TORONTO AT BOSTON
at 7:10 p.m. ET, Fenway Park

BLUE JAYS (64-57, 10.5 GB AL EAST)
1. Fred Lewis, DH
2. Yunel Escobar, SS
3. Jose Bautista, RF
4. Vernon Wells, CF
5. John Buck, C
6. Aaron Hill, 2B
7. Lyle Overbay, 1B
*8. John McDonald, 3B
9. Travis Snider, LF

Pitching: Ricky Romero (10-7, 3.43)

RED SOX (69-54, 6.5 GB AL EAST)
1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. J. D. Drew, RF
3. Victor Martinez, C
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Adrian Beltre, 3B
6. Mike Lowell, 1B
7. Bill Hall, LF
8. Yamaico Navarro, 2B
9. Darnell McDonald, CF

Pitching: Daisuke Matsuzaka (8-4, 4.17)

*3B Edwin Encarnacion still day-to-day with a sore left wrist. Manager Cito Gaston said the third baseman might be able to play on Sunday. DH Adam Lind held out of the lineup for the second game in a row due to his career numbers (3-for-23) against Matsuzaka.

–JB

I’m back…

TORONTO AT BOSTON
at 7:10 p.m. ET, Fenway Park

BLUE JAYS (63-57, 11.5 GB AL EAST)
1. Fred Lewis, DH
2. Yunel Escobar, SS
3. Jose Bautista, RF
4. Vernon Wells, CF
5. John Buck, C
6. Aaron Hill, 2B
7. Lyle Overbay, 1B
*8. John McDonald, 3B
9. Travis Snider, LF

Pitching: Brett Cecil (9-6, 3.96)

RED SOX (69-53, 6.5 GB AL EAST)
1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. Jed Lowrie, 2B
3. Victor Martinez, C
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Adrian Beltre, 3B
6. Mike Lowell, 1B
7. J.D. Drew, RF
8. Bill Hall, LF
9. Darnell McDonald, CF

Pitching: Jon Lester (13-7, 2.80)

*3B Edwin Encarnacion was a late scratch due to left wrist soreness and is considered day-to-day

–JB

BOSTON AT TORONTO
at 12:37 p.m. ET, Rogers Centre

RED SOX (66-49, 5.0 GB AL EAST)
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Jed Lowrie, SS
3. Victor Martinez, 1B
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Adrian Beltre, 3B
6. J.D. Drew, RF
7. Bill Hall, 2B
8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
9. Darnell McDonald, LF

Pitching: John Lackey (10-7, 4.60)

BLUE JAYS (59-54, 11.0 GB AL EAST)
1. Fred Lewis, DH
2. Yunel Escobar, SS
3. Jose Bautista, RF
4. Vernon Wells, CF
5. Adam Lind, 1B
6. Aaron Hill, 2B
7. Travis Snider, LF
8. Edwin Encarnacion, 3B
9. Jose Molina, C

Pitching: Brad Mills (1-0, 4.09)

–JB

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BOSTON AT TORONTO
at 7:07 p.m. ET, Rogers Centre

RED SOX (65-49, 5.0 GB AL EAST)
1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. J.D. Drew, RF
3. Victor Martinez, C
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Adrian Beltre, 3B
6. Mike Lowell, 1B
7. Ryan Kalish, LF
8. Bill Hall, 2B
9. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF

Pitching: Clay Buchholz (12-5, 2.66)

BLUE JAYS (59-53, 10.0 GB AL EAST)
1. Travis Snider, LF
2. Yunel Escobar, SS
3. Jose Bautista, RF
4. Vernon Wells, CF
5. Adam Lind, DH
6. Aaron Hill, 2B
7. Lyle Overbay, 1B
8. Edwin Encarnacion, 3B
9. J.P. Arencibia, C

Pitching: Shaun Marcum (10-5, 3.44)

TORONTO — Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston wanted to clarify some comments he made Tuesday afternoon during a MLB Network SIRUIS XM radio interview with Jim Bowden. Gaston is not considering returning as Toronto’s manager after this season.

According to Bowden’s Twitter page, Gaston said, “If I was pushed to stay another year I would … but if I’m asked to step aside I will.”

Gaston explained his comment to reporters prior to Tuesday’s game against the Red Sox at Rogers Centre.

