That was a game lost on a manager's decision. Brett Cecil looked great for the first 3 innings. But then he gave up 3 in the 4th and 1 more in the 5th. Jose Bautista put us ahead again in the bottom of the 5th. Cecil really should have come out of the game there. He didn't. In the 6th Brett gave up a bunt single (and made an error on it). A ground rule double, a sac bunt, then a 2-run homer to Mike Trout later, we were down by 2. That's when Farrell pulled him. Way too late. At very least John should have pulled Brett before the Trout homer.
Our bullpen did well. Jason Frasor finished off the 6th. Francisco Cordero made it through a scoreless 7th, with the help of a great pick off throw by Jeff Mathis. Darren Oliver pitched a great 8th.
Then Casey Janssen came out for the 9th. With Albert Pujols up to start the inning, Casey got to 1-2 and threw a perfect strike, but it was called a ball. So a pitch later he throws another one, about he same spot, and it is called a ball again. Then Albert singled. A triple by Mark Trumbo and the Angels got an insurance run. Then Casey got the 3 outs without allowing the runner to score from third. Casey stared at the umpire on his way off the field.
We almost came back in the 9th. Mathis singled. Brett Lawrie singled at the end of a 8 pitch at bat. Colby Rasmus struck out. Jose Bautista took an 8 pitch walk. Unfortunately Edwin Encarnacion hit into a double play. Ernesto Frieri has a 0.77 ERA and we almost beat him. Almost.
Our offense did get us 7 runs. A solo homer for Jeff Mathis (who missed the cycle by a triple) and the 3 run shot for Jose (crushed). Lawrie, Yunel Escobar and Rajai Davis (nice sac fly) had an RBI each. Mathis went 4 for 4 against his old team. Lawrie 2 for 5. All the other starters had 1 hit except for Adam Lind. Adam looked terrible at the plate. I still don't understand why we call up him and leave Travis Snider at Vegas.
The other play, that could have helped us, came in the 7th inning. Colby was on third, Bautista up. Infield in. Jose grounds one to short, Colby goes on contact and slides between the legs of Angel catch Bobby Wilson. It was a close play, but I still think he was safe.
Jays of the Day are Mathis (.356 WPA and some good defense), Jose (.278) and Lawrie (.171). Suckage: Cecil (-.714, 5.1, 10 hits, 8 earned, 2 walks, 6 k, it started out so well), Edwin (-.326, from the game ending DP) and J.P. Arencibia (-.101, all on the pinch hit strikeout).
Tomorrow, the day we were all hoping wouldn't come, Carlos Villanueva starts for the Jays. Ervin Santana gets the call for the Angels.