You know I think this Halladay guy might be a keeper.
Halladay hadn't faced the Twins in two years and they'll be pretty happy if they don't see him for another two. This was a masterful performance from a dominating pitcher, as good as any I can remember seeing from him. In the early - middle innings he was just unhittable, he got out of the second and third on just seven pitches each, and needed just 50 pitches for the first five frames.
The indispensable Magpie provided some stats in the Instant Replay:
“You like first pitch strikes? I do. Doc threw first pitch strikes to 15 of the first 18 hitters, and 23 of 30 overall.
He didn't go to ball two on anybody until the 6th inning, when he went 2-1 on Redmond, 2-2 on Castro, and 3-0 on Stewart. All of whom he retired anyway. On this day, that was the equivalent of Doc "struggling.".”
Joe Mays was pretty good himself, although he is of course burdened by being merely human. He was also burdened by an offense that seemed to have given up any hope of getting to Halladay by about the second inning.
Most of the game seemed to involve a trail of Twins hitters returning to the dugout with sullen expressions on their faces whimpering silently, but there were a few innings which saw some runners on base.
Top of 1st
Doc greeted old friend Shannon Stewart with a couple of heaters, then expressed some friendship by lobbing a couple out of the zone that Shannon could just watch. He finished him off with a heater that broke several fundamental laws of physics on its way to the plate, Stewart should have been very happy just to get some bat on it as he grounded out to Hillenbrand. Punto, up second, looked at one pitch and decided bunting was the better part of valour, he laid down a beauty to the third base side. He elected to rub salt in the wound by stealing second, this might have seemed like a good idea at the time, all it did though was force Halladay to get down to business. LeCroy was forced to fly out and Morneau was simply over matched by three pitches of sheer nasty brilliance. One of such tender years should not be exposed to a curveball like that.
Bottom of 2nd
Hillenbrand stepped in and Mays pumped a few sinkers at him, all right around the plate, until Shea slapped one out to left for a single. Hinske up, and while Darrin Fletcher was trying to argue his style should be a good match for Mays, he got under a ‘sinker that didn't’ and flew out to Stewart. Wells wasn’t going to bother with anything as fancy as looking at a few pitches and spanked the first thing he saw for a single.
Zaun then got a second pitch fastball over the plate that he liked the look of and he gave it a long ride to right, Jones took it at the track for the out. Mays of course saw a lot of Babe Gross in the Spring, and the image must have been fresh in his mind as the rookie was given nothing to hit on a five pitch walk. So the bases were loaded for Russ Adams, who sadly bounced something inside to second after looking at a couple.
Bottom of 3rd
I've wanted Sparky to try bunting for a base hit more often, on this occasion it didn’t work. He squared around to a pitch up in the zone and popped straight up to the pitcher. This brought O-Dog up who grounded another high pitch to second. Aaron Hill was next, and he decided to show Mays what messing with a .400 hitter was all about as he singled off a fastball. Shea Hillenbrand though was unable to prolong the inning and grounded out to second, he was easily thrown out even after Punto bobbled the ball.
Bottom of 4th
Wells was up second here, and worked the count well, he took three pitches, fouled a couple off and then stroked a single the other way.
The other hitters were less successful. Hinske grounded out to lead it off, Zaun (disgusted with himself) flied out, and Gross was patience personified but ended up looking at one pitch too many as he K'd.
Darrin Fletchers discourse on whether he had ever called for a pitcher to hit a batter was considerably more entertaining.
Bottom of 5th
The Jays launched an all out assault on Torrii Hunter to start the inning. Adams flied out to centre to start things off, Sparky doubled over Hunter's head, and then Hudson hit him a flyball. With the rest of the fielders now thoroughly bored, Hill showed a maturity beyond his years by hitting the ball to left for a single, scoring Sparky. Hillenbrand ended things with a K.
Top of 6th
The Twins made a half-hearted attempt to try and muster up some offense and got a hit. Redmond grounded out to Halladay to start things off , Castro struck out swinging on a breaking ball that was, frankly, ridiculous and then Stewart was up. Shannon worked the count to 3-0, thought he had a walk and finally dribbled something in on his fists weakly towards third, Hillenbrand charged it but couldn't get the ball out of his glove in time to make a good throw,. Punto restored sanity and good order with a weak ground out to the mound.
Bottom of 6th
Not much of interest here, really. Mays was still looking pretty sharp. Hinske struck out swinging, Wells popped out to the catcher, Zaun singled to left and Gross lined out to center.
Bottom of 7th
This was more like it, as the good guys put another run on the board with a big Russ Adams homer to right. Sparky was up next and he singled to left, but was then caught stealing. O-Dog grounded out to first, Hill singled again to left this time, but once again Hillenbrand couldn't move him anywhere as he popped-out to second.
Top of 8th
Doc was slipping a little bit compared to the early going, he was merely pitching fantastically well now and leaving the occasional delivery up in the zone. Jacque Jones started off with a ground-out, Cuddyer was then hit on the wrist (he was in great and obvious pain walking down to first) Redmond then struck out swinging. Joe Mauer, I'd been wondering where he got to, pinch hit for Castro and grounded out to first.
Bottom of 8th
Romero came in to replace Mays which was not the greatest pitching change ever as it turned out. It started off well as he got Hinske swinging, but then Wells homered to left, Zaun tripled to deep right center, though his legs nearly gave out halfway between second and third, and Romero was heading off with some nasty words for himself.
Rios now entered the fray hitting for Gross and singled to left to
score the winded catcher. Russ Adams drew a walk, but then Crain shut
things down as Sparky popped to short and Hudson grounded to first.
News
Cat will be activated today and Gross will return to AAA
Links
Allan Ryan’s game report, and a nice quote from Matt LeCroy at the end.
Mike Ganter on David Bush.
Spencer Fordin’s game report.
Dan Szymborski on the David Bush move
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20050530090223729