Jays Play Nearly Flawless to Beat Minnesota, Magic Number Down to 1
With a bye week, the Jays did not return to the field until a week after the disappointing loss to the Cubs. The bye seemed to help, however, as Cincinnati lost the Saturday before to put the Jays back into control of their own destiny. Win 2 of the next 3 and the Jays are in the play offs. The Jays would not disappoint as they came through with a nearly flawless game to win their first night game of the season and drop their magic number to 1.
As the visiting team again, the Jays grabbed their sticks and plated 2 quick runs thanks to a single by Colin and a 2 RBO single by Brooks with the additional help of Jack getting drilled and Boki drawing a walk. Colin then took the ball to the hill for his second consecutive start – like I said, the Jays are going to their hogs to get into the play offs, and although he got himself into a little trouble with yet more walks, he was able to record all three outs by strike out to keep Minnesota off the board and preserve the 2-0 lead. Thanks to his ability to set the tone of the game with an over powering fastball and effective change up, Colin took home a player of the game award.
The Jays could not get anything going in the top of the second and Brooks took the ball to the hill for the bottom half of the inning. Brooks was as cool as the other side of the pillow striking out the side in order.
The Jays plated 5 in the top of the third to take a commanding 7-0 lead. Hey did so the pinball way, with 6 straight hits: singles by Jack, Robbie and Colin, a double by Boki and Brooks and a single by Grant. Thanks to his 2 for 3 performances, Grant took home a player of the game award.
Minnesota went down quietly in the bottom of the third, and the Jays returned the favor in the top of the 4th. Minnesoata plated 2 in the bottom half of the inning to make it 7-2, and at that point, the Jays went back for the final kid-pitch inning in the top of the 5th. The Jays plated 1 to stretch their lead to 6, and Jack mowed Minnesota down in the bottom of the inning to keep the score 8-2. In the top of the 6th, the Jays plated 4 more with the help of back-to-back-to-back doubles by Colin, Boki and Brooks, and a scalded single by Grant down the third base line. While Minnesota scored 3 in the bottom half of the inning to make the score 12-5, the Jays defense secured the lead. That was what we had been waiting for, Jays, A nearly flawless game on your part. You saved your best game for the most important time. Win one more and you are in the play offs.
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