The Whole Sad Story
Last night the Jays dropped another winnable game, losing 6-5 to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
The Jays were up 5-3 entering the 9th after some good pitching from Gustavo Chacin (6 IP, 6 H, 0 BB, 3 runs on 3 solo HRs) and some timely relief work from Tek Janssen and Jason Frasor. Unfortunately, BJ Ryan couldn't hold the lead and surrendered 5 hits, including a 2-run HR to Delmon Young.
At the plate, the Jays continued their trend of only scoring in two innings, not getting on the board until stringing some hits together in the 7th, including Zaun tripling in Rios, Hill scoring Zaun on a ground rule double, and Reed singling in Hill. Glaus then gave the Jays the 5-3 lead with a two-run HR in the 8th. Overbay had a tough day at the dish, going 0-4 and stranding 3.
With one out in the 9th, Ty Wigginton singled to center field. Delmon Young followed up with a 2-run blast, tying the score. Akinori Iwamura, who had already homered and was 3-3, laid down a perfect bunt to put the winning run on. Ryan got Johnny Gomes to fly out to make it 2 outs, but Elijah Dukes singled Iwamura (who has some wheels) to third. The Jays got one more chance to get out of the inning when BJ Upton chopped to short, but Macdonald bobbled the ball, which gave him no chance of getting the speedy Upton. It wasn't necessarily all MacDonald's fault, as it was undeniably a tough play and Upton was flying down the line, but if he had barehanded the ball cleanly and made a good throw he had just enough time to get Upton.
The Jays will look to even up their record this evening, when Tomo Okha takes the hill against Casey Fossum.
Clayton Watch : Royce was 1-2 before being lifted for Matt Stairs as a PH, who walked. Johnny Mac took over in the field and made the aforementioned play in the 9th.
Jays of the Day
Glaus for the big blast that gave the Jays the late lead, Chacin for a start that was really better than his line indicates.
Honorable mention goes to Janssen and Frasor for 2 innings of 1-hit ball from the bullpen that put the Jays in a position to win.
In other news, the Jays traded Francisco Rosario to the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations. A great move for the Phils, who need bullpen help and get a nice live arm on the cheap, but with League's problems, I thought the Jays might've held onto Rosario. In the Jays' defense, I think the bullpen is going to be a big plus this season, as Frasor, Janssen, and Accardo all look steady thusfar, I do think League will regain his velocity, and Marcum should be good as well.