Game 114 – Running the Catcher

Now that was more like it from Marcum. He goes 7 innings giving up just 3 hits and 2 walks resulting in one run. He even kept his pitch count down throwing just 89 pitches. For that reason I was surprised not to see Marcum come out to start the 8th and at least face the righty Crosby. At one point in the game Marcum struck out 5 straight batters.

I was also surprised to see Downs the one to come in. With a 4-run lead I don’t see the need to go to Downs when you only need 6 more outs. It is not like Downs needed the work as he just pitched 2 days ago. However, I guess part of the reason maybe the fact Downs was already warming to come in w/the game 3-1 but then the Jays added 2 on in the bottom of the 7th. So instead of trying to get another pitcher warm, Cito just let Downs go out there.

Making his MLB debut Gio Gonzalez settled in nicely after a rough 1st inning. It is a good team for Gonzalez to make his debut against given the Jays struggles against LH’s. Gonzalez gave up a 2B, BB, 3-run HR and then a 1B in the 1st. After the 1st Gonzalez didn’t give up another hit until the last batter he faced, a 1B to start the 7th.

Clearly John McDonald should not be trying to run over any catchers. As he hit Suzuki it was McDonald who went down harder while Suzuki barely moved. Granted w/2 outs there was no point getting in a run down and its not like he was going to be able to slide in safely, but if you are going to hit the catcher then you better put everything into it and make sure he is the one feeling it after.

The Jays had some nice defence on display in the 7th. First Barajas came up w/a nice scoop on the low throw from McDonald. It was probably a good thing it was a force play b/c I’m not sure Barajas makes that catch and applies the tag in time. Then Overbay came up w/a nice scoop on the back end of the inning ending DP on another low throw from McDonald. McDonald doesn’t make many mistakes defensively, but he got bailed out on back-to-back plays and the Jays got out of a bases loaded none out situation. The way the inning went you would have thought that was the Jays batting.

Here are the stats:
NAdv: Ellis, Mench (5)
P-NAdv: Casilla, Marcum (7)
DE: Casilla
ME(r): Suzuki