“You should’ve heard what he said,” Gaston said of the interview. “He said, ‘It’s unacceptable for you to leave.’ So I said to him, ‘You should be my agent,’ and he said, ‘Ten percent,’ and he’ll do it. So I said to him, ‘No. You know what? I’m going to leave.’ I said, ‘If they ask me to come back, I might think about it, but I’m probably still going to leave.’ That’s the way that went.”

Gaston plans on shifting into an advisory role with the Blue Jays following this season and general manager Alex Anthopoulos is currently in the midst of conducting a search for a new manager. Asked if the issue of returning or retiring was completely settled in his mind, Gaston said it was.

“In my mind? Yeah, it’s pretty final for me that I’m going to leave,” Gaston said. “I’ve said it a few times that I think it’s best for the ballclub. I think they’ll get somebody in here that’s going to be here for a few years. As I told him, if I was a little bit younger, and I wanted to be around for two or three more years, which I think that would be OK, then I’d probably be kicking and screaming trying to stay here.

“But, that’s not the case for me. If I do come back, it would only be for one year, so what is that going to do for anybody unless it gives them time to find who they want. But, Alex, I’m pretty sure he’s on the job looking right now. It’s OK. I’m ready to go. No problem”

————————————–

BOSTON AT TORONTO
at 7:07 p.m. ET, Rogers Centre

RED SOX (64-49, 6.0 GB AL EAST)
1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. J.D. Drew, RF
3. Victor Martinez, C
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Adrian Beltre, 3B
6. Mike Lowell, 1B
7. Bill Hall, LF
8. Jed Lowrie, 2B
9. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF

Pitching: Daisuke Matsuzaka (8-3, 3.96)

BLUE JAYS (59-52, 10.0 GB AL EAST)
1. Fred Lewis, CF
2. Travis Snider, LF
3. Jose Bautista, RF
4. Aaron Hill, 2B
5. Adam Lind, DH
6. Edwin Encarnacion, 3B
7. Lyle Overbay, 1B
8. J.P. Arencibia, C
9. John McDonald, SS

Pitching: Ricky Romero (9-7, 3.37)

NOTES: SS Yunel Escobar was a late scratch with a sore right knee. … CF Vernon Wells is sidelined with a dislocated right big toe. Wells and Gaston were both optimistic that the center fielder would return to the lineup on Wednesday. Wells said the toe will be taped and noted that there is more discomfort when running than when hitting. … LHP Brett Cecil cut his left knee this week and has been pushed back until Saturday for his next start. Cecil required three stitches, according to Gaston. … LHP Brad Mills will start on Thursday and then will be sent back to Triple-A Las Vegas. The Jays will promote LHP Marc Rzepczynski from Vegas to start on Friday. … RHP Brandon Morrow is being given some extra rest after Sunday’s 137-pitch gem. Morrow’s next start will be on Aug. 17. … All of this means the upcoming rotation will be Romero (today), followed by Shaun Marcum, Mills, Rzepcznynski, Cecil, Romero, Marcum and Morrow.

————————————–

UPDATE: Here is the transcript from Gaston’s interview with Bowden earlier today on the MLB Newtork Radio channel on SIRIUS XM:

Bowden: “Cito, you said before the season started that you would step aside after the season, maybe stay in an advisory role, but your club is seven games over .500. This is a team that’s up and coming, it’s developing, it’s only going to get better. I think it’s unacceptable that you step aside. Will you reconsider your position?”

Gaston: (laughs) “I like that. You should be my agent.”

Bowden: “Well for 10 percent I’m willing to take it on. Call me after the show.” (laughs)

Gaston: “Well, you know what, if I was a little bit younger I would love to stay here ’cause I can see them moving forward nd I want to be a part of it and I will be a part of it, but probably as an advisor. If I was pushed to stay here another year that’s fine, but I think they really need to get somebody in here that’s going to be around here two or three, maybe three more years and I don’t intend to stay that long one way or the other. So you know what, it’s no problem for me to step aside and as I said before if I’m asked to stay another year I might think about it, but I doubt it. I’m just going to be on the outside looking in and trying to help a little bit while I’m looking in.”

 –JB

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Blue Jays right-hander Brandon Morrow flirted with history on Sunday, coming within one out of the second no-hitter in franchise history. Here is a look at the 10 closest calls in Toronto franchise history.

