Jays 8 Royals 1
Is there a bigger surprise for the Jays this early this season than Scott Richmond? Well maybe Ricky Romero, but Richmond is up there. 3-0 and a 2.70 ERA. Tonight, 7 innings, 5 hits, 3 walks, 1 run and 5 strikeouts. And the 1 run really shouldn't have happened. Alex Rios missed a very catchable ball. It turned into a double that scored Coco Crisp from first. Cy Carlson and Brandon League pitched a good inning each to finish out the game.
Offensively we were great, 14 hits and 6 walks. Everyone in the lineup had at least 1 hit except for Lind. Moonraker had a bunt single, Scoot had a pretty single up the middle when he faked a bunt then bounce the ball thru the middle. And he had 2 more walks giving him 21 in 22 games. For a guy who's career high in walks was 57 last year he's taken to the lead off role well.
Aaron Hill and Vernon Wells had 3 hits each with 2 and 3 RBI respectively. Rolen and Barajas had 2 hits each. Royals starter Gil Meche left the game in the 4th inning with a injury of some sort. Likely whiplash from watching balls go past him.
Jays of the Day were Richmond (.266 WPA), Wells (.124) and Barajas (.104). Honorable mention to Scoot and Hill , but Hill should lose a few points for calling Vernon off a popup to short center then dropping the ball. It was Vernon’s ball all the way. No Suckage Jays, though Lind came close at -.086.
Tomorrow Brian Tallet (1-0, 2.95) goes up against Zack Greinke (4-0, 0.00). It should be a good pitchers duel. Zack hasn't given up an earned run yet this year, so he's due to be hit hard.
And the important thing? We are 15-7 and in first place! A game up on the Red Sox, who finally lost one to Cleveland. So enjoy, we have the best record in baseball. The game thread was great fun, so join us for tomorrow's game.