:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/7227529/145600616.jpg)
Well if it isn't one thing it seems to be another. Today the Jays defense just did awful and it the Jays in a big hole early from which they weren't able to recover. There were several errors made even though there was just two credited on the boxscore. Early in the game when the score was still 2-0 in the top of the second Daneil Nava hit a soft liner into CF. Colby Rasmus looked like he a beat on the ball but it knuckled on him at the last second. The dropped ball let 2 score and put hte Jays down 4-0 after just two innings. The ball was ruled a hit by the official score but I think it's one that Colby probably should have had, and I'm sure he would say the same thing too.
The two errors that were credited went to Drabek on a pickoff and a throwing error to Jose Bautista on a Kevin Youkillis double that allowed him to advance to third and eventually score the Red Sox 5th run. It was actually a good throw and it seems unfair to foot Bautista with the error but that really is the way things work. It was a good throw that Yunel Escobar should have had at 2nd base but let it get past him. Compounding the error was the fact that neither Brett Lawrie or Kyle Drabek backed up the play which let the ball roll all the way to the Jays dugout.
In the 8th the Jays looked like they might put something together. They had a couple of runners one when Ryan Sweeney in RF for the Red Sox had a brain cramp and threw a ball straight into the turf. It looked like he couldn't make up his mind which infielder he wanted to throw to. This allowed the runners to advance and gave the Jays another run (great call by Brian Butterfield to send Encarnacion home). Brett Lawrie then proceeded to get thrown out trying to steal 3rd base to end the rally. Come on Brett, you were already in scoring position. Just a bad idea.
On the mound Drabek went 6.1IP with 6Hs 5Rs (4ER) with 4BBs and 4Ks. He wasn't spectacular but he was certainly better then the line would indicate. From that point Farrell started to mix in relievers. Jason Frasor came on to get one out via the strikeout to finish the 7th. Darren Oliver got an out but along the way gave up a BB and a hit with a run ultimately credited to him. Cordero ended up closing out the inning getting 2 outs around a walk. Carlos Villaneuva came out to pitch the 9th and immediately gave up Nick Punto's 1st home of the season (15th of his career). Next up a Hit by Pitch before getting out of the inning without any further damage. Going into the season I was a big fan of Villaneuva (as a reliever) but he has simply looked awful this year.
On the hitting side of the ledger the Jays were also helped out by a couple errors on the Red Sox side (Maybe there was something in the air). Jose Bautista and Jeff Mathis both hit solo homers, although Bautista's line drive home run was much more impressive compared to Mathis who bounced off the top of the wall. All looks the same on the scoresheet though. Kelly Johnson, Edwin Encarnacion and Jeff Mathis had 2 hits apiece with Escobar and Bautista each with one.
All in all, a pretty miserable game to watch. The Jays are now last in the AL East even though they are a game over 500 at 27-26. They are a full game behind the Red Sox for 4th and 3.5 games back of the 1st place Rays. They aren't out of it by any means but things aren't getting any easier.
A great crowd at the dome today with over 43K showing up giving the Jays the second highest attendance of the season. The more cynical among us would claim that this is mostly Red Sox fans making a trip and while I can't deny there are quite a few that come up to Toronto, I think his numbers may be a bit off.
No one had the Jay of the Day numbers. Rajai Davis, Colby Rasmus and Kyle Drabek had the suckage numbers. I'm going to go ahead and throw one at Brett Lawrie too. Simply for the boneheaded play of making the last out at third as well as not backing up the Jose Bautista throw in the second.
Tomorrow the Jays try to close out the series and salvage a win. Game time is 1:07 Daniel Barb (5-5 4.56 ERA) takes on Drew Hutchinson (4-2 4.84 ERA).