Blue Jays fans received bad news on Thursday when Toronto placed rookie starter Ricky Romero (right oblique) and closer B.J. Ryan (left trapezius) on the 15-day disabled list.
Romero has looked great so far this season, going 2-0 with a 1.71 ERA in three starts. The struggling Ryan has a pair of saves, but has also blown two other save opportunities, and owns an 11.12 ERA.
In case you haven't been keeping track, the Jays have been thin in the pitching department, having already lost three starters: Jesse Litsch, Dustin McGowan, and Shaun Marcum. Yahoo! Sports is reporting that Litsch could return by June, McGowan by mid-June to late July, and Marcum by August.
Despite all that, the Jays just keep winning.
On Thursday, the Jays knocked off the Texas Rangers 5-2 to win their fifth straight series to start the season. Canadian Scott Richmond (2-0) scattered six hits—including two home runs—in six innings for the victory, while Scott Downs picked up his first save of the season.
Alex Rios finally hit his first homer of the season, a two-run blast, while Vernon Wells and Lyle Overbay added solo shots.
On Friday night, the Blue Jays were at it again, as they began a three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago.
Brian Tallet, who pitched well in place of Litsch last Saturday (but didn't pick up the win), made his second start since 2006—and the eighth of his ML career—and this time, did he ever get the run support.
It turned out to be a laugher.
The Blue Jays battered White Sox starter Gavin Floyd for six runs and nine hits in only 4 1/3 innings, as Toronto won, 14-0.
The Jays outhit the White Sox 21-6.
Seemed more like a football game than a baseball contest.
The 14 runs and 21 hits were both season highs.
Meanwhile, Tallet allowed four hits and three walks, striking out five in his 5 2/3 innings of work. By the time he was relieved, the Jays were already up by four field goals.
Tallet had a 3-0 lead even before he even needed to take the mound. Wells doubled home two runs before Adam Lind doubled Wells home to give the lefty the three-run cushion.
Scott Rolen singled home Rios in the third inning to give Toronto a 4-0 lead.
In the fifth, Gavin threw two wild pitches and gave up two singles with a walk, before he was finally lifted by White Sox skipper Ozzie Guillen. Aaron Hill later added an RBI single in the same inning as the Jays were up 6-zip.
Six hits by the Jays in the sixth—including four in a row—upped the lead to 12-0.
Seemingly every Blue Jays batter contributed in the blowout win. Everyone in the starting lineup—except Overbay, who went 0-for-4—had at least one hit.
Lind finished the game with three doubles, while Hill drove in three runs. Rod Barajas went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, and Jose Bautista added a solo homer in the ninth to close out the scoring. Marco Scutaro (3-for-4), Wells (3-for-5, 2 RBIs), and Travis Snider (3-for-5) also each collected three hits.
A good sign for the Blue Jays—they were able to capitalize on the opportunities given to them on Friday night. After a leadoff walk to Scutaro, Hill reached base when White Sox shortstop Ramirez muffed his grounder. Rios struck out, but Wells delivered with the two-run double.
Good to see the Jays not wasting the extra out given to them.
Toronto is now 13-5, and sends lefty Brian Burres (0-2, 6.97 in Triple-A Las Vegas) to the hill on Saturday night. The White Sox counter with Mark Buehrle (2-0, 3.00).
Roy Halladay (3-1, 3.72) starts Sunday against Jose Contreras (0-3, 8.04).
Even if the Jays don't win Saturday, they should be able to win their sixth straight series—after all, Doc will be starting on Sunday.
Fun times for the Blue Jays!
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