Blue Jays 6 Rays 7 (12 innings)
That was just awful.
Jon Rauch has been just awful as closer. 9 home runs given up in 45 innings? 3 blown saves in his last 4 chances. Not that Shawn Camp is throwing any better. Camp came in with a runner on second and 1 out, with the 1 run lead in the 11th. Got an out then gave up a single and double. After an intentional walk to Johnny Damon to load the bases, Evan Longoria hit one hard up the middle, Shawn kicked at it and it went to Jose Bautista, who threw to first just in time to get Longoria. If Evan didn't dive into first he would have been safe and the game would have ended there. It would have been merciful.
Then in the 12th B.J. Upton bloops one down the first base line and runs out a triple. We intentionally walk two to load the bases. Why? Because Camp needs no room for error. Camp gets a strikeout then Robinson Chirinos grounds one just out of Escobar's reach and we are put out of our misery. I hate intentional walks to load the bases.
Rauch's line 1.1 innings, 3 hits, 3 earned, 1 k, 1 home run. Camp 1.1 inning, 4 hits, 1 earned, 3 intentional walks, 1 k.
Brett Cecil had a pretty good start, the Longoria 3 run homer in the 5th was the bad mark against him.Other than that he had 5 scoreless innings. In total, 6 innings, 4 hits, 3 walks, 4 k.
Casey Janssen pitched 2 perfect innings, with 3 k. Frankie Frank gave up a single in his inning but didn't allow a run. Let's put Frankie back in the closer spot.
On offense? We got 2 runs in the first, after loading the bases with no outs. We should have had more. Jose Bautista hit a solo homer in the 8th to tie the game. Colby Rasmus had a opposite field double to give us a 1 run lead in the 10th. Jose Molina hit a 2 run triple (!) in the 11th, to give us another lead.
Adam Lind was 3 for 6, and was hitting the ball hard all day. I'm hoping his slump is over. Rasmus was 2 for 6. Yunel Escobar 1 for 4, 2 walks. Bautista 1 for 4, homer, 2 walks.
Jays of the Day are Molina (.429 WPA), Rasmus (.383), Bautista (.220), Janssen (.138) and Frankie (.127). Suckage numbers go to Camp (-.608), Rauch (-.504), Snider (-.299, bye Travis), Thames (-.192), Cecil (-.161), EE (-.192) and Davis (-.098, for tripping and getting picked off of first, dive back Rajai).
Tomorrow we start 3 games with the Orioles. Brad Mills gets his second start of the year, with the Jay. New Orioles pitcher Tommy Hunter (1-1, 3.31) makes his first start of the year.