Jay's use speed in game 3 win over Boston

Boston @ Toronto
Game 3 of 3
Final: in nine, 1-3


Jays win series.


Rajai Davis was the offensive player of the game today - in this pitchers duel.

Davis got on twice in 2 AB's in this game - plating both times. By putting Davis in the 9 spot, John Farrell has added the speed game into the line-up. Davis is dangerous on the base paths.

Clutch hitting from lead-off hitter Yunel Escobar twice today:

In the 3rd Escobar belted a sac-fly that plated Davis (the winning run) - occurring right after the Davis's triple that plated Thames.

In the 8th, he smacks a long BH to right-centre that plates Davis (on via a BB, stole second) - for the insurance run.

Boston            AB R H RBI BB SO LOB
Ellsbury, CF      3  0 1 1   1  1  0
Pedroia, 2B       3  0 0 0   1  1  2
Gonzalez, Ad, 1B  4  0 0 0   0  0  4
Youkilis, 3B      4  0 0 0   0  1  2
Ortiz, DH         4  0 0 0   0  0  2
McDonald, D, RF   3  0 0 0   0  1  0
Ross, C, LF       3  0 1 0   0  1  0
Aviles, SS        3  1 1 0   0  0  0
Shoppach, C       3  0 0 0   0  1  2

Boston            AB R H RBI BB SO LOB
Totals            30 1 3 1   2  6  12

Boston Pitching   IP  H  R  ER BB SO HR ERA
Lester(L, 0-1)    8.0 3  3  3  2  6  0  2.40
Totals            8.0 3  3  3  2  6  0  6.40


Toronto           AB R H RBI BB SO LOB
Escobar, Y, SS    3  0 1 2   0  0  0
Johnson, K, 2B    3  0 0 0   1  0  1
Bautista, RF      3  0 0 0   0  1  1
Encarnacion, 1B   3  0 0 0   0  1  0
Francisco, B, DH  3  0 0 0   0  0  0
Lawrie, 3B        3  0 0 0   0  0  0
Thames, E, LF     3  1 1 0   0  1  0
 Rasmus, CF       0  0 0 0   0  0  0
Arencibia, C      3  0 0 0   0  2  1
Davis, R, CF-LF   2  2 1 1   1  1  0

                  AB R H RBI BB SO LOB
Totals            26 3 3 3   2  6  3

Toronto           IP  H  R  ER BB SO HR ERA
Romero, R(W, 1-0) 8.1 3  1  1  2  5  0  3.38
Santos(S, 1)      0.2 0  0  0  0  1  0  12.00
Totals            9.0 3  1  1  2  6  0  2.57

The dangerous number nine hitter. Another thing for the defence of opposing teams to worry about. It might be interesting to watch as this part of the order undress the league's more defensively challenged teams.

Bobby Valentine made no sustituions - whole day off for the starting catcher I see.

I loved the way the Jay's are playing shift defence. Lawrie is an extremely versatile infielder. He's Farrell's starter-with-a-bench. Over the series the Jays played him shallow centre field, a long short stop's throw (deep in the hole) away from 1B. Then in straight away shallow right - again, a long SS throw from 1B.

Romero had ace tools and command today. Lester was very good too.

Jays batted better than Boston in the second and third game.

Next Baltimore visits, Friday.


Stats via mlb - http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_04_11_bosmlb_tormlb_1&mode=box


mh