is worth sending Snider to Vegas. This team really has a lot of fight in them. They are about to go 0-6 on this road trip and slink out of Atlanta swept for second straight series, but it is the way they are losing that is the key and the top of the seventh says it all.. Bases loaded one out and cannot score. That is their season not the first place they held until today.
Bottom 8th: McDonald in at short and why not? League pitching Francoeur strikes out. Hernandez singles up the middle. Schafer doubles off the wall in centre, Hernandez to third. Norton pinch hitter Grounds to Hill run scores 10-2 Braves. Would that Jays hitters could learn how to that. Norton’s easiest rbi this season. Two down for Johnson. Runner at third. grounds up the middle the usual Johnny Mc. highlight reel save and throw to first and save further embarrassment to Toronto team today.

Top 9th: Only three more outs let’s see how many pitches. Manny Acosta pitching McDonald full count but taking him all the way. Way to go Johnny Mc. Grounds to Hernandez at short throw wild at first as McDonald racing down that line. That was an at bat to get on base at any cost.That was how Scutaro started this season but somewhere forgot how to do it. Hill, singles over third into left. Two on for oh no…. Rios and Wells. Rios grounds to third steps on third a throw to first and good old Alex yet another double play ball. Wells, last hope oh buy… what a thought. Full count strikes out. And finally the agony of watching this team is over. Acosta pitches 20, thanks to Johnny Mc six.
Runners in scoring position 1/12, the story of this Jays team and until they can find a way to overcome this then they are sinking fast. Will Cito last ?

Jays slink out of Atlanta having now lost six in a row, swept in both their last two series and hoping for another two miracles in Boston and New York to even keep them in first. This was definitely rock bottom for this team.

Jays loes number five in a row and fall out of first place.

Toronto v Atlanta. Game two of three.

Lineups: Toronto: Scutaro, Hill, Rios, Wells, Lind, Rolen, Overbay, Barajas, Janssen pitching and hitting.
Atlanta: Johnson, Kotchman, Anderson, McCann, Prado, Francouer, Hernandez, Schafer, and Lowe pitching and hitting.

The good: Hard this time. Janssen yes definitely. But after that ? not even in the ninth when they tried t make it close. Maybe Overbay and Rolen get a star.
The bad: Once again the whole team. Awful hitting lead by the top half of the order, Lind an exception in the ninth. Rios and Wells go 0-8! Bases loaded in the ninth and only one out ? Millar and Scutaro the goats but it should not have come down to that. 2/7 with runners in scoring position. Wells has the lowest average of tonight’s starters. .257. Rios has the next lowest at .260. Cito ???? time to shake them up.

Jays lose this one 4-3.

Top 1st: Scutaro grounds first pitch to short throw to first one down. Scutaro has lost his earlier season success and patience as a leadoff hitter and getting on base. Although to be fair he could be reverting to his normal self. He may have been way over-achieving for first two months. Hill (another cold bat) exactly the same play grounds to short throw to first. Two down. Rios strikes out. Jays go meekly and quietly just like the last four games. There is just no effort. Eight pitches for Lowe.
Bottom 1st: One change in this team and here he comes Janssen, will need to pitch lights out tonight to offset lack of offence from this team and even then it might not be enough as Halladay found last night giving up only one run but that as more than enough for this Braves team. Johnson grounds back to Hansen throw to Overbay one down. Kotchman, grounds to Rolen, nice play and throw to Overbay, two down. Anderson, lines it into right. One on two down for McCann, bunting, Janssen falls as he gets the ball but manages to throw a strike to Overbay, great play Casey. 16 pitch inning.

Top 2nd: Wells, what has he brought to the park tonight? slow roller to Prado, throw to first one down for Lind. Lifts it into left for a single. Rolen with one down and one on. Drives it to short, step on second throw to first, Jays favourite play, double play ball to end that inning. A seven !! pitch inning. Lowe could finish this game with only 72 pitches at this rate.
Bottom 2nd: Prado grounds to Hill, throw to Overbay, one down for Francouer lifts it into centre field for a single. Hernandez, grounds to Rolen, throw to Hill on to Overbay, double play ball.

Top 3rd: Overbay to lead off. 3-0 count, there’s some patience, Scutaro are you watching ??? Overbay walks on four pitches. Would make a much better lead off than Scutaro. Barajas singles into left and Jays have two on with no outs. But we have been here many times before and here comes Janssen Is he bunting ? that’s a joke. Of course he is. And does a great one, moving both runners into scoring position. Here comes Scutaro with one down and even he can’t hit into a double play ball here can he? 2-0 count Lowe may walk him so that Hill can. Lines a double into right corner and Jays finally get TWO run inning…. 2-0 Toronto. A long time since that happened. Hill lines it to right two down for Rios. High fly ball to right. Well let’s not celebrate just yet.
Bottom 3rd: Schafer grounds to Scutaro, throw to Overbay one down. Lowe at bat and singles into left ! Johnson, singles just over head of Scutaro. Two on one down. Kotchman, drives to centre over head of Wells, two runs score. Just like that 2-2 game. Vernon had a shot at it but difficult play but not impossible especially for him. When things are going badly then they don’t even get these catches. Anderson lines out to Rios in right, two down, McCann full count, fouling off four pitches here and now finally grounds to Overbay for third out but not before adding to pitch count for Janssen. 45 now.

Top 4th: Will Jays fight back here? Wells to leadoff. Hitless in last five at bats, but look at the good side Vernon, you can’t ground into a double play. Grounds to third. Throw to first one down. Lind grounds to second throw to first, two down. Rolen doubles down line into left field corner. One on two down for Overbay, another patient at bat, 3-1 count and walks. Nice at bat Lyle you should be this team’s hitting instructor. Barajas with two on. Full count, someone else is learning from Lyle. Strikes out but at least he made Lowe work for it. 57 pitches. Don’t look now but Jays are already 1/4 with runners in scoring position.
Bottom 4th: Prado grounds to Rolen, throw to Overbay for first out. Francouer, doubles to left corner, Lind misplays the bounce but it was probably a double anyway as Lind’s arm is a noodle. Hernandez walks. Janssen does not want a long inning here, he has to leadoff next inning. Two on for Schafer, a dribble back to Janssen, throw to Overbay gets Schafer only. Lowe with two in scoring position. Singles to right and run scores 3-2 Braves. Lowe 2-2 tonight, Jays don’t have any hitter with that. Johnson at bat, runner at third and Lowe at first. Lines it to Overbay for third out.

