Great Comeback Win For The Blue Jays Over The Red Sox

Blue Jays 7 Red Sox 3

The only thing better than a win over the Red Sox is a come from behind win over the Red Sox.

We were down 3-0 after two. Carlos Villanueva had a tough 2nd inning giving up a Adrian Gonzalez single, Cody Ross double and a Jarrod Saltalamacchia home run, before get his first out. But he would only give up 1 more hitni his 6/1 innings. It would be pretty tough to take him out of the rotation right now.

Both of our newly acquired pitchers got into the game. Nice to be able to use them right away. J.A. Happ (how long will it take me to remember the order of his initials?) finished off the 7th inning, after Farrell left Carlos in for the first hitter, a right-hander. Happ got 2 quick ground outs, I figured he'd get the 8th inning too, since he only threw 5 pitches but Farrell is a creature of habit and he used Darren Oliver for the 8th. Oliver gave up just a single in his quick inning. Thankfully we got a run in the top of the 9th, so it wasn't a save situation, and Farrell could use Brandon Lyon to pitch the bottom of the inning. He had a perfect 9th, only throwing 11 pitches. Managers really shouldn't be slaves to stats but such is life.

Our comeback started slowly. We loaded the bases in the 3rd, with no outs, but Anthony Gose struck out. Brett Lawrie hit a hard line out, but deep enough to right to score Kelly Johnson. Then Colby Rasmus flied out.

In the 6th Edwin Encarnacion hit a 2-run home to tie the game.

Our 7th started out with a J.P. Arencibia home run. Yunel Escobar reached on a Will Middlebrooks error. Then, with 2 outs and a lefty reliever in,. Farrell pinch hit Rajai Davis for Gose. Smart move John. Rajai did a great job, taking a walk. Then Yunel and Rajai pulled off a double steal. Super job. That allow both to score on Lawrie's single, putting us up by 3.

We got one more fun in the 9th. Davis doubled, Brett moved him up on a sac bunt. Not thrilled with Lawrie bunting but ok. Then Davis scored on a ground ball to Dustin Pedroia, even with the infield in. Speed is good.

Jays of the Day are Edwin (.197 WPA, 2-run home and 2 walks), JP (.139) and Bret (.126, 1 for 3, 3 RBI). So nice to have Brett back in the lineup. Honorable mention to Carlos (another really good start again for the guy I didn't want to see in the rotation this year) and Rajai. Suckage goes to Anthony Gose (-.127, 0 for 3, k) and Adam Lind (-.100 for 5 and a strikeout with the bases loaded. It was against a lefty, so I won't complain too much).

The battle to stay with the team, after Jose Bautista comes off the DL seems to be in Travis' favor at the moment. Gose was 0 for 3 today. He's only had 1 hit in 11 at bats so far, the bunt single the Yankee pitcher misplayed. Gose also has 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. Travis was 1 for 4 today, with 2 strikeouts. One of the k's came on a pitch that had to be 8 inches off the plate. He is 2 for 8, with a double, a walk and 3 strikeouts.

Travis also made what must be the best catch we have seen from a left fielder this season. With 1 out in the 9th, he came out of no where to make a diving catch on a Saltalamacchia line drive to shallow left center. It was a good time to go for a diving catch, up by 4 in the 9th. If you miss it and it is a triple, or worse, well the other team still needs to do a lot to tie the game. You really wouldn't hurt your team's chances much.

I really like Davis as a 4th outfielder. It is good to have someone on the bench that can pinch run or pinch hit against a lefty. Farrell used him well tonight.

Tomorrow we go for the sweep with Henderson Alvarez (5-7, 4.29). Henderson's last start was pretty good, let's see him do it again tomorrow. Jon Lester (5-7, 4.80). Lester gave up 6 runs in 4 innings in his last start. He has a 6.14 ERA in his last 4 starts. Maybe we can lay another beating on him.