Brett Cecil Loses First Game Back

Pirates 6 Blue Jays 2

I didn't think Brett Cecil looked that bad but he could have used some help from his fielder. Jose Bautista and Corey Patterson had one fall that either could have caught. I thought it was close enough to third that it should have been Jose's ball, but outfielders can call off infielders. That miss opened things up for a 3 run inning. Rajai Davis messed one up in CF too, costing Brett another run. 

In all Brett gave up 8 hits, 6 earned, 3 walks with 6 strikeouts. He pitched well enough to get into the 7th inning. With a little help it would have been a much better day. Octavio Dotel took over for him with 1 on and 1 out in the 7th and let the inherited runner score. Marc Rzepczynski and Shawn Camp pitched a perfect inning each to close out the game.

All our offense came on 2 swings of the bat in the 5th. J.P. Arencibia and Yunel Escobar (I loved the smile on his face after he hit it) each hit a solo homer. We had 6 hits, Yunel had 3 of them and 1 of our 2 walks. Aaron Hill hit a triple in the 9th. 

Yunel (.226 WPA)was the Jay of the Day. Suckage numbers go to Cecil (-.311, not all his fault) and Lind (-.146, though he hit the ball hard twice). 

Yunel had a strange moment trying to turn a DP. The runner from first (Matt Diaz) came in hard and Yunel dropped to side arm, I think to slow Diaz, but didn't throw. Diaz slide in hard, with one leg high. They played together in Atlanta, I'm taking it for granted they weren't the bet of friends. 

Tomorrow, Canada Day, we start a series with the Phillies, this year we are having the home games in Toronto, not Philadelphia. That cost me a lot of driving last year.