Top 5th: Janssen at bat. That’s tough for him. All he can do is make Lowe use up some pitches here and not get out on first pitch like most of his free swinging colleagues. Good for him five pitches before grounding to third. Scutaro with one down grounds second pitch to third. Hill, in huge slump after such a great start. Singles up the middle. One on for Rios but once again two down and he will not be stealing. Grounds to short, throw to second and Hill out. Does anyone remember when Jays last hit a home run?
Bottom 5th: Yankees have already won and Boston are winning and Jays look like slipping finally to second place tonight. Perhaps that will take all the pressure !!! off them. Kotchman grounds to Hill throw to Janssen one down for Anderson lines it into left field. One on one down for McCann. Pops it foul to Barajas. Two down for Prado. Bounces one to Hill throw to Overbay for third out. 71 pitches.

Top 6th: Wells to lead off again. That’s good no double play potential. Grounds to short throw to first for the out. I don’t understand why this guy continues to pull the ball. He has had great success just pushing it up the middle and also going the opposite way. But every other at bat ground ball to third or short. But he is trying isn’t he Cito? Lind grounds to short throw to first for second out. He is getting just as bad as Vernon. Rolen full count, patience for Scott, high fly ball to right centre and Jays are gone quickly and meekly once again. Jays have five hits tonight but Rios and Wells are 0-6 between them.
Bottom 6th: Francouer, grounds to Scutaro, throw to Overbay, one down. Hernandez grounds to Overbay, Janssen is there to get the throw, he fields his position very well is very quick off the mound. Schafer with two down and Lowe on deck. Fly ball to Lind. I wonder if Bobby Cox will let Lowe hit in the seventh. I don’t see why not, he already has two hits and an rbi.

Top 7th: Overbay, two walks tonight. BJ Ryan warming up in bullpen. Janssen could be on a pitch count tonight and I guess someone is pinch hitting this inning. Lyle grounds to second throw to first one down for Barajas. Grounds to short, two down. Oh boy Joe inglett? Is he the best you can do here Cito ? or have you thrown in the white flag already ? But Janssen at least gave it his all, first game back, and with even a little run support like two more runs ?? would be sitting on a win. Inglett grounds to short throw to first and inning is over. Lowe 94 pitches,
Bottom 7th: BJ Ryan. Lowe hitting. Pops it up to Overbay, great catch over the Braves dugout fence. Johnson, this one has gone, Johnson gets hold of it home run to right. 4-2 Braves. Which reminds me when did Jays hitters last get a home run ??? Kotchman, grounds to Scutaro throw to Overbay two down. Anderson strikes out.

Top 8th: Top of the order. Six more at bats before the fifth loss in the books. Can Jays hitters turn it around? Scutaro to lead off and Lowe to finish this one, why not? Scutaro thinks about bunt but changes his mind. So much for having a play in mind when they go up to bat as Cito says they do. High fly ball to centre Schafer no problem. One down for Hill. Here comes Bobby Cox, just for a chat ? or is Lowe finished? I guess he is, that’s it for Lowe, Cox being overly cautious here with the Jays and giving them far too much respect. Lowe could have finished this one easily. Moylan pitching Hill at bat. Sidearmer. Can’t wait to see Rios and Wells with this guy. 3-0 on Hill all inside. Raining now this might save Jays, or rather the fans, more agony. Walks Hill. Rios 0-3 tonight. He should get a hit as his average is about 1 in 4. Wolfe ready in Jays bullpen. Rios Grounds to short throw to second on to first another Jays specialty double play ball. Vernon will lead off ninth….. Alex another 0-4 night. Pathetic.
Bottom 8th: Wolfe now pitching. McCann, showing bunt, this time down the third base line and ball hits the bag at third, no chance for Rolen and safe at first. Prado, also showing bunt. It’s ok Bobby you don’t need any more runs with this team. Lines to left to Lind. One down for Francouer singles up the middle, almost takes Wolfe’s head off. Two on one down. Hernandez at bat, strikes out. Two down for Schafer. Grounds to Hill flip to Scutaro and the agony is almost over.

Top 9th: Wells, Lind and Rolen. Can Wells avoid another ofer evening ? 0-3 so far. Gonzalez in to save this one. Not necessary Bobby. Weird delivery Gonzalez has, rocks back and forth sideways before pitching.. Full count, high fly ball to centre and Vernon keeps his record intact, 0-4 tonight. Lind doubles off the wall in right centre. One on one down for Rolen. Full count and walks. Overbay with two on and one down. Chance to do something here. Singles to right, Lind scores and Rolen safe at third. Good hustle by Scott. And just beats the throw 4-3 Braves with tying run at third, and one down for Barajas. Millar on deck. 3-0 count. Walks. Bases loaded for Millar. Bobby does not like this performance, that’s it for Gonzalez. Soriano now pitching. Millar strikes out, oh Kevin. Two down. Scutaro fly ball to left and Jays can’t buy a run. Loss number five.

Jays drop out of first and deservedly so, you can’t have a losing streak like this and expect to stay on top. And it really doesn’t matter who Cito puts out there pitching, that is not the problem, it is the hitting almost in every position. And of course Cito’s managing style now is being shown in a different light as he just lets them alone. That’s fine when they are winning but no good in this situation. He does not try to manufacture runs, will not send runners and thus stay out of the continual double play balls that Wells does. He will not move Vernon or Alex in the order. Basically I don’t believe that he is able to manage that way.

On the positive side, I think this team will win again when there is no pressure on them, when they are no longer in first spot and when both Boston and Yankees are ahead of them. It looks increasingly like they have been overachieving for two months and perhaps the schedule was skewed in their favour. They have yet to win against Boston, have only won one against Yankees. Have not played Tampa yet.

A slump yes, but the whole side ?? I don’t think so. Rios and Wells have not produced to their “previous” abilities in almost three seasons. Riso since that infamous All-Star home run competition, and Vernon for the last two seasons even without his injury last year. The year before he was terrible and then his “injury” was announced at the end of the season. Last season he was “recovering” from the injury but what is the excuse this season? Cito says he is “trying”. That is a joke Cito. He had better be doing more than trying for his multi-million contract..

Well another sweep on the books tomorrow and they have already lost their third series in a row, even if they do manage to win but the way they are playing I don’t think that is possible.

Jays get worse and get shut out for first time this season.

Toronto v Atlanta. Game one of three.

