I know they are all on the trading block, but it was nice to see Frasor, Downs and Gregg pitch the last 3.1. Frasor did a terrific job, coming in with the tying run on in the 6th, then pitched a nice 7th. Scott Downs didn't have the easiest 8th, a leadoff single and a walk made things interesting. Kevin Gregg got a ground out and two fly outs to finish the game. One of the fly outs did make it almost to the track in LF, causing Sam Cosentino to get excited but it wasn't a hard catch.
Shaun Marcum had to fight his way through 5.2. He gave up 8 hits, walked 1 and struck out 5. He didn't have a single 1, 2, 3 inning and was helped out of the 3rd inning by a perfect 8-4-2 out at the plate on a Miguel Cabrera double. Migglio Ordonez fractured his ankle on the play at the plate and will miss more than a month for the Tigers. I thought the Jays blew the play, when Jose Bautista left the ball for Vernon Wells, after it hit the wall in right center. Bautista has the better arm, so eh should have taken it, but Wells made a good throw to Aaron Hill and Hill was perfect to John Buck who made a nice tag.
Shaun came out of the game after giving up a single that scored the Tiger's second run. Just before that he made a nice play on a tapper. After that play he was stretching his legs and he was looking at that blister on his hand. I'm sure it is nothing but glad Cito got him out of the game quick.
Offensively, we did enough. should have scored more but when isn't that true? We got 6 hits and 4 walks.2 hits for DeWayne Wise, both doubles and he scored 2 of our runs. Encarnacion, scored the other run, hit a double. Bautista drove in 2 and Wells drove in the other. O fors today go to Lind, Wells, Hill and Buck, but Lind walked twice and Vernon walked once and got on on a error.
Jays of the Day are Gregg (.219 WPA), Frasor (.153), Downs (.146), Marcum (.107), Bautista (.094) and I'm going to give one to Wise too (.088). Suckage? Aaron Hill had the number (-.132). He didn't look good at the plate (0 for 4) and he popped out with the bases loaded in the third. But he made that great throw to the plate to save a run and he made 2 or 3 other nice plays on defense, so I don't have the heart to give it to him. Is it just me, or has he looked a lot better on defense the last couple of weeks? He is always good but the last bit he has looked great.
Speaking of looking better on defense, John Buck made a great throw to catch Austin Jackson stealing. He has been so much better defensively than I thought he'd be and he keeps getting better.
So we have a double header tomorrow. The 1:00 game sees Brett Cecil (8-5, 3.99) go against Armando Galarraga (3-3, 4.50). In the 6:00 game we have Jesse Litsch (1-4, 5.79) vs. Jeremy Bonderman (5-6, 4.98).
Today was a double header for me. We went to the Calgary Vipers game this afternoon. They were raising money for Breast Cancer research. We had the top bid for one of the player's special pink uniform, that he took off and signed for us. My youngest boy was thrilled. If he's happy and I can give money to a good cause, life is good. Too much time in the sun for a very very white boy.