Game 6 Thread: Toronto Blue Jays (2-3) vs New York Yankees (2-2)

Apr 4, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Melky Cabrera (53) rounds second base after hitting a home run during the first inning in a game against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

A excitement surrounded the home opener for the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night, including Roy Halladay throwing out the first pitch and Masahiro Tanaka making his Major League debut. Unfortunately, the Blue Jays were not able to tap into that excitement and dropped the game to the Yankees by a 7-3 score.

It was a shaky start for Dustin McGowan, his first in nearly over 3 years. The right-hander lasted just 2.2 inning on the night, needing 72 pitches in the process. Overall, he surrendered 8 hits and 4 runs while walking 1 and striking out 3. However, there appeared to be a reason for his struggles, as Mark Mulder indicated on Twitter last night.

The Jays did their best early to keep themselves in the game, getting to Tanaka in both of the first two innings and holding a 3-2 lead after two. However, the Japanese import would settle down and get through 7 innings with 8 strike-outs on the night, showing his poise and value in his first start.

Well, Saturday is another day and the Toronto Blue Jays will try to rebound and return to the land of .500 records at 1:07pm with another match-up against the Yankees.

Toronto Blue Jays Lineup:

Melky Cabrera LF
Colby Rasmus CF
Jose Bautista RF
Edwin Encarnacion 1B
Adam Lind DH
Brett Lawrie 3B
Josh Thole C
Ryan Goins 2B
Jonathan Diaz SS

R.A. Dickey P

New York Yankees Lineup:

Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Derek Jeter SS
Carlos Beltran RF
Brian McCann DH
Alfonso Soriano LF
Kelly Johnson 1B
Francisco Cervelli C
Yangervis Solarte 3B
Dean Anna 2B

Michael Pineda P

Of Note:

– Maicer Izturis is again on the bench for today’s game, despite swinging the hot bat. With a bottom three featuring Thole, Goins, and Diaz, the Blue Jays would have been well served to get Izturis’ bat into the mix to break that string of pitchers weak bats up.

– Colby Rasmus has struck out 8 times in 5 games against 1 hit and 2 walks. Seems to be the logical choice to keep batting in the two hole (insert sarcastic tone here).

– R.A. Dickey is 5-3 with a 2.88 ERA and a 7.0 K/9 ratio against the New York Yankees over the course of his career. He went 2-2 with a 2.54 ERA and a 8.6 K/9 ratio against the Bombers in 2013.

– This is the first start at the Major League level for Michael Pineda since 2011 when he finished 5th in the Rookie of the Year voting and was an All-Star for the Seattle Mariners. Since being acquired in the big Jesus Montero trade prior to the 2012 season, the 25-year-old has dealt with various shoulder issues, including a labrum tear. He’s faced Toronto three times in his career, holding a 1-0 record, but a 5.30 ERA and has surrendered 18 hits and 4 home runs to Blue Jays batters in 18.1 innings of work.