The Blue Jays showed why they lead the league in hitting tonight, as they hit White Sox pitching harder than any other team has all year long. Toronto hit four homers and cruised to an easy victory in the series opener.
The Jays broke Freddy Garcia’s streak of seven straight consecutive victories, and also foiled his bid to become the American League’s first eight-game winner by jumping on him right away – as early as the second pitch. On a 1-0 count, Freddy grooved one down the middle and Rios blasted it over the left center wall for a quick 1-0 lead.
While that would be the only run Toronto would score in that inning, the first frame already defined how this game would play out. The Jays made Garcia throw 28 pitches, while the Sox only saw seven from Toronto starter Ted Lilly.
Toronto didn’t stop mashing – Vernon Wells hit a two-run homer in the third (after just missing one down the left field line in the first), and Troy Glaus (starting at shortstop) hit a solo shot in the fifth that might’ve traveled over 500 feet, hitting the top of the glass in the SkyDome. The doubles and singles were also smoked, as well as many of the outs. Freddy didn’t fool anybody, mainly because he couldn’t establish the outside corner. Jays hitters were able to extend their arms and pound the ball mercilessly.
Neither could Cliff Politte, who pitched the last two innings and gave up three runs, including another big home run to Reed Johnson. Neal Cotts was the only pitcher to escape unscathed, and he was helped by an excellent diving stab by Joe Crede that kept a runner at third base.
Meanwhile, Paul Konerko was the only one who could figure out Lilly, as Paulie launched two solo homers for the only Sox scoring of the game. Even though they drew four walks off Lilly, they seemed awfully impatient when they would be better served seeing more pitches. Jim Thome swung at the first pitch twice, including when he came to the plate representing the tying run against former Sox Scott Schoeneweis, grounding out weakly both times.
To relate this back to the discussion about “real records,” this is the definition of a true loss – a sound beating in all phases of the game. Maybe Ozzie Guillen (the third base coach during Joey Cora’s suspension) needs to get back in the dugout.
Record: 31-16 |
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