Anthony Gose Homers and Drives in 5: Jays Beat Red Sox

Blue Jays 9 Red Sox 2

Terrific game for Anthony Gose. His first home run, not a cheapy, and 5 RBI. And one tremendous catch in right field, right near the fence on a ball that looked to be going out of play. He also stole a base and got a cat down out of a tree. Just a wonderful game for him. Now please can we play him everyday?

His wasn't the only good game for the Jays. Yunel Escobar hit a solo homer (boy, it got out of there quick, line drive over the monster). Adeiny Hechavarria had a double and a walk, plus some nice plays at third. Colby Rasmus was 2 for 5, with a brain cramp getting him doubled off first (running like there were 2 outs, when there was just one), but he also showed some nice base running later, going first to third on a soft single. Adam Lind had 2 hits. The only 0 for was Rajai Davis, but he got an RBI.

Aaron Laffey looked good for 4 innings. Then the rain came. Amazingly (stupidly?) Farrell didn't take him out of the game after the first rain delay. We needed a quick bottom of the 5th because more rain was coming. Aaron didn't give us a quick inning. He gave up a walk and 2 singles, allowing a run before getting his first out. Actually first two outs, Jose Iglesias popped one just behind first, and for some reason the runner on first left the bag. Adam Lind caught the ball and quickly tagged the bag, with his glove, to get the double play. Then another single, scored another run. After that the rains came again, and the game was suspended before we could get out of the 5th to make it an official game.

Farrell really wanted Laffey to get the W. I hate managing like that. I want the manager not to care who gets the win or save, I only want him to care about us getting the win. We were lucky the game wasn't called there.

After an hour, play started again and Brad Lincoln got the last out of the 5th. He pitched 2 more scoreless innings. I think that's the best I've seen Lincoln pitch. 2.1, 0 hits, 0 walks, 3 strikeouts.

Brett Cecil started the 8th, got 2 outs, allowing 1 hit. Jason Frasor came on (as if the 2 rain delays didn't make the game long enough) and pitched the last 1.1, allowing 1 hit with 2 strikeouts. Good job in his first time back after the injury.

Jay of the Day by the numbers is Lincoln (.160 WPA). I'm also giving one to Adeiny (.091, plus good defense) and Gose (.047, we were up by 4 when he homered). Honorable mention to Laffey and Escobar. No suckage Jays. Davis had the low mark at -.039.

Daisuke Matsuzaka looked terrible and only lasted 1.1 against us, when normally he has such an easy time with the Jays. I'm thinking that Bobby Valentine isn't the only one that has 'mentally checked out'.

We aren't last anymore. Yay. Tomorrow we go for the sweep behind Carlos Villanueva (7-5, 3.42). Carlos is coming off his worst start of the season, allowing the Orioles to score 6 runs against him. He'll be wanting to make up for that. Clay Buchholz (11-5, 4.47) starts for the Red Sox. Clay leads the Red Sox in wins but he's lost his last 3 starts in a row, giving up 14 runs in 19.1 innings.

That was one long evening of baseball, 2:55 of game and 2:03 of rain delay. Congratulations to all that made it til the finish.