Lineups: Toronto: Scutaro, Hill, Rios Wells, Kind, Rolen, Overbay, Barajas, and Halliday as this is NL rules.
Atlanta: Escobar, Kotchman, Anderson, McCann, Johnson, Prado, Francouer, Scafer and Kawamaki.

Inglett is replacement for Snider down in Vegas now. Too bad they don’t give Jason Lane a chance, he earned it in Spring training and he is far, far better than Inglett ever will be even if he is not doing well in Vegas he has far more proven talent.
The good: Halladay seven shutout innings.
The bad: The complete lineup apart from Overbay with two hits, and Hill and Rolen doubles. The rest of them continue whatever funk this team is in and were terrible tonight and continue the awful slump. Now four game losing streak and no sign of any breaking out. Will also list Cito here as Bobby Cox showed him how to bring in a leadoff double to win this thing. If the team is playing this badly Cito then you have to do something more aggressive once one of these guys actually gets on base. We saw this in Boston with 25 hits and only four runs. But this is not Cito’s style and never was. The players are trying, well some of the fans might question that right now or to be fair are the real Jays showing up now/ Was the first two months a flash in the pan and playing way over their abilities? Right now they are playing remarkably like last year’s team.

Top 1st: Scutaro fly ball to Francoeur in right. Hill fly ball to Schafer in centre. Rios strikes out.
Bottom 1st: Escobar grounds to Rolen throw to Overbay. One down for Kotchman singles to right. Anderson strikes out. McCann singles to right, Kotchman to third. Johnson strikes out.

Top 2nd: Wells grounds to short Escobar throw to Kotchman at first. Lind fly ball to left Anderson. Rolen fly ball to Schafer in centrefield.
Bottom 2nd: Prado grounds to Hill throw to Overbay. One down for Francoeur grounds to Overbay. Schafer strikes out.

Top 3rd: Halladay bunting and up the line, nice bunt Roy, Overbay to second but two down. Scutaro, awful, awful, first pitch grounds to Escobar throw to Kotchman for third out. That was a dumb at bat. Gave no chance for Halladay to recover, he has just sat down after being out there also running which Scutaro has not done yet tonight, take a couple let Halladay recover, sometimes you realize that these guys do not use any brain that they might have.
Bottom 3rd: Kawakami grounds to Hill throw to Overbay. One down. Escobar grounds back to Halladay throw to Overbay. Kotchman grounds to Hill throw to Overbay.

Top 4th: Hill grounds to Prado at third throw to first baseman Kotchman. Rios fly ball to right Francoeur. Wells grounds to third Prado throw to Kotchman at first. Rios lines out to right. Wells grounds to third. 48 pitches for Kawakami.
Bottom 4th: Anderson grounds to Scutaro throw up the line not in time. One on for McCann. Singles to right. Two on no outs . Johnson bunting but foul, same again. Takes third strike, beautiful pitch Roy, One down for Prado. Grounds to Hill no chance for two gets Prado at first. Two down with runners at second and third. Francouer Fly ball to Rios.

Top 5th: Lind average sinking fast, not a happy hitter right now. Grounds to Escobar at short, throw to Anderson at first one down. Rolen, high fly ball to left. Two down. for Overbay the only Jay to have a hit tonight, and another one lines into right. 2-2. Barajas again he has to bring him in here as Halladay is next. If I were Bobby Cox I would walk Barajas to get to Roy. Strikes out anyway. Cox knew that. Jays hitters carrying on from Boston series. And also Halladay has to lead off next inning. 65 pitches for Kawakami.
Bottom 5th: Schafer lines out to Scutaro. Kawakami the pitcher, strikes out. Two down for Escobar fly ball to Rios. Halladay 72 pitch count.

Top 6th: Here comes Roy again. Strikes out but uses up six pitches. Better than some of his hitter colleagues. Much better. Here comes one Scutaro 0-2. Sorry 0-3 as he swings wildly at pitch way outside. Head all over the place. Two down for Hill, also hitless. Stays the same here as he strikes out 0-3 tonight. You would think that Jays hitters were facing Cy Young out there. Kawamaki has only won two games this season and lost five. Come on. Two hits off him tonight both by Overbay.This will be another painful series at this rate.
Bottom 6th: Kotchman long fly ball to Wells in centre. Anderson grounds to Scutaro throw to Overbay for second out. McCann and walks. First walk by Halladay tonight. Two down one on for Johnson. McCann takes second uncontested. Grounds to Hill close throw at first but third out.

Top 7th: Rios, average sinking again now .269. Just can’t get it together with bat or glove. Lines out to short. Well another even worse .268 but he is the cleanup guy. But his glove redeems him and as Cito says he is trying ! whatever that means for a multi million bat. First start by Kawakami past the sixth inning this season. I bet he wishes Jays were in National League. Wells grounds to short throw to first for second out. Lind strikes out swinging on three pitches, head in the air. What is wrong with this team or worse still are they finally playing to their level the last two months were a pleasant dream ?
Bottom 7th: Prado, strikes out. Francouer grounds back to Halladay cannot get it and safe at first, should have let it go through Roy to Scutaro, Schafer at bat, Francouer stealing first pitch, this is Nataional Leagueu Cito in a no score game, Barajas throw wild and safe at second. Kawakami lines to Overbay throw to second to get Francouer double play ball. You deserved that Roy.

Top 8th: Jays running out of at bats. Rolen this could be two, lines first pitch to left centre wall. And safe at second. Overbay, have to move him Lyle. Action in bullpen. Grounds back to Kawakami, looks Rolen back to second throw to first to get Lyle. One down one on for Barajas. What will Cito do with Halladay ? If Barajas brings Rolen in he might send him out again. Just foul down the left field line. That would have scored Rolen. Full count, decision time Cito. Fly ball to right, two down and Rolen stuck at second. Decision is for Inglett pinch hitting. Joe has his big chance. Just a base hit will do Joe, don’t have to hit it out. Strikes out looking. Not even a swing. This is why you were in Vegas Joe. You are pinch hitting here which means just that. However can’t blame him the rest of the team is as bad tonight. Jay have scored one run in the last 17 innings.
Bottom 8th: Carlson now pitching. Halladay will not get the decision. Diaz pinch hitting for Kawakami ground rule double in to right centre, get it Joe…. Escobar grounds to Hill throw to Carlson for the out at first. Diaz moves to third. One down for Kotchman fly ball to left run scores, even the throw is way off target. National League play guys this is how you are supposed to do it. Double, move him over and fly ball easy. Cito getting a lesson from the master. 1-0 Braves. Anderson fly ball to Wells.

