:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/2986529/GYI0065090783.jpg)
Ricky Romero gets his second complete game loss of the season. A lot of the time it seems like his teammates don't want to score for him. In his losses the team has scored 2, 1, 0, 0, 3 and 2 runs. That's 8 runs scored in his 6 losses.
Ricky had 7 shutout innings in his 8 today. He had some trouble in the third. He hit a batter and gave up 4 singles and 3 runs. It would have been worse if Jose Bautista didn't throw out Jeff Francoeur to end the inning, on Billy Butler's single. I didn't think he had a shot at Francoeur, I guess I shouldn't doubt Jose's arm.
We only scored two runs. Both on a J.P. Arencibia triple. His hit came within a couple of feet of being a home run. We had chances to score at least the tying run in the 8th or the 9th. In the 8th Mike McCoy walked and Cory Patterson bunted him to 2nd, setting up a Jose Bautista walk. But Adam Lind struck out and JP hit into a ground out to waste the chance. In the 9th Edwin Encarnacion had a 1 out single and Juan Rivera followed with a pinch hit single. After Jayson Nix struck out, McCoy walked to load the bases. Then Patterson popped up to end the game.
Some of our batters had a good day. McCoy took 4 walks in the lead off spot. Lind had 3 singles before the strikeout in the 8th. EE went 2 for 4. JP had the triple. A few were less good. Patterson was 0 for 4. Rajai Davis went 0 for 3 as did Aaron Hill. Hill did take a walk. And Bautista was 0 for 3 with the walk. Jose has now gone 10 games without a homer.
Jays of the Day are McCoy (.288 WPA). Juan Rivera had a .109 but I'm not giving him a JoD for a pinch hit. Suckage numbers go to Patterson (-.452), Nix (-.220), Hill (-.150) and Davis (-.116).
I don't know about anyone else, but I could do without Patterson bunting every time there is a runner on base and no out. I mean, the guy is hitting better than anyone though he would, why not have him swing in those spots now and then.
Tomorrow we start a 3 game set with the Red Sox in Toronto. Jo-Jo Reyes tries for his 3rd straight win. Clay Buchholz (4-3, 3.30) gets the start for the Sox.