Blue Jays 1 Reds 2
One play changed the game. In the 5th, Aaron Hill lead off with a homer. Juan Rivera and J.P. Arencibia both singled to put runners on the corners and John McDonald is up. Now we are finally hitting Arroyo. I figured this was going to be our inning. And they try a safety squeeze. I hate it. No one out, we are finally getting to Bronson. Rivera has some pluses as a baseball player, speed isn't one of them. The odds against getting a squeeze down to work are so low, I'm not sure they could be measured. Mac pops up the bunt, Juan is too far off the bag, double play. I just think it is over managing. If Mac swings, even if he hits into a double play, the run should score. Swinging couldn't have worked out worse, I'm sure.
Carlos Villanueva did a great job today. A Miguel Cairo 2 run homer in the 6th scored all the runs the Reds needed. But 7 innings, and 2 runs is very good. He did give up a few flies to the warning track and we did figure that sooner or later one would clear the wall but it didn't have to be today. 7 hits, no walks and 3 strikeouts finished his line.
Bronson Arroyo pitched a great game for the Reds. Changed speeds, changed arm angles and moved the ball around the strike zone. We only had 5 hits and 1 walk against him in 8 innings.
No Jays of the Day today, by the numbers Octavio Dotel had the high number, .083 and he did do a great job picking up for Marc Rzepczynski. With runners on 2nd and 3rd and one out, he got Cairo to strikeout, intentionally walked Fred Lewis and then Edgar Ranteria lined one hard but right at Jose in RF. I am really not a fan of that intentional walk but it worked out.
John McDonald played 3rd today and made a highlight reel play in the 2nd, diving for a grounder, spinning around and making a great throw to first for the out. If the choice is Mac or Nix at third, I guess I'd go with Mac, as long as we don't have him bunting a lot. Nix is hitting .178, Mac can't do much worse than that.
A sweep would have been nice, but a series win is ok. Tomorrow we start three at Atlanta, Ricky Romero (6-6,3.01) going up against the Braves and Tim Hudson (5-6, 4.08).
I'm going to go out and enjoy Father's Day. Call your dad.