Blue Jays Finish The Sweep In Style

Blue Jays 15 Red Sox 7

Right from the first pitch (a Brett Lawrrie home run) this was a fun game, if too long. Much too long. I almost felt like there should be a mercy rule, at least for those of us watching it all.

On office we had 18 hits (4 of them home runs) and 5 walks. Everyone in the lineup, and pinch hitter Adam Lind, had at least 1 hit. We'll just list them off:

• Brett Lawrie: 2 for 5, 3 runs, home run, walk, RBI.
• Yunel Escobar: 3 for4, 2 runs, walk.
• Colby Rasmus: 2 for 6, 2 runs, 2 RBI. Nice bunt single in the first.
• Edwin Encarnacion: 1 for 2, 2 runs, 2 RBI, 2 walks, double, sac fly.
• J.P. Arencibia: 1 for 4, 1 run, home run, 4 RBI.
• Adam Lind: 1 for 1, pinch hit single.
• Rajai Davis: 3 for 4, 3 runs, home run,double, 2 RBI, walk. He did lose a fly ball in the sun, but we'll forgive.
• Travis Snider: 2 for 4, home run (to dead center field off the lefty Lester), run, 3 RBI. He also made some nice plays on balls off the 'monster'.
• Jeff Mathis: 1 for 4, RBI. Good thing he was there to end a couple of innings. We'd still be watching.
• Omar Vizquel: 2 for 5, run.

Henderson Alvarez wasn't great (or even good) but he didn't have to be. He gave up a 3 run homer in the first, on a terrible pitch, but then the 2 runners that were on both hit very soft ground ball singles. Jacoby Ellsbury was just safe on an infield single, to start things off, Yunel was probably playing too far back on the play. He gave up 1 more in each of the 4th and the 5th (the latter a Ellsbury home run). In the 6th, Alvarez got 2 quick outs, then an easy fly ball to right center that Rajai lost in the sun, turned into a double. Rajai likely should have yelled to Rasmus that he lost it, Colby could have made the play. A run scoring double later, Henderson was out of the game. Chad Beck came in and gave up a run scoring single. Farrell took him out, I thought John could have shown a little more patience, we were up by 4. But lefty Aaron Loup got lefty batter Jacoby Ellsbury to ground out. with the help of a nice play by Edwin.

Loup pitched a perfect 2.1 innings. Drew Carpenter (saved from being DFAed by Jason Frasor's injury) had a 1, 2, 3 9th.

Jays of the Day are JP (.157 WPA), Edwin (.119 WPA), Rajai (.106) and Brett (.104). Give an honorable mention the Travis, Yunel and Colby. The only batter with a negative WPA was Vizquel (-.014). Henderson got the Suckage number at -.114.

It is very nice to be on the good side of a sweep, after a lousy series against the Yankees. The win jumps us over the Red Sox, putting us out of last place. With Tampa Bay's loss we are only a half game behind them.

Tomorrow the Jays have a well earned off day, then the Oakland A's come to town.

There are very few things in life better than a sweep of the Red Sox. Thanks Jays. Also thank you to Bobby Valentine for leaving Jon Lester out there for 4 innnigs and 11 earned runs. The Red Sox couldn't have hired a better manager, from my point of view.