The Blue Jays started a two game series against the reigning World Series Champs the San Francisco Giants. Before the series started, a private ceremony was held where the Giants presented current Blue Jays left fielder Melky Cabrera with his World Series ring. Cabrera was part of the Giants roster for most of last season, but missed the stretch drive and the playoffs after being suspended for using PEDs.
The Blue Jays started the game with their best inning of the season in the bottom of the first, scoring 6 runs against Giants starter Barry Zito. Zito didn’t get much help from his teammates, as two Giants’ errors led to the first three Blue Jays Runs. However even after the errors stopped Zito didn’t help his own cause, as it seemed the Jays were hitting everything he gave them. Zito would face ten batters in the first inning, and it was the first time all season that any team had been able to score off Zito in the first inning. The Giants stuck with Zito who would pitch well until the bottom of the 6th inning, where he would concede three more runs. Overall Zito pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up 12 hits, 8 runs (5 earned), 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. T
The Jays would take a 10-3 lead into the top of the 9th inning , when a 3 run homerun by Pablo Sandoval would make the final score 10-6. RA Dickey picked up the win for the Jaysm as he pitched his best game this season, going 6 innings, giving up just 6 hits and 2 runs while striking out 10. Former Giant Cabrera was the offensive star of the night going 4 for 5 with 2 RBIs and 2 Runs scored. This would be the third win in a row for the Jays, who has a season high 18 hits. The 10 runs scored came with out the aid of a homerun, and the recent offensive explosion is a sign that the Blue Jays offence may finally be coming around.
The second and final game of this 2 game series was another blow out for the Toronto Blue Jays as they would beat the Giants 11-3. The Giants struck first blood with a Pablo Sandoval sacrifice fly in the top of the first, but that is all they would get in the innight. In the bottom of the inning the Blue Jays took the lead on a two run home run by Adam Lind. From there shoddy defence would again play havoc on the Giants as their errors would lead to extended Jays’ innings and a plethora of runs. Overall the Jays would score 10 runs in the first three innings and never look back. The offensive explosion would chase Giants’ starter Ryan Vogelsong after only two innings of work. Vogelson would allow 6 hits, 8 runs (3 earned) in just two innings of work. Journeyman starter Ramon Ortiz pitched for the Jays and went 7.0 strong innings with only 6 hits and 1 run against him to earn his first victory of the season. Adam Lind, Joey Bautista and JP Arencibia would have a multiple hit night and each would have two RBI’s during this game. This is exactly what the Jays and their fans have been looking for, great hitting and pitching.
I realize they are 17-24 and are still last in the division, but the team is showing signs of life and that they are not giving up on the season. Beating the Giants is a big deal to because this is no cellar dweller of a team, as they are in first place in the NL West Division and are the defending World Series Champs. The Jays need to continue to play well and put some wins together against the AL East. They will be put to the test against the New York Yankees at New Yankee Stadium for a 3 game set starting Friday.
Nicks Notes:
Although it was only a two game series the Jays officially had their first series sweep of the season.
Sergio Santos underwent surgery on his elbow and is expected to be out for 6 weeks.
There have been grumblings that Jose Reyes may return at the end of June and that could be a huge boost for this Toronto team especially if they keep playing this way.
Before San Francisco came to Toronto they had a strong homestead at 7-3, funny enough after sweeping the Giants the Jays are now 7-3 in their last 10 games.
Saturday and Sunday against Boston the Jays had 20 combined hits, this series they had a combined 29 hits. Its great to see the Jays finally hitting and taking advantage of their hits early!
The 6 runs the Jays scored in the first inning of the first game was the most they have scored in an inning this season.
The Jays attendance in the two games was 31,753. (game 1) and 32,863 (game 2) not bad for two games during the week in May.
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