Rays 6, Blue Jays 4: Morrow Returns; Bautista Owns

Jose.

OK, yeah, the Blue Jays lost. The Rays' David Price, who continues to be excellent at pitching --and who, it has seriously been reported, was heard to remark during batting practice Friday afternoon, "These guys have Juan Rivera?" -- made it into the ninth, and it took him only 102 pitches to do it. The Blue Jays' nifty little comeback in the bottom of the ninth was probably cut short, in part, by a bad call, as replays made it quite clear that Travis Snider beat the throw on that bunt with two on and nobody out. None of that is great, but I went into the game expecting to lose to David Price, and we did, so I am not going to dwell on any of that.


Instead, I am going to focus on Brandon Morrow's first start of the season. He looked good! Yes, there was the two-run homer he gave up in the first to Johnny Damon (a player with whom my problem never has been), which was not an inspiring beginning, but in the end Morrow pitched into the sixth, allowed three runs, and struck out ten. He only walked two, but both times it was Sam Fuld on really close pitches, and both times Fuld came around to score on home runs. Morrow threw way too many pitches, too, but that's an inescapable part of his deal. 


I would also like to draw your attention to Jose Bautista, who went 3-3 with two home runs and a walk. Bautista, who owns, has now reached base in ten consecutive plate appearances, and is closing in on the club record of twelve, held improbably enough by Lyle Overbay of all people. Bautista is leading the league in home runs (7), batting average (.371), OBP (.506), and haters silenced (all of them). Also he is second in slugging (.774) and OPS (1.281). If you do not love him, it is because of emotional problems that you have.


KS