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TORONTO – You know a baseball team is red hot when its rolling out different heroes each day. C.J. Spiller Bills Jersey . Edwin Encarnacion carried the torch for two days at Fenway Park this week; Melky Cabrera and Jose Bautista have had their moments; lately Anthony Gose has contributed. In Friday nights edge-of-your-seat, 3-2 victory over Oakland, the heroes were different. One of them made his Blue Jays debut, Liam Hendriks, a 25-year-old who grew up on the other side of the world in Australia. Just up from Triple-A Buffalo, hed managed to fly his wife, Kristi, up from Fort Myers, Florida. His mother, Debbie, was home watching him pitch, sipping a Saturday morning coffee while he toiled on a Friday night. Another, Steve Tolleson, is playing for his third major league team and in his sixth big league organization. Oh, and theres still Encarnacion, although it was his defence Blue Jays fans would celebrate on this night, his home run bat tucked away but likely to reemerge at any moment. Hendriks pitched 5 2/3 innings of one run ball. He allowed three hits and walked three Athletics. At times he was hit hard, needing almost every inch of the 375 feet to the power alleys and the 400 feet to dead centerfield. But, as is the case when a team is rolling, things seem to go its way. "I felt really good early," said Hendriks. "I kind of got away from my game plan a little bit in the last couple of innings but the defence picked me up big time. I mean, when youve got guys like this behind you it gives you that much extra confidence that you can go out there and youre not having to strike everybody out. Its fantastic." Entering the game Hendriks had two career wins and an ERA north of six spread over parts of three seasons with Minnesota. He won his third career game. His ERA came down. The 30-year-old Tolleson contributed the big offensive blow, a two out, two-run home run in the second that broke the scoreless tie and gave Toronto a lead it wouldnt relinquish. The less talked about part of his game were the two big double plays turned in the third and seventh innings. On both occasions, Oaklands Nick Punto slid hard and fair into Tolleson. Each time, he made the turn. "Thats what a second baseman is here to do," said Tolleson. "The main goal is to get the ball turn. On this turf it allows us to play a little bit deeper but when you play deeper it also gives you time to get on you a little bit more. We got some big ones turned today and it was great to come out with that win." Encarnacion made two great defensive plays. Holding on a runner with two out in the sixth, he came off the bag and dived to his right to snag Josh Reddicks hard hit ground ball. Encarnacion sprung to his feet and slid into first, beating a hustling Reddick to the bag by a couple of steps. Then in the eighth, Oakland had two on and one out. The Jays led, at the time, 3-1. Yoenis Cespedes hit a flare to shallow right field. Encarnacion tracked the ball, making an over-the-shoulder, basket catch for the second out. "The last week or so I think hes played as good as Ive ever seen play over there," said manager John Gibbons. "That ball over his head today, I dont know if thats going to hit fair or foul but thats huge at that moment. Eddie, hes a big guy but hes a pretty good athlete." The Jays have won four in a row, nine of 11 and 14 of 19. R.A. Dickey will make the start on Saturday afternoon and with the forecast calling for a clear day and 23C, the roof may be open. Oakland will counter with former Blue Jay Jesse Chavez. REYES DEFENCE There have been times, since his return from tightness in his right hamstring, that Jose Reyes has had trouble getting to ground balls which require a number of strides to either his left or his right. Reyes disputes any suggestion hes struggled defensively. "I think Ive been playing very good defence," Reyes told TSN.ca. "I feel like everything is there. Last year I had a tough time going to my left side because my ankle but this year my ankle has been 100-percent. I feel like Im moving around the field very good. I have no problem." Reyes is right on both counts. His defence is much better than last year and he can blame his ankle injury for decreased range. According to fangraphs.com Reyes Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR), a mathematical equation which calculates the number of runs saved or given up by a defender, is -1.1 so far this year. Thats a big improvement over his -5.3 of 2013. Still, the calculation suggests Reyes is an average to below-average defender. The great equalizer is Reyes plus arm. Typically, if he gets to the ball he will throw the runner out. Reyes insists hes healthy. The way hes running the bases, hes stolen seven and been caught only once