I guess the important thing about the game was that Marco Scutaro was hit in the head by a Josh Beckett pitch and left the game with a head contusion. Really, nothing else is important other than Marco be ok after that. John McDonald took Scoot's place and had a double in 2 at bats. Odds are we'll Mac out there the next few days.
Offensively we had 10 hits, 6 walks, 2 homers, one each for Aaron Hill and Rod Barajas. Hill had 3 hits. Everyone in the lineup had a hit except Randy Ruiz, Travis Snider and Jose Bautista, but they each had a walk. We also struck out 17 times. 17 strikeouts. 17.
Scott Richmond pitched 3 good innings before things went to hell in a hand-basket. He gave up 5 runs between the 4th and 5th innings. Richmond gave up a homer to fellow Canadian Jason Bay. Richmond left the game with it tied, but, like normal lately, the Jays couldn't score after that. Josh Roenicke pitched two very good scoreless innings, but Brian Tallet and Shawn Camp combined to give up the winning run in the 8th. They were helped out by Lyle Overbay kicking a possible double play ball, only getting one out on the play and letting the winning run score.
We did try to come back in the 9th against Jonathan Papelbon. After a Adam Lind strikeout, Overbay singled, Vernon Wells singled and a pitch brushed past Ruiz to load the bases but Barajas chased a pitch high out of the strike zone. Then Snider struck out (man was he ripped off on strike two) and the game was over. Part of the 17 strikeouts was the the umpires were trying to get the game in, in pouring rain. The strike zone was very wide at times, because finishing the game was important.
Jays of the Day are Roenicke (.167 WPA) and Hill (.223). I think Scoot deserves honorable mention. On the Suckage side with have Richmond (-.339), Snider (-.219), Bautista (-.102) and Camp (-.158).
I hated the end to that. I hate when games are finished in a rain that would have the game called if it earlier. I hate when the umpires want to get the game in so bad they open up the strike zone so the game finishes fast because they know game shouldn't be played.
Rod Barajas is the streakiest batter I've ever seen. A bit ago he was cold as a batter can get. Now he's had 3 home runs in his last 13 at bats. Hope he can keep it going for the rest of the season, he'll get a decent contract out of someone then, I might rather it not be us, but I hope he does ok.(
Tomorrow we have a 1:00 7:00 Eastern game with Ricky Romero (11-5, 3.91) going against Clay Buchholz (2-3, 5.02). Hope we have a better ending.