Hi guys, welcome to another Score liveblog. Tonight it's the Toronto Blue Jays versus the Tampa Bay Rays.
Here are your starting lineups:
TAMPA BAY RAYS (42-35)
1. B.J. Upton, CF
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. Evan Longoria, 3B
4. Carlos Pena, 1B
5. Willy Aybar, 2B
6. Pat Burrell, DH
7. Gabe Gross, RF
8. Jason Bartlett, SS
9. Dioner Navarro, C
Starter: RHP Jeff Niemann (6-4, 4.23)
TORONTO BLUE JAYS (41-36)
1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. Aaron Hill, 2B
3. Vernon Wells, CF
4. Scott Rolen, 3B
5. Adam Lind, DH
6. Lyle Overbay, 1B
7. Jose Bautista, RF
8. Russ Adams, LF
9. Rod Barajas, C
Starter: RHP Roy Halladay (10-1, 2.53)
Alex Rios has the day "off" probably due to recent lack of production. In the month of June, Rios is hitting just .232.
Tony Ambrogio from The Score will be covering tonight's game live from the Rogers Centre, so his tweets will show up periodically throughout the game.
Doc is back tonight, and he will attempt to be the league's first 11 game winner of the season. Even though he's missed 2 weeks, nobody has surpassed him in wins in the American League. Tim Wakefield, Zack Greinke and Kevin Slowey all have 10 wins so far this season.
This will be the first time the Blue Jays have faced Jeff Niemann as a starter. Niemann has already racked up 6 wins as a starter for the Rays.
After taking practice earlier today, Rod Barajas tested his hamstring and fortunately he will avoid the DL. In fact, he feels fine enough to catch tonight's game. Rod is a trooper.
Cito Gaston giving Alex Rios a "day off". No injury just some rest.
Going up to the All-Star break, the Blue Jays have 13 straight games against teams in the American League East: Rays, Yankees, Orioles and the Rays once again.
Halladay's career numbers against the Rays are not incredible, but not too bad either. 11-7 record with a 3.74 ERA.
Scott Rolen is currently riding a 16 game hit streak in which he is hitting .403.
I loved Joe Maddon's quote earlier today when reporters asked him if he looked forward to facing Roy Halladay. His response was "I'm looking forward to that like a root canal."
You bet, Andy. Two wins and the Jays move ahead of the Rays.
Bossman Junior leads it off for the Tampa Bay Rays.
Doc starts off the game with a strikeout. No rust on the hinges at all.
Breaking news Jays: well maybe not: sign lefty Aaron Loup (9th round) and righty Ryan Tepera (19th round) from '09 draft.
Roy Halladay notes: has walked only 12 batters this year and went at least 7 innings in each of first 13 starts before groin injury June 12
Crawford hits one up the middle for a single and is a big threat to steal.
Ummm ... ever since Delgado left? I guess they think David Dellucci will be the solution to all their problems.
Crawford boots it on the first pitch and picks up a stolen base.
Doc gives up a very rare walk to Evan Longoria. Now up it's the HR leader for the American League, Carlos Pena.
Pena grounds into a double play. No sweat for Doc. Up for the Jays in the 1st: Scutaro, Hill, Wells.
Wow, Niemann looks huge on the mound - even bigger than Tallet!
Scutaro takes one down the middle to push a full count.
Roy Halladay strikes out first batter he faces as he gets Upton looking at a 90 mile an hour cuttre.
Carl Crawfords singles off Halladay. He is now batting 20-64 vs Halladay. His steal of 2nd gives him 40 steals on year.
Halladay gets out of jam getting Pena to hit into 4-6-3 double play to end top half of first. Just 2nd time Pena has grounded into DP in '09
He makes solid contact, but Scutaro lines out to Willy Aybar.
Hill goes down on a pop-out in foul territory. 2 down for the Blue Jays. Here's "Boo" Wells.
One bounce to Evan Longoria and all it takes is 7 pitches for Niemann to retire the side in the 1st.
Wells is in another slump ... again (big surprise).
I think Wells is 0 for his last 11.
Aybar's at the plate for the Rays.
Aybar goes down on Halladay's deadly cutter.
If Aybar didn't swing at that pitch, he might've been hit by it. That's how much movement was on it.
Tune in Monday at 7:00 PM EST as the Tampa Bay Rays take on the Toronto Blue Jays. Scheduled starters are Jeff Niemann (6-4, 4.23 ERA) for Tampa Bay and Roy Halladay (10-1, 2.53 ERA) for Toronto. Ian Hunter from The Blue Jay Hunter will be liveblogging for your enjoyment.
Cito Gaston giving Alex Rios a "day off". No injury just some rest.by Tonyambrogio200 via twitter 6/29/2009 11:01:00 PM
Breaking news Jays: well maybe not: sign lefty Aaron Loup (9th round) and righty Ryan Tepera (19th round) from '09 draft.by Tonyambrogio200 via twitter 6/29/2009 11:09:59 PM
Roy Halladay notes: has walked only 12 batters this year and went at least 7 innings in each of first 13 starts before groin injury June 12by Tonyambrogio200 via twitter 6/29/2009 11:09:59 PM
Roy Halladay strikes out first batter he faces as he gets Upton looking at a 90 mile an hour cuttre.by Tonyambrogio200 via twitter 6/29/2009 11:18:29 PM
Carl Crawfords singles off Halladay. He is now batting 20-64 vs Halladay. His steal of 2nd gives him 40 steals on year.by Tonyambrogio200 via twitter 6/29/2009 11:18:29 PM
Halladay gets out of jam getting Pena to hit into 4-6-3 double play to end top half of first. Just 2nd time Pena has grounded into DP in '09by Tonyambrogio200 via twitter edited by BlueJayHunter 6/29/2009 11:18:30 PM
