Split Weekend for Jays
The Jays dropped a really tough one on Saturday 9-8 , but won a nice game on Sunday, 7-3 , so as to keep the possibility of a series split alive.
Gustavo Chacin was ineffective on Saturday afternoon, surrendering 7 hits and 4 runs in 5 1/3 innings, along with an uncharacteristic 4 walks. However, the Jays fought back with a big 6th inning and an Adam Lind 2 run HR in the 8th to head into the 9th with a 2-run lead.
Unfortunately, replacement closer Jason Frasor could not keep the Rangers off the bases, surrendering 3 runs in the 9th including a Frank Catalanotto HBP with the bases loaded and a two-run single by Brad Wilkerson.
Just when it looked like the Jays might still pull it out after scratching out a run in the 9th to tie it at 8, on a Hank Blalock error and a Royce Clayton RBI single, Brian Tallet showed up and completely tossed the game away walking two and surrendering a hit in the extra frame. A run scored on a Blalock sac fly, and that run stood up for a tough 9-9 loss.
On Sunday, however, the Jays got off to a fast start and never looked back. Everyone pitched in with at least a hit or a walk. Aaron Hill was particularly sharp, going 3-4 with a two-run single in the first and 2 runs scored. Alexis Rios hit a pinch-hit homerun and Jason Phillips added 3 hits.
As good as the offense was, though, the story was Tomo Okha. Okha continued his quite respectable pitching, going 7 strong and giving up only 5 hits and 3 walks and 1 run. He only struck out 2, but no one's asking him to dominate, just to keep things close. He pitched effectively and got his ERA down to 5.02, evening his record to 2-2 in the process. Marcum continued his frustrating start to the season by surrendering a 2-run HR to Ian Kinsler in the 9th.
Jays of the Day :
Saturday: Lind , Rios , Overbay
Sunday: Okha was impressive and Hill had a great day at the plate.
Sorry for my delay in getting the saturday recap up, we had a big weekend here with my brother coming to town to see his niece and his mets, and catching lots of Nats-Mets action here in DC. Anna caught her first out-of-the-womb baseball game, which went just great, although I am exhausted. She sported the John Maine jersey whilst he dominated the Nats on Sunday, great stuff! I will return on monday to my microscopic Gibbons analyzing, ridiculous picture scouring, playa-hatin Royce Clayton hatin' ways. (Royce was 1-5 on Saturday with 3 K's and an RBI, by the way. I know it doesn't really matter, but I don't think I have ever seen a Clayton type of hitter strike out as often as Royce does.