Blue Jays Update - July 24th - 26th 2009

Since I gave myself the weekend off, as far as writing articles is concerned, I have combined the entire Toronto - Tampa weekend series from this past weekend into one Blue Jays Update for everyone. Starting from the top with the July 24th game and ending at the bottom with the July 26th game.


July 24th Game Complete

Tampa Bay Rays 4 (W 53-44)
Toronto Blue Jays 2 (L 47-50)
10 innings

Matt Garza (W, 7-7)
Scott Downs (L, 1-2)
JP Howell (SV, 11)

Game Notes:

Roy Halladay technically pitched another complete game on Friday (9IP, 4H, 2R, 1ER, 3BB, 10K) and was extremely effective striking out 10 Tampa hitters.

Tampa starter Matt Garza matched Halladay pitch for pitch. Garza's final pitching line: 9IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 9K

Blue Jays closer Scott Downs lost the game in the top of the tenth inning, giving up a two run bloop double to Tampa's Evan Longoria.

When the ball hit off Longoria's bat, it looked as if Toronto left fielder and new callup Joe Inglett was going to make the catch. Inglett made a diving attempt, but came up short.

Aaron Hill, 1-4, 1RBI, 1 double
Marco Scutaro, 1-4, 1RBI, 1 run scored

Evan Longoria, 1-2, 3RBI, 1 double, 2BB
BJ Upton, 1-5, 2 runs scored

Blue Jays News:

As stated above, Joe Inglett was called up from Triple A Las Vegas, and David Dellucci was sent back down.

Toronto RHP Casey Janssen (shoulder) returned from a rehab assignment and was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas.

July 25th Game Complete

Tampa Bay Rays 10(W 54-44)
Toronto Blue Jays 9 (L 47-51)
12 innings

JP Howell (W, 6-2)
Shawn Camp (L, 0-5)
Joe Nelson (SV, 3)

Game Notes:

The Blue Jays blew an 8-0 lead and played the three most embarrassing innings of this season in the 7th, 8th and 9th innings.

Blue Jays closer Scott Downs blew his second save in 2 days. Downs came into the ninth inning with a 9-7 lead and gave up solo home runs to both Carlos Pena and Willy Aybar.

Tampa starting pitcher David Price was hit in his pitching hand by a line drive from Scott Rolen in the first inning.

Marco Scutaro, 3-6, 2 runs scored, 1BB
Aaron Hill, 3-6, 2HR, 3RBI, 2 runs scored, 1BB
Alex Rios, 2-5, 1HR, 2RBI, 1 runs scored, 1BB
Jose Bautista, 3-4, 1HR, 1RBI, 1 run scored, 1BB

Carlos Pena, 2-6, 1HR, 4RBI, 1 triple, 2 runs scored
Ben Zobrist, 3-5, 1 double, 3 runs scored, 1BB
BJ Upton, 3-6, 1 double, 1RBI

Final Starting Pitching Lines:

Brian Tallet (TOR) - 6IP, 7H, 5R, 5ER, 1BB, 2K
David Price (TAM) - 3.0IP, 9H, 6R, 6ER, 1K

July 26th Game Complete

Toronto Blue Jays 5 (L 48-51)
Tampa Bay Rays 4 (W 54-45)

Brett Cecil (W, 4-1)
Jeff Niemann (L, 9-5)


Game Notes:

Blue Jays starter and rookie Brett Cecil pitched a gem. Cecil's final pitching line: 7IP, 4H, 1R, 1ER, 3BB, 7K.

Scott Rolen had the big hit of the game for Toronto, with a three run home run in the bottom of the 4th inning.

Brandon League and Jason Frasor pitched scoreless 8th and 9th innings to secure Toronto's first win of the series.

Scott Rolen, 2-4, 1HR, 3RBI, 1 run scored
Adam Lind, 2-3, 1 double, 2 runs scored, 1BB
Lyle Overbay, 2-4, 1 double, 1 run scored

Evan Longoria, 2-3, 1 double, 1BB

Blue Jays News:

Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston is considering using a six-man starting rotation over the final two months of the season, in an effort to limit the innings of rookies Brett Cecil, Scott Richmond and Marc Rzepczynski.

The Jays seventh annual Dog Day promotion attracted 324 dogs and their owners to the game Sunday.

Other Baseball News:

Ricky Henderson, Jim Rice and the late Joe Gordon were inducted into the baseball hall of fame yesterday afternoon.

Congratulations goes out to all three gentleman on thier new accomplishments.

Congrats!