Tune in at 4:05 PM ET as the Blue Jays take on the Athletics. Ian Hunter will be liveblogging for your enjoyment.
Good afternoon, everyone! Welcome to this afternoon's contest between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Oakland Athletics. Here are your starting lineups:
Toronto Blue Jays (51-55)
Escobar SS
Johnson 2B
Encarnacion 1B
Cooper DH
Davis LF
Gomes C
Sierra RF
Gose CF
Hechavarria 3B
SP: Ricky Romero (8-8, 5.69 ERA)
Oakland A's (58-48)
Weeks 2B
Taylor RF
Reddick CF
Carter 1B
Gomes LF
Inge 3B
Norris DH
Kottaras C
Rosales SS
SP: A.J. Griffin (3-0, 2.51 ERA)
It was a wild one in Oakland last night - the Blue Jays and A's took over 5 hours and 15 innings to get through one crazy game. The Athletic's won it in walk-off fashion courtesy of a game-winning hit by Coco Crisp. It marked the their 13th walk-off win of the season, which leads the Major leagues.
Josh Reddick even made a special appearance as Spiderman last night to give a congratulatory pie in the face to Coco Crisp.
The game was not without its casualties thought, as both Brett Lawrie and Colby Rasmus exited the game with injuries. Both are day to day, but as a precaution the Blue Jays made a few roster moves following last night's game. They DFA'd Andrew Carpenter and sent Brett Cecil to Triple A Las Vegas, and called up Adeiny Hechavarria and Jesse Chavez.
Hechavarria will bat 9th and play third base this afternoon in his Major League debut. Apparently Brett Lawrie could be back as early as tomorrow, but the Blue Jays need another bench player as they used up all their replacements last night and are running a man short.
Today, George Kottaras makes his debut for the Athletics after being acquired by Oakland earlier this week from the Brewers. He will take over the catching duties from Derek Norris.
Ricky Romero looks to end the Blue Jays 6-game skid today. 2012 has been a rough go for Romero, as his ERA is sitting a career-high 5.69. Romero only has 9 quality starts on the season, and is averaging only 5.9 innings per start. Last season, Ricky Romero averaged 7 innings per start.
The Oakland A's give the ball to A.J. Griffin this afternoon. He went 7 innings against the Rays in his last start, which was his longest outing of the season. Griffin did not receive a decision in that start, but is 3-0 on the year with a 2.51 ERA in 7 starts this season.
The Blue Jays are still looking for their first win on this West Coast road swing. There are still two more games in Oakland, and then the Jays hop on a plane to Tampa Bay for a 3-game set.
With the win last night, the Oakland A's are in a tie for the Wild Card with the Los Angeles Angels at 58-48 record.
Yunel Escobar in the batter's box, as he'll lead off for the Blue Jays this afternoon.
Yunel Escobar pops one up into the monstrous foul territory at the Coliseum. Former Blue Jay Michael Taylor can't cover the ground, so it will land foul.
Yet another ball lands in foul territory there by the A's dugout. Taylor can't make a play on it again, so another payoff pitch here by A.J. Griffin.
Escobar grinds out a single after all of that, it lands in centre in front of Josh Reddick.
Another ball hit into CF, except this time Kelly Johnson gets under it. Josh Reddick is camped under it and makes the catch for the first out of the top of the frame.
Griffin lets the curveball go high to the number 3 hitter Edwin Encarnacion. 2-1 count to EE.
Encarncacion skies the pitch from Griffin out to left field. It hangs up, which allows Gomes to actually come in a few feet to make the play. Two down.
Jemile Weeks makes the catch off the bat of David Cooper for the third out. It's a pop up in shallow right field. A leadoff single by Escobar is stranded as Johnson, Encarnacion and Cooper are sent down in order by Griffin.
Coming up for the A's in the home half: it's Weeks, Taylor and Reddick.
First pitch by Ricky Romero is a called strike to Jemile Weeks.
Weeks works the full count against Romero, payoff pitch on the way.
Jemile Weeks gets good wood on it, but it's not hit quite deep enough. Anthony Gose ranges back and makes the catch.
Centre field is Gose's natural position, but he's been playing mostly in right with the injury to Jose Bautista.
Michael Taylor swings at the second offering from Ricky Romero, and hits a ball up the middle. Yunel Escobar scoops and fires for the second out.
The A's look aggressive against Romero in the first, but have nothing to show for it. They're retired 1-2-3 in the home half.
Coming up for Toronto in the 2nd: Rajai Davis, Yan Gomes and Moises Sierra.
Rajai Davis goes after a fastball up and away, so it splits off to the right side and is taken care of easily at first base.
A.J. Griffin out ahead of the free-swinging Yan Gomes 1-2.
@Sam Fenech Yeah, they're definitely a hurting unit. Not much the Blue Jays can do thought!
Yan Gomes hits the ball in the air to medium depth centre field. Josh Reddick with his long-flowing locks makes the catch.
Coaching staff heads out to the mound, as A.J. Griffin is yanked from the mound. Looks like he might have tweaked something.
A.J. Griffin walks off the field, so the Oakland A's will need to dip into their bullpen early as their starter exits with an injury.
Justin Norberto comes in from the Oakland A's bullpen to pick up the starter A.J. Griffin.
@parmbir bhela Left the game with an injury - he might have tweaked something. So the A's took him out as a precautionary measure.
Judging by his beard, Norberto would fit in well on the show Duck Dynasty - those guys have epic beards.
@Stuart Nairn Sierra's been okay in Vegas this year. He hit .289 with 17 home runs.
by Ian Hunter via Cache.daylife 8/4/2012 7:59:14 PM
by Ian Hunter via Cache.daylife 8/4/2012 7:59:33 PM
