Good Days For Some Jays, Bad Day For Rajai

Toronto Blue Jays 8 Seattle Mariners 3

It was a game of surprises today. The Jays faced Felix Hernandez and it looked like the Mariners were going to sweep the Jays and yet they did not. It all started when Adam Lind (not a typo) took Felix down the RF line for a two run homer with two out in the 1st inning.

Unfortunately, Rajai Davis gave it all back in the top of the 2nd inning when with two out and Mariners on 2nd and 3rd as he charged in for a ball that would have been caught if he had gone back two steps instead two steps in. It sailed over his head. I heard that play on the car radio and yelled many many words that started with F. The Jays had a chance to take the lead again in the 3rd, but Felix struck out Lind and Escobar to end that rally.

Henderson was his usual low K, low BB and many grounders self today. He didn't lose his cool and kept the Jays tied with the Mariners till the 4th. The Jays started a rally, but it was nearly snuffed out by Rajai Davis not once but twice. He overran the 1st base bag on an IF hit and was caught in a rundown, but thanks to some Mariners sloppy D, Rajai survived long enough to steal 2B. Jeff Mathis laid down a beautiful bunt single, but Rajai blundered too far off the bag at 3B and was thrown out. This hurt even more when the much improved Anthony Gose doubled putting Mathis at 3rd. Felix put an 0-2 count on Brett Lawrie and Brett lined a single up the middle for 2 RBIs. The King walked Colby Rasmus and then had to face Edwin Encarnacion. Pat and Buck mentioned EE's then 39HR and 99 RBIs and how close he was to 40/100. EE did not disappoint as he launched a long 3run HR off a hanging changeup from Felix to Left Centre.

After that Jeff Mathis would drive in the 8th and final run for Toronto in the 5th inning while Dustin Ackley homered off Henderson in the 7th inning to complete the scoring.

Henderson pitched 7 innings, gave up 5 hits, 3 earned runs and 3 walks while striking out 3. Brad Lincoln and Aaron Loup pitched one inning each. Felix threw 4 great innings (if you're a Jays fan) giving up 10 hits, 7 earned runs, walked one and struck out four.

Of the Jays batters, Jeff Mathis (!!) got four hits and every starter except Yunel got at least one hit.

Of note, Pitching Coach Bruce Walton was bruised by EE's broken bat while in the dugout.

Jays of the Day based on WPA from Fangraphs: Lawrie (.143), Lind (.122) and Edwin (.178)

No Suckage Jays of the Day.

Next game is with the Bobby V led BoSox tomorrow. Dice-K vs Aaron Laffey at 7:07pm.