Top 9th: Jays down their last three and top of the order to show what they can do. All hitless and clueless so far tonight. Gonazalez now pitching, six saves this season. Scutaro hitless and remains so. Fly ball to Francouer in right, one down. Hill hitless doubles to left but don’t get our hopes up, here come Rios and Wells. and Jays have not had a runner at third tonight. Rios hitless but swinging taps it in front Gonzalez throw to first two downhill gets to third which is an achievement for Jays tonight,. Here comes Vernon don’t bet the house on this guy. Grounds to third, throw to first.

Jays are shut out for first time this season but this has been coming for the last five games gradually getting worse and worse. Cito has a real problem right now with this team and he can’t just say they are trying because they are not Cito. Right now they are abysmal. If there is any consolation it is that both Boston and Yankees lose at home. But to my mind that makes this loss worse. As they lose a golden opportunity with Halladay pitching against a journeyman pitcher who had not gone beyond the sixth inning all season and shuts them out.

Cecil and Ray both taking flight to Vegas tonight. They will get their turns. But Cito knows that it is not pitching that is the problem here with this team it is the big guys in the heart of the order at three and four who have not produced all season long and the last week none of this lineup.

Boston sweeps Jays. Same old Jays story with runners in scoring position and unable to score.

Toronto v Boston series finale and Boston going for the sweep.
Jays have to smarten up with their hitting if they want to get out of here with a win.

Lineups: Toronto: Scutaro, Hill, Rios, Wells, Lind, Rolen, Millar, Barajas, Bautista, and Ray pitching.
Boston: Ellsbury, Pedroia, Ortiz, Youkilis, Bay, Drew, Lowell, Varitek, Lugo and Lester pitching.

The good: Nothing much tonight but I would put Ray in there. For a rookie with only three games in majors and going into Fenway he was fine, he just had no run support and with the Rios dropped catch this game would have been much closer. Yes he gets my vote tonight.

The bad: Ray has to play against his own defence tonight let alone insipid Jays hitters. The overachieving of the first seven weeks has come down with a big thud. I don’t blame the pitching. Hitting scores runs. But 1/7 with runners in scoring position and eleven left on base tell a horror story.

How can a team get 25 hits and only four runs in two games? JP is probably asking himself that question. What is wrong with this team? Jays had chance to make a statement here in Fenway, well they did, but not the one they wanted. Boston know now that they can take Jays in September if it gets to that situation.
What is even more important and worrying is that Jays have been swept by Boston and lose badly to Yankees at home and have yet to show they are going to challenge for the division. They still have many, many games to play against these two and have not even played one against Tampa.

Top 1st: Scutaro singles to right. Hill strikes out. Rios fly ball to Bay in left. Two down. Wells singles to left, Scutaro to second. Lind pops up to Lugo at short.

Bottom 1st: Ellsbury doubles to right. Pedroia grounds to Scutaro throw to Millar, one down. Ellsbury to third. Ortiz grounds to Hill throw to Millar Ellsbury scores 1-0 Boston. Youkilis full count and walks. Bay home run to right centre but Rios misplays and drops the ball on that one. That was definitely catchable. 3-0 Boston. Drew struck out.

Top 2nd: Rolen grounds to Lugo throw to Youkilis. One down. Millar singles to centre. Barajas fly ball to Bay.Two down. Bautista singles to right, Millar to second. Scutaro grounds to Youkilis flip to Lester. Jays four hits and no runs, Boston two hits and three runs, thanks to Alex.
Bottom 2nd: Lowell strikes out. Varitek grounds to Millar two down. Lugo grounds back to Ray to first baseman Millar. Ray 45 pitches already.

Top 3rd: Hill strikes out on full count. Rios first pitch dribbles to Pedroia at second. He is really off his game tonight. Wells with two down. Average now only .267. for a cleanup guy that is not acceptable. But Cito not doing anything, says “Vernon is trying”. Trying our patience and that’s about it. It is really three seasons since Vernon produced. Doubles over head of Ellsbury to the wall, but with two outs, same old Jays, Cannot get the hits when they are really needed. Lind perhaps he can change this.
Bottom 3rd: two down for Youkilis. Pedroia at third. Full count, singles up the middle. Pedroia scores 4-0 Boston. Bay strikes out, but Jays way behind this one already and not looking as if they will threaten.

Top 4th: Jays have already outhit Boston 5-4 but are 0-3 RISP and thev have already left five on base. Will not win many games like that. Rolen leading off full count and walks. Lester’s pitch count is way over 60 also but he has a four run lead which should be more than enough the way Jays hitters are going. Millar with one on. fly ball to centre Ellsbury one down. Rolen has to hold at first. Barajas singles into left corner. Two on and another in scoring position with one out for Bautista, two chances here to get a base hit and get on the scoreboard. Well, this is the hapless Jays. grounds to second throw to Lugo back to double play ball. Jays now have four runs in the last twenty two innings. That is not going to win them any wild card let alone a championship.
Bottom 4th: Drew grounds to Hill, great save and throw to Millar for the out. Lowell Grounds to Rolen throw to Millar two down. Boston doing a Toronto, first pitch swinging but Ray will take it.Varitek at bat, two down, strikes out. Nice inning for Ray but he cannot win this without runs and now lots of them

Top 5th: Lester at 77 pitches. Scutaro leading off. Grounds to Youkilis, one down for Hill. Hitless tonight on two strikeouts. Make that three grounds to Lugo throw to Youkilis and two down for Rios. Also hitless and responsible for two of the four runs. Singles to left but with two down and Wells at bat, don’t bet the house here. Seven hits for Jays and nothing to show for it so far. First pitch grounds off the end of his bat to Pedroia at second throw to Youkilis and out at first. Wells is getting worse. Didn’t even give Rios a chance to steal. They are playing as if they want out of Fenway as fast as possible which might be true but at least give the impression you are trying.
Bottom 5th: Lugo grounds to Scutaro throw too late at first. Ellsbury with one on. grounds to Millar throw to Scutaro one down back to Millar but not in time. Ray can’t win anyway. Pedrioa Pitch out, but throw sails and Ellsbury safe. As I said poor Ray cannot win despite doing everything right. Pedroia 3-0 count now full count and drives it up the middle run scores. 5-0 Boston giving Jays a lesson in hitting with runners in scoring position. Ortiz. Singles into right. Two on one down for Youkilis. Here comes Gaston, don’t blame Ray Cito. Blame some of your underachieving hitters and defence. Three runs in 23 innings is not good enough. League in to pitch. Fly ball to Wells at the wall, Pedroia tags and moves up, two down. Bay with Pedroia at third. Grounds to Rolen at third, throw to Hill to get Ortiz.

