Game 111 – Umpire Conference

I wouldn’t say the start was quite as bad as the line looks for Purcey. His control was a problem as he walked 2 and hit 2 batters and he gave up too many long balls. Purcey only gave up 3 hits through his 5 innings but all 3 were HR’s and 1 came after a walk, another after a bean ball leading to 5 runs.

The Jays staked Purcey to a 4 run lead heading into the bottom of the 4th, but once again the Jays let an early lead slip away here in TEX. Unlike on Fri where the Jays offence at least threatened after TEX caught up and eventually retook the lead (only to again blow it) tonight they did very little after the 1st. They scored 3 runs in the 1st on 3 hits and a walk. They picked up just 4 hits the rest of the way, 2 of which led off the 4th and led to their other run. The Jays were retired 1-2-3 in 5 of the innings. They finished the game going 2 for 10 w/RISP (both hits came in the 1st inning).

The Jays bullpen had a bit of a rough outing as Camp and Carlson combined to give up 3 runs in the 8th before Frasor came in to get the last out. It may not have mattered but it at least would have made the 9th more interesting if the Jays were still down just 1, especially since Mench got a 1-out 2B. Of course the Jays didn’t cash him anyway, and the Rangers probably would have had Wilson in to start the inning rather than Guardado had it been just a 1-run game.

I was pretty upset that the umps ruled that the pitch in the 5th inning hit Metcalf. The initial call by the HP ump was that it didn’t hit him, but after all the umps got together the call was changed. It was pretty hard to tell from where I was sitting whether it just hit the dirt or it hit Metcalf, but I don’t think that is a call that should be getting overturned. I think the HP umpire has the best view of the batter’s feet so there is no need to even get together w/the other umps, how could any of them have seen it any better.

Laird certainly had himself a nice game w/a pair of 2-run HR’s. They weren’t exactly cheap ones either as they both went out to right-centre field. Although Hamilton didn’t record any hits he still got on base 3 times due to 2 walks and a HBP. Kinsler’s tough series continued as he finished 1 for 13.

Checking the stats:
Adv: Scutaro (2)
P-Adv: Mendoza
NAdv: Murphy
P-NAdv: Carlson (3)
WG: Inglett (1), Davis