The Toronto Blue Jays had their final home series of the 2009 season begin last Thursday September 24th 2009 against the American League West division Seattle Mariners.
“King” Felix Hernandez, one of the most dominant starting pitchers in all of baseball this season took the mound for the visiting Mariners to compete against Toronto rookie Ricky Romero.
Romero struggled early, allowing three runs through the first three innings, which included a two run home run to deep centre off the bat of Mariners centre fielder Franklin Gutierrez.
Hernandez was outstanding for the Mariners, as he held the Toronto offense to no runs on three hits until the bottom of the sixth inning when Vernon Wells, who had been showered with boos from the fans after his first plate appearance, belted a three run home run into the left field stands to tie the game at three.
Romero departed the game after six and a third innings pitched, allowing three runs on nine hits, walking three and striking out five and passed the ball to the bullpen.
After Shawn Camp allowed no runs over two thirds of an inning, Toronto’s Jesse Carlson would be the costly reliever in this game, as Carlson would allow two runs on two hits, while walking one. The decisive blow would come off the bat of Seattle shortstop Josh Wilson who would triple home Adrian Beltre & Bill Hall.
The Jays would score one more run in the eighth inning, after Vernon Wells singled home Aaron Hill who hit his second double of the game, but that is as close as the Jays would get, as Seattle’s closer David Aardsma would shut down the Jays in the ninth inning for a 5-4 Mariners victory.
Another negative for the Blue Jays bullpen came at the hands of Jeremy Accardo who struggled in the top of the ninth inning allowing the bases to get loaded, but Accardo managed to get out of the inning after Canadian born Michael Saunders grounded into an inning ending double play. Accardo looked very shaky on the hill in relief.
Even though the Jays scored four runs, the team’s offense was ice cold as all seven hits in the ball game were recorded by Aaron Hill (2-4, 2 doubles), Adam Lind (1-4), Vernon Wells (2-4, 1HR, 4RBI) & John McDonald (2-4).
On Friday evening, Roy Halladay would make his final appearance on the season in front of Blue Jays fans at the Rogers Centre.
Halladay would not disappoint the home town faithful.
Halladay pitched his Major League leading eighth complete game of the season and his third shutout of the season as the Jays took game two of the four game series 5-0.
Halladay allowed seven hits across the nine innings, allowing no runs, walking none and striking out nine.
The Jays offense came alive in game two of the series as every player in the Jays lineup recorded a hit with Adam Lind being the exception.
Aaron Hill recorded his team leading 34th home run of the season picking up two runs batted in on the shot and Jose Bautista and Lyle Overbay each added RBI’s on the day.
Jose Lopez and Kenji Johjima were the only players on the Mariners to record more than one hit off Halladay as both players were 2-4 at the plate for the day.
In game three of the four game series things began to get more interesting in as Ichiro Suzuki earned his first career ejection.
The soft spoken Japanese outfielder took it upon himself to take offense to home plate umpire Brian Runge’s strike three call in the fifth inning. Suzuki proceeded to draw a line where he thought the pitch crossed the plate and was immediately tossed. The ejection was also the first of the season for the Seattle Mariners.
Ian Snell pitched a terrific game for the Mariners, allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits and two walks, while striking out seven over sixth and two thirds innings for the Mariners.
Snell left the game with a 4-2 Seattle lead, but would be awarded a no contest in this game as reliever Mark Lowe would allow a game tying two run home run to Adam Lind, a ball that just cleared the fence in left field as Lind showed his opposite field power.
After a scoreless ninth inning by both squads, extra innings were forced and Adam Lind came up big again in the bottom of the tenth inning smashing another opposite field shot to right off Mariners reliever Shawn Kelley for the game winning run.
What a game for Adam Lind as the Jays walked away victorious with a 5-4 victory.
Toronto starter David Purcey pitched a fairly decent game, allowing three earned runs on nine hits, while walking two and striking out four.
Jason Frasor picked up the win after pitching two late scoreless innings, striking out four batters for his seventh win of the season in a bullpen role.
Travis Snider had a very good day for Toronto reaching base three times, twice via the walk and once via a hit. Snider also recorded a run batted in on the day.
Franklin Gutierrez and Jose Lopez continued their fine series, each recording three hits on the day, one of which was a double off the bat of Gutierrez.
In the series finale on Sunday the Jays would play their final home game of the season in front of 39,052 screaming fans and the Jays would not disappoint.
The Blue Jays offense was hot again but would not conduct any of their run scoring business until late in the game, making a season finish for Toronto fans as exciting as they possible could.
After Toronto starter Brian Tallet allowed three solo home runs to Kenji Johjima, Matt Tuiasosopo & Franklin Gutierrez in the fifth inning it seemed as Seattle might walk away from Toronto with a series split.
The Jays would not let that happen.
The Jays scored five late inning runs off Seattle starter Ryan Rowland-Smith as they surged from behind for a 5-4 win.
The game winning hit came off the bat of Toronto catcher Rod Barajas as he doubled home Aaron Hill & Adam Lind (on board after a pinch hit single for Randy Ruiz) in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Shawn Camp pitched a scoreless ninth inning for a rare save as Brian Wolfe picked up the win for the Jays in relief.
Every player in the Jays lineup recorded a hit on the day, with the exception being third baseman Edwin Encarnacion.
It was another come from behind victory for a Blue Jays squad that has struggled mightily in close games all season, giving the Toronto fans some hope for next season as this year has been a major disappointment.
The Jays home season may be complete, but the rest of their season is still to come as they travel into Fenway Park tonight to do battle with the Boston Red Sox.
Toronto sends Scott Richmond to the mound to do battle with Boston ace Josh Beckett.
The Jays have a three game set in Boston which concludes Wednesday, an off day Thursday and finish out the season in Baltimore from Friday to Sunday.
Finally, the Blue Jays added another web chat to their lineup which was just recently announced.
On Thursday October 1st 2009, Blue Jays fans can chat with one of the greatest Blue Jays of all time in Devon White. White was famous in Toronto for his all out defensive performance and lead off ability in helping Toronto to their two championships in 1992 & 1993.
To chat with “Devo” please visit the following link:
http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/fan_forum/chat.jsp?c_id=tor
The chat is an early one and gets under way at 10:00am EST sharp.
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