Today in Jays history: Happ hit by line drive

Eight Years Ago Today

A line drive hit J.A. Happ off the bat of Demond Jennings of the Rays. It was very scary looking. I’ll post the video, but I wouldn’t blame you for not watching.

From the recap:

In the bottom of the inning, Happ allowed a Sean Rodriguez double and a James Loney single. Rodriguez was put out at the plate on a squeeze bunt, Edwin Encarnacion threw home late but the umpire felt that Rodriguez missed the plate. it looked like he was wrong to me, and to Joe Madden, who argued and was ejected. Then a Happ wild pitch scored one. Yunel Escobar followed with a single.

Then Desmond Jennings hit the line drive off Happ. The Rays scored 2 while Happ was on the ground. Not very sportsmanlike. You’d think they could stop the play so that Happ could have been seen to quicker.

I still think time should have been called right away. I’m all for erring on the side of making sure the players are ok.

The video:

He was hit above the left ear. There was some blood. He remained awake, was taken to hospital, and was admitted in “fair condition”, but the hospital upgraded him to “good” the next morning.

Happ went on the DL with a contusion, but he also hurt his knee while following, which kept him out of the lineup for a long time. He didn’t pitch again until August 7.

The Blue Jays ended up winning the game. We were down 3-1 when Happ left the game (in the second inning), and reliever Brad Lincoln allowed the inherited run to score, making it 4-1, but that was the last run that would score.

We scored 2 in the seventh, 1 in the eighth, and 2 in the ninth to win 6-4. From the recap:

Colby Rasmus hit a 2 run homer, in the 7th and it was 4-3.

In the 8th, back-to-back doubles by Jose Bautista and Melky Cabrera tied the game.

Then, in the 9, Maicer Izturis hit a solo home to give us the lead. Brett Lawrie singled, and Melky Cabrera doubled him home to get an insurance run. Great baserunning Brett. Edwin Encarnacion struck out, to end the inning and he wasn’t happy about it, managing to get himself ejected.

Our bullpen did a great job, throwing 7.2 innings scoreless innings. Well, Brad Lincoln did give up a single that allowed a run, but that was charged to Happ. Lincoln pitched 2.1, 3 hits, 1 walk, 1 k. Aaron Loup 2.1, 1 hit, 1 k. Steve Delabar 2.0, 1 hit, 1 walk. And Casey Janssen 1.0, 1 k, getting his 9th save. Casey has been great.

Jays of the Day: Izturis (.368 WPA), Cabrera (.350), Delabar (.128) and Bautista (.117).

Suckage: JP had a rough night at the plate, 0 for 4, 3 k for a -.162, but I’d imagine he must have been shaken by what happened to Happ. JA also had the suckage number but I’m not giving him one after that.