Blue Jays: Larry Walker struggled in Toronto except for one game

Larry Walker will finally be deservedly enshrined in Cooperstown this summer, however, the slugger struggled in his six games north of the border versus the Toronto Blue Jays.

In saying that, Larry Walker only played in six games at the then Skydome versus the Blue Jays in his career. The newest member of the Hall of Fame struggled in all but one of those contests in his return to Canada.

Over the course of the six games, Walker hit .176 with three hits and a pair of home runs in 21 plate appearances. The two round-trippers came in the same game while a member of the St. Louis Cardinals in his final season in the majors.

Walker would come to Toronto in 2002 for a three-game series while with the Colorado Rockies and then again in 2005 with the Cardinals.

The first series would come in June of 2002, the Rockies were one-game above .500 while the Blue Jays were faltering with a 24-34 record.

COL@TOR 

Game 1- June 07th, 2002

The Jays would win the first game 8-0 on the heels of a complete game 2-hit shutout from none other than Roy Halladay. Walker was hitting third in the contest and came into the game hitting .319 on the season. The outfielder would end up going 0-2 with a hit by pitch versus Doc in the lopsided defeat.

Game 2- June 08th, 2002

The Blue Jays were once again the recipients of a solid pitching performance from Pete Walker winning the game 3-1. Walker was again the three-slot for the Rockies and went 0-3 with a walk in the loss.

Game 3- June 09th, 2002

The Blue Jays would cap off the sweep in walk-off fashion 3-2 in a game that Walker did not start. Joe Lawrence would win the game in the bottom of the 9th for the Jays with a sacrifice fly scoring Chris Woodward. Walker would pinch-hit in the contest in the 9th inning for Juan Uribe but wound up flying out to third base.

For the series, Walker would go 0-6 with a walk and a hit by pitch.

STL@TOR

Game 4- June 13th, 2005

The Cardinals would come into the series with an impressive 40-23 record while the Jays were hovering around .500 at 32-32. Walker would again face Halladay who would toss another complete game as the Jays took the contest 4-1. Walker was batting cleanup and went 0-4 with two strikeouts versus Doc.

Game 5- June 14th, 2005

The Cardinals came out hitting in this one versus an overmatched Chad Gaudin who took the bump for the Jays. Walker would have himself a day, going 3-4 with a pair of two-run homers along with a single and a walk.

Former Blue Jays hurler Chris Carpenter would go the distance for the Cards in a 7-0 romp.

Game 6- June 15th, 2005

The rubber match would see the Jays win 5-2 thanks to seven strong innings from Ted Lilly. Walker would come back down to earth going 0-3 with a walk in the loss. For the series, Walker would go 3-11 with two homers and a pair of walks.

Over the course of his career, his teams went 1-5 at the Skydome and Walker was hitless in all but one of the games.

Regardless of the small sample size in Toronto, Walker is undoubtedly a Hall of Famer and I was happy to see him finally get what his rightful place in Cooperstown.