Star of the Game: You'd think I'd say Ty Taubenheim after that previous line. But no. Five outs, five strikeouts. Take a bow, Mr. Ryan. A graphic during the game said that he was behind only Randy Myers and Duane Ward for most saves before the All-Star Break. Whatever that means.
Unsung Hero: Let's say Taubenheim, then. He sure did better than Cory Lidle.
Boxscore: Here.
It's Not Phillips-Green-Canseco, but... Is anyone else slightly perturbed at the fact that the Fighting Jays sent out an outfield of Catalanotto-Johnson-Hinske, with Hillenbrand and Glaus on the left side? We're witnessing a redefinition of the word "defense" here.
Closers Update: I might be the only one interested in this, but here we are anyway: the top three in the AL through Saturday are Bobby Jenks (2.5 above average), Chris Ray (2.1) and J.J. Putz (1.8). Ryan is sixth.
Standings: Boston in first, New York and Toronto tied, four games back.
Elsewhere: A.J. Pierzynski delivered another knockout punch to the sad-sack Cubs with a three-run homer in the top of the ninth. White Sox 8, Cubs 6.
Some guy named Miguel Batista had a perfect game going with two outs in the seventh inning, then walked Bobby Crosby and gave up a homer to Frank Thomas. Batista, giving up a homer with two outs? Unheard of. Arizona won, 7-2, with another guy I sort of vaguely remember a little bit getting tagged for five runs and the loss.