Post by #1 Jays Fan on Apr 17, 2008 12:53:40 GMT -5
With both bullpens expended after a late-inning outing, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers are expecting their respective starters to turn in solid efforts.
On Thursday, Roy Halladay will try to end the Blue Jays' four-game home losing streak when they conclude their two-game set against Vicente Padilla and the Rangers, who seek back-to-back victories for the second time this season.
The Blue Jays (8-7) had won six straight over the Rangers (6-9) dating to last season, but dropped a 7-5, 14-inning contest to them on Wednesday night.
A depleted bullpen forced Toronto to call on starter A.J. Burnett - the team record-tying ninth pitcher of the game - in the final inning, and his wild pitch allowed Texas' Frank Catalanotto to score the go-ahead run.
Burnett, who led the Blue Jays to a 5-4 win in Texas on Sunday, made his first relief appearance since Oct. 13, 2004 for Florida.
"It's frustrating," catcher Gregg Zaun said after the four-hour, 53-minute marathon. "It's one thing when the other team takes it to you and beats you. But when something as simple as a ball getting between my legs is possibly the difference in the ballgame, that's hard to swallow."
The Blue Jays are trying to avoid their first five-game home losing streak since April 20-24, 2005, and they'll be turning to a pitcher that is on a major roll in Toronto.
Halladay (2-1, 3.00 ERA) is 10-0 with a 3.23 ERA in his last 12 games at the Rogers Centre. In his first home start of 2008, he gave up four runs in eight innings in a 7-4 victory over Boston on April 6.
The Blue Jays ace is coming off his 32nd complete game - a six-hitter that led to a 4-1 victory at Texas on Saturday and lowered his season ERA from 4.20 to 3.00.
Against the Rangers, Halladay improved 4-1 with a 3.65 ERA in his last five starts against them.
The Rangers won't be too excited to see Halladay again, but their focus will be on trying to win back-to-back games for the first time since taking both ends of a doubleheader against Baltimore on April 10.
They're hoping Padilla (1-1, 3.79) can help them complete that task. He gave up five runs and seven hits in six innings of an 8-5 home loss to Toronto on Friday.
The right-hander is 3-2 with a 3.74 ERA in five career starts against the Blue Jays.
The Rangers only used seven pitchers Wednesday. Left-hander C.J. Wilson, who hasn't allowed a run in seven innings this season, converted his fourth save in as many chances to close out the win for Texas, which ended a five-game skid.
"We certainly showed some fight and a lot of character," Rangers manager Ron Washington. "We got the monkey off our backs."
Milton Bradley had a career-high five walks, but also had two hits to extend his streak to 11 games in which he is batting .395 (17-for-43) with three RBIs.
The Rangers could be without Hank Blalock, who left in the 10th inning with a sore lower back and will be re-evaluated on Thursday.
The third baseman, who is hitting .302 with two homers and four RBIs this season, has hit .333 (11-for-33) with two homers and four RBIs versus Halladay.
On Thursday, Roy Halladay will try to end the Blue Jays' four-game home losing streak when they conclude their two-game set against Vicente Padilla and the Rangers, who seek back-to-back victories for the second time this season.
The Blue Jays (8-7) had won six straight over the Rangers (6-9) dating to last season, but dropped a 7-5, 14-inning contest to them on Wednesday night.
A depleted bullpen forced Toronto to call on starter A.J. Burnett - the team record-tying ninth pitcher of the game - in the final inning, and his wild pitch allowed Texas' Frank Catalanotto to score the go-ahead run.
Burnett, who led the Blue Jays to a 5-4 win in Texas on Sunday, made his first relief appearance since Oct. 13, 2004 for Florida.
"It's frustrating," catcher Gregg Zaun said after the four-hour, 53-minute marathon. "It's one thing when the other team takes it to you and beats you. But when something as simple as a ball getting between my legs is possibly the difference in the ballgame, that's hard to swallow."
The Blue Jays are trying to avoid their first five-game home losing streak since April 20-24, 2005, and they'll be turning to a pitcher that is on a major roll in Toronto.
Halladay (2-1, 3.00 ERA) is 10-0 with a 3.23 ERA in his last 12 games at the Rogers Centre. In his first home start of 2008, he gave up four runs in eight innings in a 7-4 victory over Boston on April 6.
The Blue Jays ace is coming off his 32nd complete game - a six-hitter that led to a 4-1 victory at Texas on Saturday and lowered his season ERA from 4.20 to 3.00.
Against the Rangers, Halladay improved 4-1 with a 3.65 ERA in his last five starts against them.
The Rangers won't be too excited to see Halladay again, but their focus will be on trying to win back-to-back games for the first time since taking both ends of a doubleheader against Baltimore on April 10.
They're hoping Padilla (1-1, 3.79) can help them complete that task. He gave up five runs and seven hits in six innings of an 8-5 home loss to Toronto on Friday.
The right-hander is 3-2 with a 3.74 ERA in five career starts against the Blue Jays.
The Rangers only used seven pitchers Wednesday. Left-hander C.J. Wilson, who hasn't allowed a run in seven innings this season, converted his fourth save in as many chances to close out the win for Texas, which ended a five-game skid.
"We certainly showed some fight and a lot of character," Rangers manager Ron Washington. "We got the monkey off our backs."
Milton Bradley had a career-high five walks, but also had two hits to extend his streak to 11 games in which he is batting .395 (17-for-43) with three RBIs.
The Rangers could be without Hank Blalock, who left in the 10th inning with a sore lower back and will be re-evaluated on Thursday.
The third baseman, who is hitting .302 with two homers and four RBIs this season, has hit .333 (11-for-33) with two homers and four RBIs versus Halladay.