Date: Aug. 8, 2010
Score: Blue Jays 1, Rays 0

Pitcher: Brandon Morrow

Slipped away when… Even Longoria singled with two outs in the ninth.

Final line: 9 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 17 K, W

Quote: “I was excited. That’s my first complete game, first shutout. Those things combined are more than enough to overcome the missed no-hitter.”
                             — Morrow

——————————————–

Date: June 24, 2007
Score: Blue Jays 5, Rockies 0

Pitcher: Dustin McGowan

Slipped away when… Jeff Baker singled with no outs in the ninth.

Final line: 9 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, W

——————————————–

Date: Sept. 27, 1998
Score: Blue Jays 2, Tigers 1

Pitcher: Roy Halladay

Slipped away when… Bobby Higginson homered with two outs in the ninth.

Final line: 9 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, W

——————————————–

Date: June 17, 1995
Score: Blue Jays 4, Rangers 3

Pitcher: David Cone

Slipped away when… Benji Gil singled with one out in the ninth.

Final line: 9 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, W

——————————————–

Date: Aug. 4, 1989
Score: Blue Jays 2, Yankees 1

Pitcher: Dave Stieb

Slipped away when… Roberto Kelly doubled with two outs in the ninth.

Final line: 9 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 11 K, W

——————————————–

Date: Sept. 30, 1988
Score: Blue Jays 4, Orioles 0

Pitcher: Dave Stieb

Slipped away when… Jim Traber singled with two outs in the ninth.

Final line: 9 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, W

——————————————–

Date: Sept. 24, 1988
Score: Blue Jays 1, Indians 0

Pitcher: Dave Stieb

Slipped away when… Julio Franco singled with two outs in the ninth.

Final line: 9 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, W

——————————————–

Date: Aug. 24, 1985
Score: Blue Jays 6, White Sox 3

Pitcher: Dave Stieb

Slipped away when… Rudy Law homered with no outs in the ninth.

Final line: 8 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 2 HR, W

——————————————–

Date: June 6, 1985
Score: Blue Jays 2, Tigers 0, 12 innings

Pitcher: Jimmy Key

Slipped away when… Tom Brookens singled with no outs in the ninth.

Final line: 10 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, ND

——————————————–

Date: Sept. 28, 1982
Score: Blue Jays 3, Twins 0

Pitcher: Jim Clancy

Slipped away when… Randy Bush singled with no outs in the ninth.

Final line: 9 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, W

–JB

 

TAMPA BAY AT TORONTO
at 1:07 p.m. ET, Rogers Centre

RAYS (67-43, 1.5 GB AL EAST)
1. Ben Zobrist, RF
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. Evan Longoria, 3B
4. Dan Johnson, 1B
5. Matt Joyce, DH
6. John Jaso, C
7. B.J. Upton, CF
8. Reid Brignac, 2B
9. Jason Bartlett, SS

Pitching: Andy Sonnanstine (2-0, 4.22)

BLUE JAYS (58-52, 10.5 GB AL EAST)
1. DeWayne Wise, LF
2. Yunel Escobar, SS
3. Jose Bautista, RF
4. Vernon Wells, CF
5. Adam Lind, DH
6. Aaron Hill, 2B
7. Lyle Overbay, 1B
8. Edwin Encarnacion, 3B
9. Jose Molina, C

Pitching: Brandon Morrow (8-6, 4.79)

–JB

TAMPA BAY AT TORONTO
at 1:07 p.m. ET, Rogers Centre

RAYS (67-42, 0.5 GB AL EAST)
1. B.J. Upton, CF
2. Dan Johnson, 1B
3. Evan Longoria, 3B
4. Matt Joyce, LF
5. Willy Aybar, DH
6. Ben Zobrist, 1B
7. John Jaso, C
8. Jason Bartlett, SS
9. Reid Brignac, 2B

Pitching: James Shields (10-9, 4.54)

BLUE JAYS (57-52, 10.5 GB AL EAST)
1. Travis Snider, LF
2. Yunel Escobar, SS
3. Jose Bautista, RF
4. Vernon Wells, CF
5. Adam Lind, DH
6. Aaron Hill, 2B
7. Lyle Overbay, 1B
8. Edwin Encarnacion, 3B
9. J.P. Arencibia, C

Pitching: Brad Mills (1-0, 0.00)

–JB

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FIRST: As much criticism as Kevin Gregg has faced this season, it seems only right to take a moment to give the closer some credit.

