Romero Rebounds But Jays Lose Both Ends of Twin Bill

When your pitching does its job and holds the mighty New York Yankees line-up to just 6 runs combined in a double-header, you should be in a good position to grab at least one victory in the set. Instead, the Blue Jays offense could muster just 3 runs of their own, and dropped both games of the day-night twin bill with New York, losing game 1 by a score of 4-2 and the nightcap by a tally of 2-1.

Sept. 19, 2012; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Ichiro Suzuki (31) slides under the tag of Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Kelly Johnson (2) during the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium. Yanks won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIREGame 1 got off to a precarious start, as the Yankees touched up Henderson Alvarez for 3 runs in the first inning, but the right-hander settled down from there, giving Toronto 7 solid innings, allowing just 5 hits and striking out seven while walking none.

Unfortunately, while the Jays offense outhit the Yankees 10-7, they were unable to push across any runs off of starter Andy Pettitte, who last 5 innings, giving up 4 hits, walking a pair, and striking out 3. The Jays would finally get on the board in the top of the eighth, when Omar Vizquel and Kelly Johnson plated a pair off of David Robertson, but the rally would die there.

With Ricky Romero and his 13-game losing streak slated to start the night cap, most did not know what to expect from the slumping Jays ace. However, Romero took a big step forward with a solid, but spectacular outing. He three 6 innings of 1-run baseball while striking out 5 in the game. He did walk 5 hitters and gave up 7 hits, but he showed some resiliency by working out of jams and keeping the base-runners from hurting him.

However, the Jays offense again struggled in the game, only accruing 3 singles and 3 walks in the game. The only Jays run would score in the second inning when Adeiny Hechavarria grounded a single up the middle to score J.P. Arrencibia. They would again threaten with two outs in the seventh, loading the bases after Arrencibia reached on a throwing error by Derek Jeter, a Yan Gomes single, and a walk to Hechavarria, but Moises Sierra would ground out with the tying run on third to end the threat.

The Blue Jays, while doing an excellent job on the pitching front, were truly victimized by Ichiro Suzuki, who played Wednesday like it 2004 again. For the twin-bill, Suzuki was a combined 7 for 8 with a pair of doubles, scoring 2 runs, driving in 1, and stealing 4 bases.

The Blue Jays will attempt to right wagon and avoid the sweep on Thursday night when they send Aaron Laffey to the mound to face off against the Yankees Phil Hughes.