Jose Bautista Hits Grand Slam, Jays Win 4th in a Row.

Indians 1 Jays 8

The 6 run 4th inning was enough for us tonight. Singles by Aaron Hill, Lyle Overbay, Edwin Encarnacion, Fred Lewis and Yunel Escobar set up the grand slam for Jose Bautista. 31 homers and 79 RBI before the end of August would make the guy a very expensive deadline pickup if someone were to try. We had 14 hits in all. 3 each for Bautista and Overbay. 2 for Lewis (including a homer) and Escobar. One for everyone else except Adam Lind, who went 0 for 5. 

Shaun Marcum was great as well. 7 innings, 3 hits, 1 earned, no walks and 10 k. He had a perfect game going through 4. Carlos Sanatana got a single that Overbay defected, Hill made a great play on, but he lost his shoe trying to plant for a throw. Tie the damn things. Casey Janssen and Shawn Camp pitched the 8th and 9th respectively. Between the 3 we struck out 13 Indians.

Jays of the Day are Marcum (.238 WPA), Lewis (.127)  and Bautista (.116). 

I know the Braves fans told us we'd hate Escobar, but he's quickly become a favorite of mine. He showed a lot of range again, getting to a ball on the first base side of second. I think Hill is playing a bit further towards first, since Yunel can get to so many balls. Escobar did make an error tonight, he bounced a throw to Overbay that he had time to make a better throw on. But then Lyle often would make that pick. 

Tomorrow we have a 1:00 Eastern start, Brett Cecil vs. Jake Westbrook. Then there is the 4:00 trade deadline. Odds are the Jays will have something happen before then. And, also, it is my youngest son's birthday, so it will be a busy day around here. 

Oh, ought to mention that the girl Evanka Osmak on Sportsnet Connected told us that Mike Jacobs, who we picked up in trade today, is our 'first baseman of the future'. She really should be fired for that. 

A Jordan Bastian thwip:

Marcum left the ballpark after his outing with flu-like symptoms. Cito said pitcher told he can stay home Saturday, too.