Sure there’s been plenty of suspense — there was again in Friday’s 2-1 win over the Rays — but Gregg has converted 25 saves in 29 chances with a 3.59 ERA.

I’d say that’s as good, or perhaps better, than people expected when he was named Toronto’s closer.

The last time he faced the Rays in Toronto, Gregg endured a 40-pitch disaster. It was June 1 and he surrendered four runs on one hit with five walks. And he was ejected from the game. Talk about forgettable.

This time around, Gregg allowed a leadoff single (panic!), but retired the next three Rays hitters in order. He caught Willy Aybar looking at a 3-2 pitch to end a 9-pitch at-bat. He then induced a flyout off the bat of Ben Zobrist and got Jason Bartlett to ground into a game-ending fielder’s choice.

Since that June 1 meltdown, Gregg has posted a 2.41 ERA over 19 games, picking up 11 saves in 12 opportunities. Really, has it been that bad?

SECOND: The key moment in this victory came in the sixth inning, when Cecil put the first two hitters on base in a 1-1 game. He walked B.J. Upton and then gave up a single to Sean Rodrigues. No worries, though.

Evan Longoria followed with a 5-4-3 groundout, finished off with a nice scoop by Lyle Overbay at first base.

“If you get the ball up to [Longoria],” Cecil said, “he’s going to drive it to right-center or left center, depending on where the pitch is. They key with him is really staying down. It was a back-door cutter. It got a little bit more over the plate, but it had that good tilt to it and ended up getting a ground ball.”

After walking Aybar to put runners on the corners with two outs, Cecil then struck out Zobrist on a 3-2 fastball. Inning over. Tie game preserved.

“I’ve had good success in the past throwing him chest-high fastballs,” Cecil explained. “It was a fastball right below his hands and that’s where he swings at it the most. That’s where he likes it. He doesn’t necessarily always hit it. It got the job done.”

Over his last six starts, Cecil is now 2-0 with a 2.06 ERA. Could be 6-0 with a little more run support.

THIRD: Twice, the Blue Jays scored shortly after the Rays made a costly throwing error. In the third inning, Edwin Encarnacion scored from second base when Rodriguez caught a line drive and threw wildly to second, trying to double Edwin up.

In the seventh inning, it was Matt Garza’s turn to make a gaffe. Jose Bautista hit a pitch back to the mound, and Garza misfired to Zobrist at first base. Bautista reached and later in the inning Overbay delivered a two-out double to left field to put Toronto up, 2-1.

From the “Who knew?” department… Overbay has been a consistent threat for the Jays in late and close situations this year. That’s when Toronto is tied, ahead by one run or the tying run is on-deck circle in the seventh inning or later. In such scenarios, Overbay has hit .357 (25-for-70) with two homers, four doubles and eight RBIs this season.

HOME: So where was catching prospect J.P. Arencibia? Don’t fret, Jays fans. He’ll be behind the dish on Saturday afternoon to catch lefty Brad Mills. Manager Cito Gaston is keeping Brandon Morrow paired with Jose Molina, and that means Molina will start Sunday. With Saturday being a day game after a night game — a situation Gaston won’t use the same catcher twice — Molina got the nod Friday and Arencibia Saturday. Gaston noted that Arencibia will likely get the bulk of the playing time behind the plate until veteran catcher John Buck (right thumb) returns from the disabled list.

–JB

TAMPA BAY AT TORONTO
at 7:07 p.m. ET, Rogers Centre

RAYS (67-41, 0.5 GB AL EAST)
1. B.J. Upton, CF
2. Sean Rodriguez, 2B
3. Evan Longoria, 3B
4. Willy Aybar, DH
5. Ben Zobrist, 1B
6. Jason Bartlett, SS
7. Matt Joyce, RF
8. Gabe Kapler, LF
9. Kelly Shoppach, C

Pitching: Matt Garza (11-5, 4.11)

BLUE JAYS (56-52, 11.5 GB AL EAST)
1. Fred Lewis, LF
2. Yunel Escobar, SS
3. Jose Bautista, RF
4. Vernon Wells, CF
5. Adam Lind, DH
6. Aaron Hill, 2B
7. Lyle Overbay, 1B
8. Edwin Encarnacion, 3B
9. Jose Molina, C

Pitching: Brett Cecil (8-5, 3.77)

–JB

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