and has appeared comfortable stretching base hits into doubles, reflects his claim. Running the bases and playing shortstop make different demands on the body. "When you run the bases you just run the bases but when you go side to side there are different steps you have to make," said Reyes. "I think its a little different. But like I said, everything feels good. My hamstring now, thank God, is 100-percent. I can go full out no problem." JANSSEN BACK IN FORM Casey Janssen is a perfect six-for-six in save opportunities since his return from an oblique strain on May 12. He hasnt thrown more than 19 pitches in any of his six appearances – that number reached in his first outing – and hes had a runner in scoring position only once. For a guy who missed most of spring training due to shoulder discomfort and then didnt throw for most of April thanks to the oblique problem, Janssen hasnt missed a beat. Dont expect a cake and balloons celebration, though. "Im not satisfied unless Im darn near perfect," said Janssen. "Thats the expectation I put on myself. I havent thought of it as Oh, Im doing so great, Im just doing what I hope and expect to do." Janssen picked up his fourth and fifth saves on Tuesday and Wednesday nights in Boston. Manager John Gibbons said after the game on Wednesday he wouldnt use Janssen on a third-straight day. Then, on Thursday afternoon, Gibbons suggested Janssen had asked not to be ruled out. Turns out there was no save situation in the series finale, a 7-2 Blue Jays win, but would Janssen have been available? "Do I think I could have? Yes. Do I think that in a smart, perfect world, do they need to push that right then? Probably not," said Janssen. "Its a long year. Weve got hopefully a lot of wins to come if we continue to play like were going to play were going to be in a race in August and September. I think thats when you push guys a little bit more to their limits." With an inning under his belt in Fridays 3-2 win, Janssen has pitched on three of the last four days and on four of the last seven. Time will tell how he holds up but since his return, hes answered the call each time hes been needed. ROGERS DESIGNATED FOR ASSIGNMENT The Blue Jays are loathe to expose pitching depth to waivers but thanks to his poor start and the need to create a roster spot for Friday nights starter, Liam Hendriks, reliever Esmil Rogers was designated for assignment. "Hed been scuffling," said manager John Gibbons. "We had to make a move with somebody. We want to get a look at Rasmussen and see what he can do." After a solid 2013 season, his first in Toronto, which saw Rogers pitch effectively in relief and make 20 starts to cover injuries in the rotation, he never got on track this year. In 16 relief appearances, 20 2/3 innings, Rogers posted a 6.97 ERA and a 5.34 FIP. Most egregious was the home runs against number. The five Rogers allowed was the most on the pitching staff, starters included. Rogers final appearance came on Wednesday at Fenway Park. He entered the game in the eighth with the Blue Jays leading 6-1. He was touched for three runs on three hits and turned a comfortable lead into a nailbiter. "I dont think you can pin it on one outing," said Gibbons. "Its been a struggle for him." Rogers, 28, was acquired from Cleveland for Yan Gomes and Mike Aviles on November 3, 2012. He was, indirectly, the asset the Blue Jays had from John Farrells departure to the Red Sox. Rogers is owed $1.85 million this season. Keith Rivers Jersey . Making his first start of the preseason, Miller put the ‘Caps ahead in the 26th minute and Mattocks added an insurance marker – his second goal in as many matches – to carry the ‘Caps to victory. Recently acquired goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi looked sharp when called upon, making a pair of saves to earn a clean sheet in his first appearance with Whitecaps FC. T.J.Graham Bills Jersey . Adams State Universitys Josh Kioh takes flight with a bounce pass alley-oop 360. We dont know who soared in the air for longer, Kioh, or the kids flying around the gym after the destruction.ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Detroit wide receiver Ryan Broyles is dealing with another season-ending injury. Coach Jim Schwartz says Broyles has a ruptured Achilles tendon and will have surgery Tuesday. Broyles was hurt in Sundays 31-30 win over Dallas. Broyles rookie season in 2012 was halted when he went down with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Kraig Urbik Jersey. . He also tore the ACL in his left knee when he was a senior at Oklahoma. The 25-year-old Broyles has eight catches this season. His injury leaves the Lions thin at wide receiver beyond star Calvin Johnson. Nate Burleson is making his way back after injuring his arm in a car crash last month. ' ' ' |
