When we were at the games in Seattle during batting practice John McDonald was pulling every pitch down the left field line and most of the balls went over the wall. Safeco isn't a small park and I was impressed that he could hit the ball out so consistently and generally all within 15 feet of the foul poll. Anyway, tonight he did the same thing I watched him do in Seattle, but it was when it counted, with 2 guys on base.
We only scored in one inning tonight, 6 runs in the 6th. McDonald had the big hit but there were other big moments. Jose Bautista and Adam Lind singled. Vernon Wells fouled off 4 pitches before walking. Kevin Millar walked. Edwin Encarnacion slugged a single right through the third baseman and Johnny Mac homered. 5 hits and 2 walks that inning. I read somewhere that most times winning teams score more runs in one inning than the loser scores in the game, I believe it.
Mac had 3 hits on the game but the other two were bloop singles that were lucky to fall. Bautista and Encarnacion had two hits each. Randy Ruiz was the only one in the team to go 0 for. But he did drive home a run with a sac fly.
Ricky Romero had to fight through a rough first three innings 3 innings, but he went 6.2 innings, gave up 7, 3 walks and struck out 4. He left with a runner on but Jesse Carlson got the 3rd out on a strikeout. He's been great lately, used too much but pitching great. Scott Downs pitched a good 8th and Jason Frasor got the save.
Jays of the Day are Johnny Mac (.319 WPA) and Edwin (.157). Bautista and Millar get the honorable mention. Millar did well with a hit and a walk. And in consideration of that I will make no editorial comments about him. Suckage Jays are Ruiz (-.129) and Scoot (-.120). I don't think it is fair for either, Ruiz had the sac fly and Scoot singled and stole a base, but numbers are numbers.
E5 made as nice a play as you are ever going to see at 3rd today, if he keeps making plays like that we are going to have to find him a new nickname.
Tomorrow Carl Pavano (11-11, 5.09) goes against the Jays and Roy Halladay (14-8, 2.98). Let's score some runs again guys. I really really would hate Doc to lose to Pavano.