Top 6th: Lind hitless tonight. grounds weakly to Lugo throw to Youkilis one down for Rolen. Hitless but one walk. Takes third strike does not like the call, sorry Scott we need hits not looking at pitches, Millar 1-2 tonight. Fly ball to left for third out. Jays have still outhit Boston tonight 7-6 and yet have not scored and Boston has five. Last night Jays had 14 hits and 3 runs. Not difficult to work out what is wrong with this team.
Bottom 6th: Drew singles to centre. Lowell strikes out. Varitek strikes out. Two down. Drew stealing second but great throw by Barajas to Scutaro ends this one.

Top 7th: Lester is still out there. Barajas at bat, last nine Jays hitters to get this one over and out of town but if Jays think it will be any easier in Atlanta they will have a shock. Jays could easily be swept in Atlanta as well as here in Boston. Barajas pops up to Lugo one down. Bautista walks. Scutaro at bat. Lester way over 100 pitches but Francona keeping him in there, not much faith in the bullpen Terry? Scutaro singles to left, Bautista to second. Once again runner in scoring position for Hill hitless tonight. That’s it for Lester. Ramirez pitching. Hill singles to left and Bautista scores finally after nine hits they get a run but much too little too late. 5-1 Boston. Rios with no outs. Strikes out. That figures. Wells at bat, semi-intentional walk on four pitches? I hope that was the case and not a case of Vernon freezing with runners in scoring position. Bases loaded for Lind. 0-3 tonight. Two down. Fly ball to Bay in left nice catch at the wall in foul territory. Lind now 0-4. Jays hitters are 1/7 tonight with runners in scoring position and have left 10 on base.

Bottom 7th: Carlson now pitching. Lugo fly ball to Wells. Ellsbury bunting Hill to Millar for the out.Pedroia grounds to Scutaro throw to Millar.

Top 8th: Rolen hitless tonight. Rolen singles to centre. Millar fly ball to Ellsbury. One down one on. Barajas lines out to Lugo. Two down. Bautista strikes out.
Bottom 8th: Frasor now pitching. Ortiz at bat. Shift on, lines right at Hill behind Millar. Youkilis strikes out, that pitch was way outside but the umpires want this one over. Must be getaway night for them. Bay swinging away pops up to Millar.

Top 9th: Francona rubbing this one in, here comes Papelbon with a four run lead ??? Well will be interesting to see how Jays hitters react. Last time they met Papelbon it was lights out. Scutaro 2-4 tonight. Grounds first pitch to Lowell at third throw to Youkilis one down. Hill 1-4 singles into centre. Rios with one on, we have been here before. Upper deck left field but of course foul. Alex was in his home run trot. Strikes out, two down for Wells, any bets on first pitch swing? Grounds back to Papelbon throw to Youkilis and Boston has swept Jays.

But in reality this more than a sweep this is a statement to Toronto and a wakeup call that they are not as good as they have been lead to believe and that they have been overachieving for two months. They have won one game against Yankees and none against Boston.
The worst part of course is that tonight they outhit Boston 11-7 and score one run. That is the problem. Hitting with runners in scoring position and until Cito and Tenace and all the Kings Men sort this out then Jays are in their downward spiral.

Jays hitters lose this one with 2-12 runners in scoring position

Toronto v Boston. Game two of three.

Jays send rookie Cecil against penny tonight. I don’t think this will be enough. But bottom line Jays hitters have to do much better than one run they scored last night.

Lineups: Toronto: Scutaro, Hill, Rios, Lind, Rolen, Overbay, Barajas, Snider and Cecil pitching.
Boston: Ellsbury, Pedroia, Ortiz, Youkilis, Bay, Lowell, Baldelli, Varitek, Lugo and Penny pitching.

The good: Nothing much for Jays tonight. BJ Ryan’s inning, Cecil for four.
The bad the awful: Jays hitters continue their slump. They get the hits but not when it counts. Once again an awful with 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position. Leave 11 on base. Rios and Wells both get three hits which should be celebration enough, but not an rbi between them. Jays have 14 hits and only three runs. Boston only had one more hit and yet five more runs ?

Top 1st: Scutaro fly ball to Ellsbury in centre. Hill fly ball to Ellsbury in centre. Rios with two down singles to left. Wells grounds to third base Lowell throw to Pedroia at second to get Alex. Too bad Jays hitters cannot give Cecil a boost here and a lead to work with.Bottom 1st: Ellsbury grounds to Cecil throw to Overbay. One down. Pedroia grounds to Hill throw to Overbay. Ortiz grounds out to Overbay. Good start for Cecil, but let’s get him some run support here.

Top 2nd: Lind grounds to Lugo at short throw to Youkilis back in the lineup at first. Rolen doubles to left. Overbay fly ball to Ellsbury. Barajas fly ball to Ellsbury. That’s the fourth out of first six hitters that has flied out to Ellsbury.
Bottom 2nd: Youkilis infield single to third. Bay singles to right, Youkilis to second. Lowell grounds to Scutaro throw to Hill on to Overbay, double play ball. Youkilis to third. Baldelli grounds to Rolen throw to Overbay to end this inning.

Top 3rd: Snider grounds to Pedroia throw to Youkilis. One down and Travis continues his own slump. Front office muttering about sending him to AAA-Vegas to get a month to get his stroke back. Makes sense whilst Jays are playing National League teams. Travis is much too good a talent to waste. Whatever it takes. Scutaro full count and walks. Hill fly ball to Ellsbury. Rios doubles to left, Scutaro to third. Alex 2-2 tonight. Wells fly ball to Ellsbury to end this one again. What is Vernon’s average with runners in scoring position? Must be something horrible.
Bottom 3rd: Varitek home run to centre 1-0 Boston. Lugo doubles to centre. Ellsbury bunting safe at first and Lugo to third. Pedroia grounds to Hill throw to Scutaro on to Overbay and other double play but Lugo comes home. 2-0 Boston. Ortiz strikes out.

