Game 141 – Zaun’s Day

Well that certainly was an exciting finish, a 2-out walk-off grand slam to come back down 1 in the 13th. I couldn’t have been happier for Gregg Zaun. The guy has not only lost his starting job but has been reduced to being lucky to get 1 start a week and I would argue undeservingly so. That grin he had on his face as he rounded the bases I think said it all.

The Zaun heroics were setup b/c Ryan couldn’t close the door w/a 3-run lead, although the defence didn’t help matters. Ryan hit the 1st batter then gave up a 2-run HR so at that point I’m thinking ok he can regroup and pitch out of this. Ryan had different ideas as he walked the next guy putting himself right back in trouble. After a strikeout (and Perez stealing 2nd during the AB), Ryan got a ground ball to Inglett that went right through his legs allowing the tying run to score. If not for a heads up play by Zaun it could have got worse. On Rios’ throw home Zaun realized he had no shot at Perez so he came almost all the way out to the pitcher’s mound to cut it off and throw to 2nd to get Navarro.

The blown save by Ryan cost Marcum a win in his return to the majors. The real Marcum showed up today as he gave up just 4 hits in 7 innings and no runs. More importantly there was no sign of fatigue as he struck out 2 in retiring the side in order in the 7th, leaving having thrown 103 pitches. Marcum did walk 3, but he also struck out 7.

Downs also had a shaky inning as he walked 2 as part of throwing 10 straight balls. He got out of it though thanks to Upton grounding into the 1-6-3 DP.

I would have liked to have seen League left in for another inning. He only needed 9 pitches to get through the 10th and in the next inning the Rays had a LH, RH, Switch, RH, and Switch due up. When League was in the minors during the 1st half he was being stretched out and pitching multiple innings so it is not like he wasn’t used to it. If you get another inning out of League then you have Carlson for later like the next time the lefties at the top of the Rays order come up.

I thought Carlson was done after his 1 inning but I can see the reasoning of wanting him to face Navarro to start the next inning, making Navarro bat RH. My thought was actually to bring in Tallet to start the inning. That way you still get Navarro from the right side and after the RH hitting Bartlett you get another switch hitter in Zobrist, and a LH in Iwamura. Instead Cito went w/Frasor to face them plus Upton and he loaded the bases on a 2B, IBB, BB. Cito again went to the bullpen but it John Parrish and not Tallet coming in. It made me wonder if there was a reason Tallet wasn’t coming in. However, Tallet did indeed make an appearance, relieving Camp in the 13th w/1 on and 2 out and who was he facing, none other than Navarro. The same spot in the order I would have brought him in to face in the 12th. Navarro won the battle and go the go ahead 1B. So maybe Cito made the right call in the 12th, of course you can’t assume the same result had Tallet faced Navarro leading off an inning.

I don’t get why McDonald wasn’t brought in defensively for the 9th inning. We’re back to having the same problem as the start of the year where you’re leaving your best defensive player on the bench when you have a lead in the 9th.

The Jays had just 2 hits w/RISP (in 5 AB) and both belonged to Zaun. Zaun’s other hit w/a RISP almost made him the hero in slightly less dramatic fashion in the 9th. He hit a ground ball in the hole at short w/2-out and Rolen at 2nd. However, Bartlett made a nice diving grab to keep it in the infield and Rolen made the poor assumption that the ball was through failing to pick up the 3rd base coach. Rolen rounded the bag too far and Bartlett threw behind him to get him out. You know w/2 outs and representing the winning run you’re pretty much going to be sent on anything, but you still have to pick up your coach.

I thought the Rays might send Shield back out there for the 9th. He had only thrown 96 pitches. He also had retired the last 7 batters and 13 of the last 14. The only thing might have been that after he completed the 8th he started to shut down not thinking there would be a bottom of the 9th to pitch.

The Rays had a lot of problems in this game advancing their baserunners. They went 1 for 9 w/RISP, they hit into 4 DP’s, had 1 runner CS, and another thrown out trying to advance to 2nd on a throw to the plate.

Not to be forgotten in this game was the fact Lyle Overbay hit 2 solo HR’s and added a 1B and BB.

Here are the stats:
NAdv: Ruggiano
P-NAdv: Ryan (4)
DE: Zobrist
ME(r): Rolen (5)