It's a rare thing that the Jays lose a game because of poor defense. In the 4th with 1 out and a runner on first a easy double play ball went right thru Jose Bautista's legs. He makes that play and Marc Rzepczynski is out of the 5th with a lead. As it turned out, Rzep gives up a 2 run triple to Choo and he's out of the game. That was the big moment of the game. Shawn Camp threw away a pickoff throw the next inning, which cost us another run.
Rzep wasn't great today, he walked 4 in 4.1 innings. He also gave up 3 hits, 4 runs, only 2 earned and struck out 6. Without the error it is a decent start. I really like think he's going to be a good one.
Kevin Millar was our clean up hitter today, and you would think that was a bad thing but he had a double and a homer so he did his job. Likely he has bought himself a couple more weeks with the team and if he hits like that he deserves to stay. Big if there. Aaron Hill also hit a homer. Alex Rios also had a good day, hitting a double, being hit by pitch (in the head yet) and he stole 3 bases. Everyone in the starting lineup had a hit except Jose Bautista and Rod Barajas.
The other big moment in the game was in the bottom of the 9th, Rios was hit by pitch to lead off the inning and stole second. But Bautista flew out to, trying to go the other way, hitting the ball behind Rios but it wasn't deep enough. Barajas popped out and Lyle Overbay took strike 3 and for that matter strike 2. Game Day showed both those pitches just off the outside of the plate, but in that spot you can't take anything close, the tying run was sitting at 3rd, you have to swing, if it is close.
Jays of the Day are Alex Rios (.239 WPA), Millar (.171) and Hill (.112). Suckage Jays Bautista (-.314 and that isn't counting the terrible error), Barajas (-.247), Overbay (-.167) and Marco Scutaro (-.109). Rzep had suckage numbers too (-.200) but much of that was because of the Bautista error.
In other Jay's news David Dellucci has been released. No surprise. 1 for 25 as a Jay with 3 walks is a recipe for being released unless you have some sort of amazing track record. Joe Inglett is being called up from Vegas. I'd rather Snider but such is life.
JP Riccardi said, before the game, that Halladay will not sign an extension with the Jays. I know you have heard me say this before, but I don't believe anything JP says. I'm sorry, he might not be lying this time but then, who knows. I guess we'll see.
I just watched the end of Mark Buehrle of the White Sox pitching a perfect game. He got an amazing catch by Dewayne Wise to save the perfect game with one out in the 9th. He caught a ball that was going over the wall. He hit the wall hard, juggled it and hung on. Congratulations Buehrle, that's amazing.
Tomorrow Doc goes against Matt Garza and the Rays, presuming that he is still part of the team, of course.
Indians vs Blue Jays boxscore