That was one up and down game. Everyone, it seemed, had a hero moment and everyone had a goat moment. Well, everyone had a hero moment except Kevin Gregg. Gregg comes in with a one run lead in the 10th and gives up a lead off triple. Sac Fly scores him, we are tied. Ground out. Ok, one more out and we keep the game going. Billy Butler singles, Jose Guillen walks (on four pitches yet). Another single, off Gregg's glove and the game is over.
The Good:
- Fred Lewis 2 for 4.
- Yunel Esobar: 2 for 4, bunt single and homer. Plus was hit by pitch trying to bunt in the 10th.
- Jose Bautista: 2 for 4 and drove in the run in the top of the 10th.
- Vernon Wells had a big hit to lead off the 4th.
- Adam Lind singled, moving Wells up to second in the 4th.
- Lyle Overbay was 2 for 4 and hit what should have been a sac fly that should have scored Wells. More on that in the bad.
- John Buck 1 for 4, driving in a run.
- Edwin Encarnacion: 1 for 4. A double that hit high off the wall, was inches from a home run. It was ok, he scored on Escobar's HR. He also made an amazing play, driving at a ground ball and throwing the batter out from his knees. I can't imagine throwing that far, that hard from my knees.
- Brett Cecil pitched pretty good for 6.1 innings.
- The bullpen pen did well for 2.2 innings.
The Bad:
- Gregg.
- Jose Bautista hit into a DP in the first with two guys on, when it looked like we were going to start the game off great. To be fair to him, he drove in a run in the 11th with a ground ball hit no better than this double play ball. He also made an 3 base error to lead off the fourth. Ball hits your glove in the OF, you have to catch it. Cecil saved him by getting out of the inning without the run scoring.
- Lyle hit what should have been a sac fly in the fourth, but Lind, for whatever reason, decided to try to move up to third from second on the fly. Not only was he thrown out, he was thrown out before Wells touched the plate, costing us a run. A very bad move.
- In the Royal's 7th, after they had scored once, with two out Jason Kendall hit a ground ball that Escobar made a great, one handed catch and throw to first. It bounced in front of Lyle. Lyle couldn't pick it. Cost us a run. Lyle is so good at that, you expect him to get every one of them.
- In the 9th, with runners on first and second and none out, Hill popped out and EE hit into a double play. Again, a ground ball that misses a fielder and you are a hero. Ground ball at a fielder and you are a goat.
- In the 10th, after Bautista's single to bring in the go ahead run, we had runners on the corners. Wells hit into a fielder's choice out at home. Lind struckout. Hill flied out.
I am sure I've missed some bad moments. There were so many.
Jays of the Day are Escobar (.296 WPA), Camp (.149), Cecil (.116) and Frasor (.114). Suckage Gregg (-.780), Encarnacion ((-.240) and Wells (-.138).
Good game, bad ending. Lots of interesting moment. Jesse Litsch goes for us tomorrow. Hope for a better result.
A quote by Cito from Jordan Bastian.
I know sometimes you're not going to get hits to drive in runs, but just run the bases properly [tonight] and we've got more runs.