Lost That By About An Inch: Jays Lose To Brewers

Blue Jays 6 Brewers 7

The game was lost on a ball that was originally called foul but, upon review, was called fair. It was the right call, but it still hurt.

Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista hit massive shots that needed no review. Edwin homer hit the slide Billy Brewer uses up high, beyond the left field wall. It was estimated at 463 feet. Jose's wasn't hit quite as far, but then it was a 3 run shot that tied the game.

Henderson Alvarez had a terrible day. 4 innings, 11 hits, 6 earned, 2 walks with 1 k. Everything he threw was hit hard. If we didn't have 3 starters injured, his spot in the rotation might be in trouble. He has a 6.30 ERA in his last 5 starts. But then we need someone that pitch us some innings and he's the guy elected.

Bullpen management was, yet again, something that we could discuss. Aaron Laffey came into the game to start the 5th and pitched 1.2 innings. He faced 5 batters, got 5 outs, threw 16 pitches and then was pulled so that Robert Coello could face Ryan Braun. Farrell made it a double switch, putting Yan Gomes into the game behind the plate. It's nice having 3 catchers on the active roster. And,also, nice to have a manager that understands how to do a double switch.

Coello got Braun to end the inning. We tied the game in the top of the 7th. Coello started the bottom of the inning giving up the reviewed home run, the ball just hitting the foul line on the fence. He was a bit unlucky there. He then got two quick outs and Farrell brought Darren Oliver into the game to face the lefty George Kottaras. The Brewers pinch hit with RHB Martin Maldonado. Oliver got him to ground out on the first pitch and then was removed for a pinch hitter in the top of the 8th. I really figured Coello could have been allowed to pitch to the .227 hitting Kottaras, which would have saved us a pitcher, in what was a 1 run game.

It didn't really matter, Francisco Cordero allowed a bunt single (with the runner going to 2nd on a throwing error by Brett Lawrie. Bad idea to throw that Brett, there was no chance to get the runner) and a walk, but pitched out of the inning without allowing a run. But we couldn't score the tying run so we didn't need to worry about having saving pitchers for possible extra innings.

Brett Lawrie started off the game with a home run and later hit a double, he scored 3 runs. It's nice to see him driving the ball again. Omar Vizquel was the only other Jay with 2 hits.

The Jay of the Day was Jose (.351 WPA). Suckage Jays are Alvarez (-.389), Coello (-.172, though if that homer hit the wall another inch to the left, his number would have been a positive), Yunel Escobar (-.119, 0 for 4) and Yan Gomes (-.109, 0 for 2, with a k).