After a tough loss on Tuesday night, the Jays came back for the series win. Swee-ee-t. Last night's game had the feel of a loss in the making early on. Falling behind 2-0 with Harden looking sharp on the mound is not a recipe for success, but the boys used patience and the big hit from Vernon along with fine bullpen work to head for Texas with a second straight W notched in their belts.

Three wins, one loss, one rainout and one ... well, we're really not sure what to call what happened to the Auburn Doubledays last night. If it was a novel, it'd be Crime and Punishment. If it was a movie, it'd be The Last Emperor. If it was a TV show, it would be the last nine seasons of The Simpsons. The word we're searching for here is "interminable." Read all about it....

Vernon Wells hit a big homer, and a nice team pitching effort gave the Jays the series win.

Thoughts?

Batter's Box welcomes another Pinch-Hit Game Report -- this time, from Box regular King Rat. If you'd like to volunteer to be a Pinch-Hit Game Reporter, e-mail us with your available dates and any writing samples you'd like to point us towards. Let 'er rip, Your Majesty!

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Last night's game was sort of a very pleasant demonstration of Sod's Law. A more expansive version of Murphy's Law, it holds that as soon as you commit yourself to a statement, events will immediately demonstrate just how wrong you are.

Augustine knew temptation
He loved women, wine and song
And all the special pleasures
Of doing something wrong
I said yeah

Updated with a contest: see the comments.

Since VBF guessed what the big surprise was going to be, I decided to move it up to today:

Click on the links below to download the image in desktop-size:

Mayor Couture's "team", the Bristol Sox (CWS), exploded against the Pulaski Blue Jays so much, they broke MiLB.com. As such, I'm not sure that Pulaski lost, but I'm pretty sure.

So make it a 4-3 night unless the P-Jays pulled it out. I don't know if they did, to be honest with you. I went to bed. If it was Triple-A, I might have stayed up to get the final score.

Ted the Tease was absolutely superb, folks. Frank Menechino and Russ Adams turned some big double plays and also contributed most of the offense. At least until Reed Johnson and Vernon Wells tacked on a couple of big, piling-on, put-it-out-of-reach, hits.

But still.... I think the best moment was when Rod Black said "if there's smoke where there's fire..."

Dime si de veras crees que se pueden
Desviar a los planetas
De una trayectoria de colisión.

Yesterday was Shea Hillenbrand, and today is Roy Halladay:

So don’t become some background noise
A backdrop for the girls and boys
Who just don’t know or just don’t care
And just complain when you’re not there
You had your time you had the power
You’ve yet to have your finest hour

Auburn took the Jamestown Jammers' pitchers deep 6 times as the affiliates took 3 of 5 games. New Hampshire was rained out.

Another Pinch-Hit Game Report from Batter's Box regular Elijah, who fills us in on last night's 10-7 Blue Jays' loss to Oakland. Look for another Pinch-Hit Game Report tomorrow, too. If you'd like to volunteer to be a Pinch-Hit Game Reporter, e-mail us with your available dates and any writing samples you'd like to point us towards. Take it away, Elijah!

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Gord Miller said it best on the TSN broadcast (and as bumpy as Miller was at times, it sure was nice to not have to suffer through 11 innings of Rod Black) -- "This game had a little bit of everything."

The Swingin' (and, often, Takin') A's come into town on one of their trademark charges up the standings. What once appeared to be a good opportunity for the Jays to pick up ground after a tough road trip now appears to be a substantial challenge. Indeed, none of the pitching matchups seem to favour the Jays, who are hoping to build on their solid recent play.

That said, this Oakland club has built their recent resume on an awful lot of home dates, and against some suspect competition. The moment of truth is nigh for the Beaneiacs, who tonight embark on a tough trip to Toronto and Chicago, and return from the All-Star Break with eleven crucial meetings with the Angels and Rangers.

This week's Scout features some rapidly developing young talent, a tough-as-nails Canadian and an outfielder who may, in fact, be staying put.

On to the Advance Scout!

First, the Jays jumped in front 2-0. Josh Towers instantly gave up the lead. Trailing 3-2, the Jays scored once to tie the game. So Pete Walker comes in and gives up a couple of runs. Now trailing 5-3, the Jays score in the 6th and 7th to tie it up again. So Vinnie Chulk gives up a couple more, to put the home side down 7-5. But a run in the 8th and another in the 9th tied it again. Finally, in the 11th inning, Oakland scored 3 off Miguel Batista, and this time the Jays had no more comebacks.