The Jays got a solid outing out of Jo Jo Reyes but just were not able to put the big hits together to help out Jo Jo Reyes got in trouble in the top of the 7 inning when with 2 outs Austin Jackson launched a 2-run home run on 2-2 pitch to give the Tigers the lead for good at 4-2 but did get out of the inning without give up another hit to the Tigers. Then in the top of the 8 inning lead off hitter Magglio Ordonez doubled off Jo Jo whose afternoon was over given up 5 runs as if you drink, don't drive (Miguel Cabrera) singled in pinch runner Don Kelly to make it 5-2 and Jo Jo Reyes throw 81 pitches (58 strikes) and 8 hits with a walk and a K over 7 innings and a batter which is good pitch effectiveness and deserved a better result than a 5-2 loss to Brad Penny and we are not talking 2007 or even 2008 Penny we are talking a 2011 Penny. So Tigers closer Jose Valverde came in in the 9 inning and struck out Bastista (who did have all the Jays offense today with a 2 rume jack in the bottom of the third), Juan Rivera, and Arron Hill in order to pick up his 200th career save.
The worst part of the Jays right now is that in their last 2 home stands so far they are 3-5 with losing their last home stand 3-2 and losing 2 of the first 3 against a below 500 Tigers team and if they want to be anywhere close to be competitive than they need to be at least winning 3 of every 5 games at home and right now they are 500 at home which is recipe for being like the Raptors and Leafs meaning just not good sports watching to say the least.
So Hill came back into the lineup today and went 1 for 4 while Bautista got back to the lineup and went 1 for 4 but did have the only 2 RBIs for the Jays on his 10th homer of the season and Adam Lind is a possible starter against the Tigers in the finale of the series. In triple A las Vegas Travis Snider is hitting better as in 8 games he is hitting .467 ( 14 for 30 ) while striking out 5 times which could be better and 6 walks which is a good start on waiting for the right pitch and has 3 doubles. Both Brett Lawrie and Eric Thames are slowing down with the bat as Lawrie is hitting .338 (44 for 130) with 27 Ks in 29 games while having only 5 walks but does have 6 homers, 10 doubles, and 2 triples so far with 21 RBIs while Thames is hitting .322 (38 for 118) with 24 Ks compared to 15 walks so he has a bit of patience but not enough with 3 homers, 2 triples, and 10 doubles to go with his 21 RBIs. So Travis is getting there maybe back with the team in a week or so and Juan Rivera or Cory Patterson/Rajai Davis maybe on their way out while Thames and Lawrie will diffidently be up with the big club in September but I do not know how much earlier than that they will be in the big smoke.
Jays wins at home are very, very, very important
Tom Mehegan
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