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I like beating the Red Sox as much as I like beating the Yankees. Spring, summer, fall, doesn't matter, I like when they lose.
I figured that, since the Jays announced that Aaron Sanchez would be in the rotation, just this morning, that he would have a bad start today to make us all worry. I was wrong. He had a pretty nice start. 5.1 innings, 4 hits, 1 walk, 1 hit batter, 3 strikeouts, 3 earned. He's the first Jays starter to reach the 6th inning.
He did run into a little trouble in the 3rd. He hit Jemile Weeks, then Jackie Bradley singled (in front of left fielder Dayan Viciedo). A ground out moved up the runners. Then Weeks scored on a fielder's choice, a ground ball hit to Danny Valencia, who tried to get the runner going home, but was too slow with the throw. I'd much rather he would have taken the easy out at first. Instead of 2 outs and a runner at third, we had 1 out and runners on the corners. Another ground ball to Valencia scored the Red Sox second run. In the 6th, Aaron gave up a leadoff double to Nava, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a fly out.
Other pitchers:
- Bo Schultz gave up a single in his 1.2.
- Todd Redmond gave up 2 singles and had a strikeout in his inning.
- Chad Jenkins gave up a double and had a strikeout in his inning.
On offense, we had 10 hits. Home runs from Jose Bautista and Danny Valencia. Devon Travis had 2 doubles and Caleb Gindl had 1.
- Jose Reyes: 0 for 3. .375.
- Russell Martin: 0 for 3, walk. .182.
- Bautista: 1 for 3, home run. .316.
- Josh Donaldson: 2 for 3, strikeout. .346.
- Valencia: 1 for 4, home runs. .286.
- Dayan Viciedo: 1 for 4, 2 strikeouts. .304.
- Steve Tolleson: 0 for 3, strikeout. .217.
- Dalton Pompey: 2 for 3, one a nice bunt single, strikeout and a steal..303.
- Travis: 2 for 2, 2 doubles, walk. .344. He may be winning the second base job.
I think I'll get the JoD to Travis. After starting spring 0 for the first 5 games, he's really come on with the bat. Kind of what you'd like to see, improvement as spring goes on.
Tomorrow the Jays travel to Charlotte Sports Park, to play the Rays. I'm guessing few of the regulars will make the trip. Daniel Norris gets the start. If all these rookies make the team, Zaun will have a fit. He is likely to get the 5th spot in the rotation, if he continues to show well this spring. It is only on MLB Audio.