Top 4th: Lind grounds to Youkilis one down. Rolen fly ball to Ellsbury. Overbay fly ball to Ellsbury. Eight assists for Ellsbury in four innings.
Bottom 4th: Youkilis strikes out. Bay full count and walks. Lowell strikes out. Baldelli grounds to Barajas throw to Overbay for third out. Cecil has not been too bad, he just has no run support.

Top 5th: Barajas fly ball to Ellsbury. Snider strikes out. Scutaro grounds to Lowell throw to Youkilis at first.
Bottom of 5th: Varitek home run to centre, his second of the night. 3-0 Boston. Lugo grounded out, third baseman Rolen to first baseman Overbay. Ellsbury walks. Pedroia doubles to right, Ellsbury to third and trying to come home, Rios throw to Hill relay to Barajas, Ellsbury out, Pedroia to third. Ortiz home run to centre Pedroia scores, crowd goes crazy for Ortiz, first of the season and ends a 149 at-bat homerless drought dating back to September 2008. 5-0 Boston and Cecil getting hit around here this inning. Youkilis singles to left. Bay home run to left, Youkilis scores 7-0 Boston. Lowell home run to left 8-0 Boston and Cecil has given up four home runs in one inning. That’s it for Cecil tonight. Camp pitching. Baldelli triples to centre. Varitek strikes out but major damage done to Jays. Do they have anything to throw back ?

Top 6th: Hill singles to centre. Rios fly ball to Ellsbury. Wells singles to left, Hill to second. Lind strikes out. Rolen fly ball to Ellsbury.

Bottom 6th: Lugo grounds to Rolen throw to Overbay. Ellsbury strikes out. Pedroia full count and walks. Ortiz strikes out.

Top 7th: Overbay triples to centre. Barajas singles to left, Overbay scores and Jays are finally on the board but far too little far too late. They have not looked to threaten Boston in both games so far. Boston a far superior team on this showing. 8-1 Boston. Snider singles to right Barajas to third. That might be the last we will see of young Travis Snider for at least a month. Bautista and Millar will take over. Scutaro grounds to Lowell at third on to Pedroia on to Youkilis double play ball. Par for Jays tonight even when they do get a guy in scoring position. Barajas scores but Boston will exchange a run for two outs anyday. Hill grounds to third but beats out throw. Delcarmen now pitching for Penny. Rios pops up to Pedroia.

Bottom 7th: Wolfe now pitching. Youkilis singles to left. Bay strikes out. Lowell doubles to left, Youkilis to third. Baldelli strikes out. Varitek intentionally walk. Lugo pops up to Barajas. Boston want this one over now.

Top 8th: Bard now pitching. Wells singles to left. Lind singles to centre, Wells to second. Rolen lines out to Pedroia. One down for Overbay, doubles to left just misses going out for three runs. Wells scores. 8-2 Boston. Lind at third. Barajas pops up to Varitek. Okajima pitching. Millar pinch-hitting for Snider. Travis may already be on the plane to Vegas. Millar with two on pops up to Lowell. Leaves Lind and Overbay in scoring position. That’s the sort of night for Jays tonight.

Bottom 8th: Bautista in at left .Ryan now pitching. Ellsbury strikes out. Pedroia grounds to Rolen throw to Overbay. Two down for Ortiz doubles to centre. Youkilis strikes out. Good inning from Ryan.

Top 9th: Saito pitching. Scutaro grounds back to Saito throw to Youkilis, one down. Hill lines out to Bay in left. Rios singles to right. Wells singles to left, where was that hit earlier in the game Vernon ? Rios to second. Lind fly ball to Ellsbury. Very fitting that Ellsbury should have that last out, the Jays have been focusing on him all night instead of that wall in left.

Jays lead now over Boston is only 1 1/2 games, they really need to win tomorrow but with rookie Ray pitching it could be another massacre like tonight and a sweep of the Jays if they play the way they have done for two nights. They are confirming all the nay-sayers who say their record is a sham as they have not played tough opposition.

Jays really need those first team pitchers back in rotation. It is unrealistic to expect the rookies and fill-ins to keep on winning when the hitters are so awful.
Ellsbury has 12 putouts which evidently ties major-league record by an outfielder in a nine-inning game, previously done by Earl Clark of the Boston Braves in1929 and Lyman Bostock of the Minnesota Twins in 1977. However I would really question Jays hitters constantly hitting out there when that Green Wall is looming huge in left. In Fenway Jays hitters should be targeting that wall.

No clutch hitting by Jays tonight as they lose the opener.

Toronto v Boston. Opening game of series.

Huge series for Jays. I think it could go either way. Jays do need to show both Boston and the rest of the division that they are for real. At least one of the three this series. Two would be perfect. Three probably unlikely. In terms of lineups Boston obviously have the edge on paper but we have not see Vernon and Alex performing together much this season and this would be the perfect series to break out. I agree with leaving young Snider on the bench, he needs to inhale this atmosphere and get accustomed to the various bounces off that wall out there even though he a better left field than Lind. Millar DH tonight is a good move as he will be wanting to show Boston crowd that he still has something left, plus he is a veteran who would know more about knuckleballers such as Wakefield. Jays definitely have more power in their lineup and more with averages over .300 but this is Fenway and anything can and will happen. No lead will be big enough. Tallet has to keep Ellsbury and Pedroia off the bases. Ellsbury has 16 stolen bases already this season.

Lineups: Toronto: Scutaro, Hill, Rios, Wells, Lind, Rolen, Overbay, Millar, Barajas, and Tallet pitching.
Boston: Ellsbury, Pedroia, Ortiz, Bay, Lowell, Drew, Lugo, Bailey, Kotteras, and Wakefield pitching.

Jays lose this one 2-1 but it was nowhere as close as score suggests. Wakefield outpitched Tallet.

The good: Perhaps only Millar and home run and Frasor and BJ Ryan scoreless innings. Chavez throw to get Ellsbury at third in the eighth.Not much else especially from the hitters.

Bad : Poor hitting by Jays all around tonight except for Millar and his home run. Lind at bat in the fourth. Wells and Rios in the eighth with only one out and two on base. Tallet constantly behind and deep into the count.

Top 1st: Scutaro, Scutaro strikes out. Hill grounds to second base. Pedroia throw to Bailey at first base. Rios infield single to third. Two down for Wells, time for a breakout game Vernon. Rios stealing second throw by Kottaras to Pedroia at second base to end the inning leaving Vernon at the plate for a second try next inning.
Bottom 1st: Ellsbury grounds to short Scutaro throw to Overbay. Pedroia lines to shortstop Scutaro. Two down for Big Papi, Ortiz who sat out the last game on the west coast. He walks here for Bay. Not good Brian here, you don’t need Bay with a guy on base. Bay grounds to Scutaro throw to Hill, Ortiz out at second.

