Post by #1 Jays Fan on Mar 4, 2008 23:33:27 GMT -5
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- On an imperfect day, the Toronto Blue Jays were victims of perfection.
Yes, it was only a spring game, and only a five-inning Grapefruit League contest featuring mostly training-camp filler at that. But there wasn't much else to note on a rainy Tuesday at Knology Park, other than the four New York Yankees who combined to throw a perfect game in a 2-0 victory.
"We figured their lefties needed some lefty-lefty work so we threw all our lefties at them," quipped Blue Jays manager John Gibbons.
Phil Hughes, Scott Patterson, Kei Igawa (who threw two innings) and Billy Traber, the latter two lefties, combined on the honours for the Yankees (3-0-1) before a sellout crowd of 5,510 that spent as much time seeking shelter from thunderstorms as they did watching baseball.
Both teams fielded star-studded lineups for this one but they were all gone by the bottom of the second, after a rain delay of one hour one minute. A light rain fell throughout the rest of the proceedings.
"You hate to throw anybody out there, even your other guys," said Gibbons. "It's something you have to do."
The Blue Jays (2-4) were just pleased Jesse Litsch, battling for the fifth starter's job, was able to get two innings in before he headed to the bullpen to get some extra work. He was sharper than in his spring debut, allowing a run on three hits and a walk.
"It showed with a couple of ground balls (for outs)," said Litsch. "I didn't get any ground balls last game."
The Yankees took a 1-0 lead in the second when Melky Cabrera's RBI single brought home Shelley Duncan, who doubled to left past Shannon Stewart. Duncan added an RBI single in the fourth.
"He looked better than he did the other day," Gibbons said of Litsch. "But they (Yankees) show you once again that when you play those guys, you've got to throw strikes. I don't care what you've got, you've got to attack them and take your chances."
Notes: Jays reliever Jason Frasor will make his spring debut on Wednesday after missing several days with a stomach bug. Toronto hosts the Phillies, with ace Roy Halladay taking the mound versus Philadelphia's Brett Myers. ... The Blue Jays returned pitchers Jamie Vermilyea, Jeremy Cummings and Ryan Ketchner to minor-league camp. They now have 56 players in camp, although one of them, infielder Hector Luna, has yet to arrive due to visa problems. ... Spike Lee was in the crowd.
Yes, it was only a spring game, and only a five-inning Grapefruit League contest featuring mostly training-camp filler at that. But there wasn't much else to note on a rainy Tuesday at Knology Park, other than the four New York Yankees who combined to throw a perfect game in a 2-0 victory.
"We figured their lefties needed some lefty-lefty work so we threw all our lefties at them," quipped Blue Jays manager John Gibbons.
Phil Hughes, Scott Patterson, Kei Igawa (who threw two innings) and Billy Traber, the latter two lefties, combined on the honours for the Yankees (3-0-1) before a sellout crowd of 5,510 that spent as much time seeking shelter from thunderstorms as they did watching baseball.
Both teams fielded star-studded lineups for this one but they were all gone by the bottom of the second, after a rain delay of one hour one minute. A light rain fell throughout the rest of the proceedings.
"You hate to throw anybody out there, even your other guys," said Gibbons. "It's something you have to do."
The Blue Jays (2-4) were just pleased Jesse Litsch, battling for the fifth starter's job, was able to get two innings in before he headed to the bullpen to get some extra work. He was sharper than in his spring debut, allowing a run on three hits and a walk.
"It showed with a couple of ground balls (for outs)," said Litsch. "I didn't get any ground balls last game."
The Yankees took a 1-0 lead in the second when Melky Cabrera's RBI single brought home Shelley Duncan, who doubled to left past Shannon Stewart. Duncan added an RBI single in the fourth.
"He looked better than he did the other day," Gibbons said of Litsch. "But they (Yankees) show you once again that when you play those guys, you've got to throw strikes. I don't care what you've got, you've got to attack them and take your chances."
Notes: Jays reliever Jason Frasor will make his spring debut on Wednesday after missing several days with a stomach bug. Toronto hosts the Phillies, with ace Roy Halladay taking the mound versus Philadelphia's Brett Myers. ... The Blue Jays returned pitchers Jamie Vermilyea, Jeremy Cummings and Ryan Ketchner to minor-league camp. They now have 56 players in camp, although one of them, infielder Hector Luna, has yet to arrive due to visa problems. ... Spike Lee was in the crowd.
