In the NCAA basketball tournament, whenever an underdog gets down 8 points in a semi-away game and the crowd starts to stir, the commentators always say in ominous tones, "They're into the danger zone now." That's how I feel about today's matchup, with Toronto 5-6 and facing Boston and New York next. The Jays try to avoid an embarrassing sweep in the getaway game as Kyle Drabek takes on Jason Vargas.
Yesterday: Mariners 3, Jays 2. Big Michael Pineda bulldozes the Jays for seven innings until Edwin Encarnacion sparks a rally. Eventually, Corey Patterson hits a two-run single, steals second and ends up on third with one out, but Bautista pops out to no man's land and Patterson gets thrown out at the plate on a close play. Ricky Romero gallantly eats eight innings.
Today: John Farrell rolls out the Sunday lineup: Escobar, Patterson, Bautista, Rivera (LF), Nix, Arencibia (DH), Encarnacion (1B), McDonald (2B), Molina. It's a mental health day for Adam Lind, Aaron Hill and Travis Snider before the big trip to Boston this weekend. I think this is a pretty good idea against the competent, nondescript lefty, though with Rivera hitting cleanup I'd pencil Bautista in for at least 2 walks today. Probably would've batted Encarnacion or Nix fourth. I am looking forward to seeing how EE handles first. I've always been optimistic.
Jays and Mariners, 3:35, Jays -125.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20110413145948772