Top 2nd: Wells pops up to Lowell at third. Lind with one down. Strikes out. Rolen now, has more experience with Wakefield 3-0 count and walks on four pitches. Patience is the key. Overbay, also more experienced can he start this one off? Takes this one to the track in left centre for third out.
Bottom 2nd: Lowell lines to left past Rolen, one on for Drew, full count, walks him. Two on and no outs, not good here. Lugo at bat. Pops it up to Overbay, almost over balances with that catch. One down for Bailey. Two on. singles into left, Lowell scores 1-0 Boston. Still two on and one down for Kotteras. Drew at third. Tallet needs a ground ball here. Another full count. Fly ball to Lind in left run scores 2-0 Boston. Two down and Bailey at second. Ellsbury lines it at Overbay for third out. Jays have some catch up to do. Far too many pitches here for Tallet also almost fifty in two innings.

Top 3rd: Millar pops it softly to Kotteras. Barajas lines it into left. Scutaro now with one on and one down. Lines it into centre right, two on for Hill. First pitch swing and pops it up to Pedroia at second two down for Rios. Lines it hard to left but right at Bay who gets it at the wall. Jays leave two on.
Bottom 3rd: Pedroia leading off. Full count again, this is the problem Tallet going deep into most of the counts, fly ball to Wells in deep centre. Ortiz strikes out. Two down for Bay, need to be careful Brian. Doubles to the wall in centre. Vernon had no chance. Lowell two down and one on. Grounds hard to Scutaro throw to Overbay for third out. 65 pitches in three innings, not looking good here Brian.

Top 4th: Wells grounds to Lugo throw wild at first, error on play and Vernon is safe. Lind first pitch pops up to Bay one down. Against a Wakefield forget it Adam. Rolen has more sense. Lines it to Drew in right, two down. Overbay strikes out swinging. I give Lind a black star there for his at bat especially with Vernon on at first, didn’t even give him chance to steal second or put any pressure on Wakefield.
Bottom 4th: Drew another full count. Tallet now 70 pitches, but he only has himself to blame going deep into almost every count. Strikes out Drew but it takes eight pitches. Boston will gladly buy those outs at that rate. Lugo at bat, there’s a first pitch swing and line out to Wells. Two down. Bailey strikes out.

Top 5th: Now can these Jays hitters get their heads into this game ? Wakefield is having a very easy time so far tonight. Millar to leadoff. Way to go Kevin, over the Green Monster in left into the seats on the wall. That’s the way Kevin.2-1 Boston. Barajas pops it up to Ellsbury in centre. Scutaro first pitch fly ball to Drew in right. Two down for Hill who has had a bad night so far at the plate. Quickly 0-2 on first two pitches and then grounds to Lowell at third throw to Bailey at first for third out and Hill 0-3 tonight. Jays hitters have no patience at all with Wakefield. 66 pitches.
Bottom 5th: Kottaras strikes out. Number four for Tallet tonight. Ellsbury singles into centre. Now Tallet has his hands full as you know Ellsbury will be stealing. 16/20 already this season. Pedroia, lines it right at Rios in right field, two down for Ortiz. Shift on and grounds it to Hill throw to Overbay for third out. 90 pitches. He might start the next but will not get through six tonight but he only has himself to blame, he could not get that first pitch strike and was behind most of the hitters all night and worse going into far too many full counts. Meanwhile Wakefield has only 63 pitches and will be there all night if Jays hitters keep going after that first pitch.

Top 6th: Rios full count and this one jams Alex inside and pops it up to Lowell for first out. Wells first pitch pop up to Lugo. Lind now grounds to Pedroia at second throw to Bailey for third out at first. Awful, awful hitting by Jays. A seven pitch inning for Wakefield.
Bottom 6th: Bay first pitch swing, fly ball to Lind in left. The disease is contagious. Lowell strikes out. Drew with two down. grounds to Hill throw to Overbay for third out. Over the 100 pitch count.

Top 7th: Rolen, pops up to Kotteras. One down for Overbay. Pop up to Lugo at short Two down. Millar the only Jay hitter to get to Wakefield tonight, grounds to Lowell at third throw to Bailey at first and another quick one, two three inning for Wakefield. Only 80 pitches, he might go the distance at this rate.
Bottom 7th: Frasor now in for Tallet. Lugo grounds to Scutaro at short throw to Overbay for the first out. Bailey strikes out, two down for Kotteras. Fly ball to Lind in left, nice three up and down inning for Frasor. Looks like BJ Ryan for the eighth.

Top 8th: Jays last chance to get some runs before they face Papelbon in the ninth and lights out. If they need him with Wakefield low pitch count. Barajas to lead off and walks. Johnny Mc pinch running. Scutaro showing bunt. Now swings and pops it up behind the plate for Kotteras. One down. Hill who has had a bad night tonight. Pitch gets away and Johnny Mc moves to second. Hill at first singles to right. First hit tonight he will take it. Two on one down for Rios
fly ball to Bay in left field. Two down for Wells fly ball to Bay in left. Rios and Wells leave two on. When oh when are they going to get their act together at the same time?
Bottom 8th: Chavez now in for Barajas. BJ pitching to Ellsbury doubles . Pedroia Ellsbury stealing third but great throw by Chavez gets him. One down. Singles into centre. Ortiz strikes out, very nice BJ. One more Bay, fly ball to Wells for third out. Way to go BJ.

Top 9th: Jays do not make it easy for themselves Papelbon now pitching. Lind strikes out on three pitches, the student meets the master here. No contest. Rolen, grounds to Pedroia throw to Bailey for second out. Overbay, last chance. Full count. Grounds to Bailey at first.

Not a good performance here by Jays hitters, they had their chances and a golden opportunity in the eighth with two on and only one out and Rios and Wells to bat. But once again numbers three and four cannot come through when it counts and I believe this is what will be the difference between this Jays team being a very good team and one that is overachieving right now.

Jays finish off White Sox with clutch hitting by Rios.

Toronto v Chicago, Series finale.

Jays going for the sweep today, must be ruthless in these situations and finish a team off. Every win now is worth it and one less for September. Not only that, the greater the gap going in to Boston tonight is so important. Any Jays win in Boston counts two.

