The Jays rode a solid start and their usual home run parade to a 6-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles tonight.
On the Mound
Maryland native Brett Cecil was very strong, completing the first 6 innings with just one run on the board. Cecil did give up 11 hits, but no walks, and he struck out four. Cecil induced 13 batted balls on the ground, just 6 in the air, so it was a solid, if not commanding, start. The O's tacked two more runs on Cecil in the 7th, but only one was earned, the other coming on an Encarnacion throwing error. Cecil's 14th win of the season was well deserved.
At the Plate:
Jose Bautista took Baltimore starter Chris Tillman deep in the first inning and that sort of set the standard for the game. Vernon Wells followed with his 30th blast of the season in the 4th, a two-run shot, and Bautista added his own 2-run shot in the 6th to make it an insane 52 on the season. The only other Jays run scored when Lyle Overbay walked with the bases loaded. Bautista also walked twice, while Wells drew a free pass of his own. Yunel Escobar had two singles.
From the Pen:
Shawn Camp finished the 7th, though he coughed up a couple of hits before retiring the side to tack a few runs on Cecil (Camp wasn't helped by the aforementioned error, though). Jason Frasor pitched a good 8th but Kevin Gregg got into big trouble in the 9th. A run, two hits, and a walk later, Jesse Carlson had to come in to get Matt Wieters for the final out, with the tying run on second.
Gregg seems to be wearing down as the season draws to a close. I hate to take the closing job away from him now, but why not get someone like Roenicke or Janssen a little late inning action - particularly if you're up by three?
Today's title comes from the Jesse Malin song "the Archer."
Jays of the Day: Bautista, Wells, Cecil - Carlson and Frasor get some honourable mention.