These ninth inning comebacks are all very exciting and everything, but I'd rather they result in a win.

I think we're all glad to see the back of Texas as the Jays lose another heartbreaker in Arlington.

I do still, for the record, believe.

OK, that was weird. In so many ways. For example:

Pitchers 	   IP  H  R  ER BB  SO  HR  PC-ST  ERA
S Downs (L, 0-1)  2.2  4  5   5  1   1   1  51-31  6.75
J Miller 	  2.1  5  4   4  0   2   3  41-24 15.43
B League 	  2.0  5  3   3  1   1   1  40-23  7.94
V Chulk           1.0  1  0   0  0   0   0  11-7   3.98

And Texas went into the 9th leading 12-3, and needed to bring in their closer before it was over. The Fighting Jays!

"And tonight's pitching matchup seems to favour the Jays to such a ridiculous degree that.... well, I actually have a bad feeling about it."

Me, four hours ago.

I humbly apologize. I never should have said that. I'm very, very sorry.

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

Thoughts?

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..."

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.

Roy Halladay showed Terry Francona who should be starting the All-Star Game. Nothing wrong with taking 2 of 3 from the defending champs in their own house, even if the ninth inning got a little tense there. A little?

Today's game concluded the first half of the season, and the Jays 41-40 record has them halfway to an 82-80 season. That's quite a bit better than last year, and a little bit better than my 79-83 forecast.

Still, it's always disappointing when you can't hold a 4-0 lead. Even if it is in Fenway.

Saw a few things tonight I don't see nearly often enough. Ted the Tease pitched with heart and courage and smarts. He really did. Russ Adams had a couple of big RBI hits to the opposite field. Eric Hinske hit an RBI double, off a breaking ball.

Jamie Campbell and Tom Candiotti, otherwise in good form, were inexplicably attributing Reed Johnson's recent struggles to a lack of playing time - too much playing time lately seems a much more likely explanation - but everybody loves a pinch-hit grand slam.

Yes, lots and lots of stuff to like tonight.

It was Josh Towers versus Mark Hendrickson in a Tropicana Field matinee, and Towers made a run at history before allowing a hit in the 7th inning. That was way more interesting than a 12-3 game had any right to be. Russ Adams shows his power and the Jays win big.

I said you wouldn't want to miss this one. Scott Kazmir and Roy Halladay both pitched fine games, although neither were around when this thing was finally settled. The Jays broke through for a couple in the 11th for a 3-1 victory, taking advantage of an obviously flagging Doug Waechter working his fifth inning of relief.

Bleh. I don't relish writing the Game Report for this "game."

Gustavo Chacin tries to stop the hurting. And he did with a little help from his friends.

Ted the Tease wasn't sharp. The Big Cyborg was. And in case you're wondering, the last Blue Jay extra-base hit was Shea Hillenbrand's 7th inning double on Thursday.

The Washington Nationals are 26-9 at home, which is the best home record in the major leagues. Why is that, anyway? Is there something about RFK that other teams haven't been able to adjust to?

He sat down, stared into the fire for a few seconds, and then said, "It begins, I suppose, with --- with a person called --- but it's incredible yeh don't know his name, everyone in our world knows---"
"Who?"
"Well --- I don' like sayin' the name if I can help it. No one does."
"Why not?"
"Gulpin' gargoyles, Harry, people are still scared."

Josh Towers could not overcome the evil one, who used both his arm and his bat to overcome the forces of Light and Goodness. We live in dark and desperate times.