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Rangers 2 Blue Jays 3
The finish was more exciting than it needed be. Jon Rauch is giving up way too many home runs. That's 8 this year, in 44.1 innings. Not what I'd want to see in a closer. But he did get his 9th save tonight. Though the save really should go to Adam Lind, who made a great play on a bouncing ball. It bounce high over his head. He jumped, just caught it, and made a great throw to second to get the lead runner. Without that play, we would have been in a tough spot.
FrankieMcFrankFrank pitched scoreless 8th inning, giving up a 2 out double. The double broke a streak of getting 14 straight batters out.
Another great start for Brett Cecil. 7 innings, 7 hits, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts and just the 1 earned run on a Nelson Cruz solo shot. Cruz left the game with a hamstring strain. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if he couldn't play the next two games.
J.P. Arencibia got us all the runs we needed on one swing. Home run number 17 for JP. Streak hitters are fun, when there are going wel. Edwin Encarnacion had a great day at the plate, 2 for 2, double and 2 walks. Glad to see him taking walks again, as well as hitting doubles. Aaron Hill was 1 for 3 with a walk and Travis Snider also was 1 for 3.
Jays of the Day are Cecil (.293 WPA) and JP (.225). I'm tempted to give one to Edwin too (.076) but I won't. Thames gets the Suckage for an 0 for 4 and -.121. He also took his time fielding a Michael Young hit, allowing Young to turn a single into a double.
The top of our order had a rough day. Escobar, Rasmus, Bautista and Lind went 0 for 15 with a walk. We only got 4 hits in 5.1 innings against Alexi Ogando, but we made him work and beat him for the second time in a week.
A big play came in the top of the 6th, Josh Hamilton and Michael Young started the inning with a single each, then Endy Chavez bunted. Cecil got on the ball quick and made a great throw to Jose at 3rd to get the lead runner. Then a pop up and a ground out got him out of the inning.
Tomorrow we have a 1:00 Eastern start. Brad Mills gets his first major league start of the year. Derek Holland (9-4, 4.43) goes for the Rangers. We are just 1 game back of the Rays, who are playing the Mariners right now, with Eric Beddard pitching.