Both starters got bombed last night in an orgy of hitting at the Rogers Centre. The Jays came out on top, defeating the Texas Rangers 16 to 10 in a three-and-a-half hour magnum opus.
Anonymous sources from both clubhouses revealed shaken and terrified pitchers: Toronto starter Brett Cecil was seen rocking and sobbing at his locker after his short stay at the mound, mumbling about "the horror", while Rangers starter Rich Harden was slightly less melodramatic, merely quoting a passage from "Bull Durham" about how his pitches were like throwing gasoline on a fire: "boom ... boom ... boom!". In 2.2 innings Harden gave up seven runs, all earned, four hits including two homers, and six walks.
Texas reliever Doug Mathis' reaction was was perhaps more disturbing than anyone's to the events of last night's game. He was quoted as saying to a locker room attendent "I seen me some things before in my life, but ... " trailing off as he welled up, and simply shook his head while he stared off far into the distance at some unimaginable remembered trauma. Mathis gave up eight runs, all earned, seven hits including three homers, and two walks last night to Jays hitters in a mere one-and-one third innings while getting tagged for the loss. Blue Jays pitcher Josh Roenicke got (earned would be too strong a description) the win last night by simply being in the right place at the right time, and by-and-large avoiding the carnage.
Every Jays starting position player got a hit in the game, as did six of the nine Ranger starters. Notably, much anticipated and talked about Ranger rookie first baseman Justin Smoak had an ohfer in the game, unable to get a place at the table for the all-you-can-hit buffet. His BA dropped to .186.
Lyle Overbay had a much needed perfect evening, going three for three with two walks, including a homer and a two-RBI double.
Lyle Overbay's Jimmy-Jack. Naysayers like The Baseball Critic are as yet unmoved.
Travis Snider dodging Cito's aggressive-hacktastic-zombie hoard. He's seen here in the midst of an 11 pitch plate appearance, trying to avoid infection by the Cito-Virus despite having to live among the hoard in the dugout.
The retractable feast continues (although as I look out my window the roof is still closed for now) this afternoon at the Rogers Centre for game two of the Rangers-Blue Jays weekend series.
James Ireland
www.jamesireland.ca
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Location:Fleet St,Toronto,Canada
