Blue Jays Update: August 19th 2009

August 18th Game Complete

Boston Red Sox 10 (W 67-51)
Toronto Blue Jays 9 (L 55-62)

Hideki Okajima (W, 4-0)
Casey Janssen (L, 2-4)
Jonathan Papelbon (SV, 29)

Game Notes:

In a matchup of American East division rivals, the offense of both teams took over, as Boston came out on top of the Blue Jays 10-9, in their series opening contest at the Rogers Centre.

The Blue Jays would not give up in this game, as they were behind by as many as four runs in the contest. The Jays kept coming back and eventually tied the game at seven in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Runs were scored by either team in all but three innings (1st, 7th, 9th) and the long ball was present for both squads as the teams combined to hit six home runs.

Some viewers of the action would say that Casey Janssen's poor throwing attempt to first (which sailed wide) after bobbling an Alex Gonzalez bunt in the eighth was the defining moment in this game, as the throwing error allowed Boston to break open a 7-7 tie.

Every player for both teams in the game, aside from John McDonald (who came into the game to pinch run) recorded a hit.

Randy Ruiz hit his third home run in only his sixth game as a Blue Jays.

Travis Snider made his return to the Blue Jays in right field and had a great game offensively. Snider will remain with the Blue Jays for the rest of the season.

Marco Scutaro, 1-5, 2RBI
Aaron Hill, 2-4, 1 double, 1 run scored, 1BB
Randy Ruiz, 1-4, 1HR, 1RBI, 2 runs scored, 1BB
Rod Barajas, 2-5, 1HR, 2RBI, 2 runs scored
Travis Snider, 2-3, 1HR, 1RBI, 2 runs scored, 1BB

Final starting pitching lines for the game:

Ricky Romero - 3.2IP, 8H, 6R, 5ER, 3BB, 2K
Josh Beckett - 5.1IP, 9H, 7R, 7ER, 1BB, 4K


Blue Jays News:

As mentioned above, Travis Snider was called up from Triple A Las Vegas for yesterday's game and low and behold Joe Inglett makes yet another return to the minor leagues.

Other Baseball News:

In case you have not heard, Stephen Strasburg set a record two nights ago by signing a record breaking contract (for a drafted player) with the Washington Nationals who drafted him first overall in the 2009 draft.

Strasburg has agreed to a record four-year, $15.1 million contract.

Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez is heading back to where his storied career began. Rodriguez was dealt from the Houston Astros to the Texas Rangers yesterday for minor league pitcher Matt Nevarez and two players to be named later.

Rodriguez will backup starting catcher Taylor Teagarden.

The Rangers were in desperate need of a backup catcher, after Jarrod Saltalamacchia went on the disbaled list last week.

John Smoltz was officially released by the Boston Red Sox on Monday and is all ready to move on to a new team.

Sources indicate that the St.Louis Cardinals are set to acquire Smoltz.

Smoltz reached a tentative agreement with the Cardinals as a free agent on Tuesday afternoon, says one source.

An announcement from Smoltz and the Cardinals is likely to come on Wednesday, after Smoltz clears trade waivers.

Finally, Texas Rangers pitcher Vicente Padilla was also released on Monday. Sources indicate that the Los Angeles Dodgers are interested in the pitcher.