Lineups: Chicago: Podsednik, Nix, Dye, Thome, Konerko, Pierzynski, Ramirez, Getz, Fields and Richard pitching.
Toronto: Scutaro, Hill, Rios, Wells, Lind, Rolen, Millar, Chavez, Bautista, and Richmond pitching. Cito resting Snider it will be interesting to see what he does in Boston in left field. Millar in for Overbay, and Chavez catching. Bautista at DH.

Jays win this one 3-2 and sweep Chicago.

The very good: Richmond seven shutout innings, Rolen outstanding defensive play.
The good: Save number five for Downs. Millar home run. Rios triple and winning rbi in the eighth. Bautista stealing third in the eighth to place more pressure on Dotel.
The bad: Jays (not Vernon today) giving up two more double plays.

Top 1st: Podsednik grounds to Rolen throw to Millar playing at first today for Overbay. Nix grounds to short Scutaro on to first base Millar. Dye grounds to Scutaro throw to Millar.
Bottom 1st: Scutaro walks. Hill at bat, wild pitch by Richard, Scutaro to second. Hill singles to short. Rios grounds to third base Fields on to second base Getz on to first base Konerko, double play ball. Scutaro to third, Hill out. Wells walks. Lind grounds to shortstop Ramirez throw to second base Getz.Wells out.

Top 2nd: Thome full count and walks. Konerko strikes out. Pierzynski fly ball to Wells.
Ramirez grounds to Scutaro on to second baseman Hill, Ramirez to first. Thome out.
Bottom 2nd: Rolen fly ball to right field Dye. One down for Millar, homers here to left 1-0 Jays. Second home run of seasonfor Millar. Chavez with one down, strikes out. Bautista strikes out.

Top 3rd: Getz fly ball to Wells. One down for Fields, grounds to third, great diving save by Rolen and on one knee is throwing to Millar at first and gets Fields, highlight reel play. Podsednik triples to centre. Nix strikes out.
Bottom 3rd: Scutaro lines to left-centre, Podsednik he slowed at the last minute to avoid collision with Nix in left field and the ball goes off his glove to the wall and Scutaro safe at third. Error on play. Now Jays hitters have to bring him in with no outs. Hill this should do it, fly ball to Podsednik in centre and Scutaro tags and scores, 2-0 Jays. One down for Rios, fly ball to Nix in left. Wells ground ball to Fields at third and throw to Konerko at first.

Top 4th: Dye grounds to Scutaro throw to Millar. Thome strikes out. Konerko strikes out. Richmond rolling along here so far today.
Bottom 4th: Lind at bat strikes out. Rolen lines to Nix in left field. Millar singles to right. 2-2 today, he has been in his own mini-slump when he has played. Chavez grounds to short Ramirez, Millar out at second.

Top 5th: Pierzynski fly ball to Lind, one down. Ramirez singles to centre. Getz fly ball to Rios. Fields pops up to Hill. Richmond still strong.
Bottom 5th: Bautista grounds to Fields throw to Konerko at first. One down for Scutaro, walks, his second today. Hill grounds back to Richard throw to short Ramirez on to first Konerko, double play ball.

Top 6th: Podsednik strikes out. Nix singles to left. Dye fly ball to Rios. Thome at bat, Nix stealing and safe at second. Nix stealing third, taking advantage of that shift and safe. I am only surprised that White Sox have not done that earlier in the series. Thome strikes out.
Bottom 6th: Rios fouls out to Konerko at first. Wells flied out to right fielder Dye. Vernon hitless today but not alone. Lind grounds to second base Getz on to Konerko for third out. Richard has held Jays bats for the most part.

Top 7th: Konerko singles to left. Pierzynski grounds to Rolen throw to Hill, Konerko out at second. Pierzynski at first for Ramirez, strikes out. Getz singles to right, Pierzynski to third. Two on for Fields. Fields grounds to Rolen throw to Hill, Getz out at second. That might be it for Richmond today. 109 pitches, seven hits and five strikeouts but has kept Chicago off the scoreboard. Now the bullpen to hold this for two.
Bottom 7th: Richard still in there, he has kept Jays to three hits. Rolen fly ball to Nix in left. Millar fly ball to Dye in right. Chavez grounds to Konerko for third quick out. 94 pitches and only three hits and two runs. Problem is that those two might be enough to lose today.

Top 8th: Carlson now pitching. Richmond has had great outing and seven scoreless innings.Podsednik fly ball to Lind. One down. Nix fly ball to left field Lind. Two down. Dye grounds to Scutaro beats out throw. One on for Dye. Thome, gets hold of this one in the air and home run to left, no shift will help you there Cito. Dye scores, two run home run, this one is tied.2-2. Thome number 548 ties Mike Schmidt for 13th on baseball's career home run list.
Richmond will not get a win today. That is such a shame after great outing. Konerko with two down fouls out to catcher Chavez but the damage is done here.
Bottom 8th: Dotel now pitching to hold Jays at two. Bautista full count and walks. Scutaro sacrificing, great bunt up first base line, Konerko throw to Getz at second, Bautista to second. Hill pops up to Getz at second base. Bautista steals third, or to be more precise it looks as if White Sox gave it to him, no one covering. Fields was well behind the bag at third and Dotel was looking in for the sign. Rios now connects on huge blast to left but foul and in the fifth deck at Rogers Centre. That was a bullet into the upper level. This time much better, triples to centre past a diving Podsednik, almost gets his glove on it, that was all or nothing, would have been incredible catch but instead Bautista scores easily and Jays go out ahead again 3-2 Jays. First run given up by Dotel in 14 games and 12.1 innings. Wells fly ball to centre field.

Top 9th: Snider in at left field. Downs pitching. Pierzynski grounds to Hill throw to Millar. Ramirez full count and walks. You don’t need those Scott. This guy will be stealing if he gets the choice. Getz with one on and one down strikes out. Fields grounds to Scutaro onto second Hill, Ramirez out, and Jays have won this one.

Downs gets save number five and Carslon gets the win despite giving up the two run home run which denied Richmond his win, he owes him bigtime. Richmond will be happy with this outing after his very short appearance against Yankees on Wednesday. Chicago starter Richard also had career high seven innings and deserved better.

Jays now go into Boston with a record of 27-14 the best in the American League and percentage points behind Dodgers for the best in the majors. Jays 3.5 ahead of Boston who are not playing today after west coast trip where they dropped two in Seattle.