Blue Jays Update: August 6th 2009

August 5th Game Complete

New York Yankees 8 (W 65-42)
Toronto Blue Jays 4 (L 51-56)

Alfredo Aceves (W, 7-1)
Marc Rzepczynski (L, 1-3)


Game Notes:

The Toronto Blue Jays had the lead not once, but twice in their American League division matchup with the Yankees Wednesday night, but still managed to come out on the losing end of this game.

The Jays allowed a four run seventh inning, followed up by Yankee runs in the eighth and ninth innings to let this game slip out of their clutches.

Marc Rzepczynski pitched a solid game until the seventh, when he allowed a game tying home run to Nick Swisher and a double to Robinson Cano.

The double by Cano would prove to be the deciding run, as Cano came around to score on a Hideki Matsui single later in the inning.

Both Adam Lind and Marco Scutaro homered for the Jays, but it was not nearly enough to overpower a strong offensive performance by the American League East leading Yankees.

Newly acquired Blue Jays reliever Josh Roenicke had a terrible performance in his second appearance in a Jays uniform. Roenicke pitched one inning, allowing three hits, two runs, two earned runs, walking two and striking out two.

Aaron Hill had an 0 for 5 night, striking out three times to end a thirteen game hitting streak.

Marco Scutaro, 2-5, 1HR, 1RBI, 1 run scored
Adam Lind, 2-5, 1HR, 1RBI, 2 runs scored
Lyle Overbay, 2-3, 1 run scored, 1BB
Alex Rios, 2-4, 1RBI

Johnny Damon, 3-5, 1HR, 3RBI, 1 run scored
Nick Swisher, 2-5, 1HR, 1RBI, 1 run scored
Robinson Cano, 2-4, 2 doubles, 2 runs scored

Final starting pitching lines for the game:

Marc Rzepczynski - 6IP, 5H, 4R, 4ER, 1BB, 7K
Sergio Mitre - 4.1IP, 8H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 3K

Blue Jays News:

Blue Jays fans are counting down the days until the Back2Back Blue Jays Reunion this Friday (the Jays have an off day Thursday).

Players from the 1992 & 1993 World Series champion Blue Jays will be in attendance for Friday's game against Baltimore, as they are honoured by the Rogers Centre and the city of Toronto.

Select players will be signing autographs on Friday before gametime, all details below:

Select alumni will be signing a limited number of autographs between 5:30 p.m.-6:15 p.m. @ the Rogers Centre Friday August 7th 2009. The alumni and autographs locations are below:

Sec 117 - Jack Morris/Pat Hentgen
Sec 127 - Woody Williams/Al Leiter/Todd Stottlemyre
Sec 207 - Paul Molitor/Rob Butler
Sec 513 - Joe Carter/Candy Maldonado
Sec 536 - Devon White/Pat Tabler

Other Baseball News:

Reported yesterday by Fox Sports, Prince Fielder of the Miwaukee Brewers made a scene Tuesday night after the Brewers were handed an embarrassing 17-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Fielder was hit by a pitch from Dodgers reliever Guillermo Mota in retaliation for the Brewers beaning Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez late in Tuesday night's game. Mota was ejected from the game and was sent to the Dodger clubhouse.

Fielder took off for the Dodgers' side of the stadium after the final out, shouting obscenities all the way to the clubhouse door.

Several teammates trailed behind Fielder, but Bill Hall, Casey McGehee and a security team blocked his way.

Fielder sarcastically replied to the media after the incident by saying:

"He came inside. It just got away from him,"

"It happens. That's baseball. He tried to come inside."

You can read the Fox Sports article here: http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9890828/Fielder-furious-with-Dodgers-P-after-L.A.-win

The Boston Red Sox, in need of more starting pitching for their playoff run, have signed free agent Paul Byrd to a minor league contract, according to sources.

Byrd has not pitched in the major leagues this season and will most likely not be ready for MLB action until at least September 1st.

Philadelphia Phillies left hander J.A. Happ struck out a career high ten hitters yesterday in a 7-0 Phillies win over the Colorado Rockies.