Toronto Star
Litsch & Co. stepping up in hunt for playoff spot
By Richard Griffin
"It's awfully nice that the old man doesn't have to bend over again," Zaun smiled. "(Litsch) moves around pretty good. It's easy to underestimate his mobility. It doesn't surprise me that he was standing right there ready to get my mask."
The Jays, with a nice combination of youngsters and veterans, have accomplished something they had not since May of 2003. Litsch's 13-1 win over the Twins yesterday gives the Jays five wins in a row ... from five different starters. It hadn't been done in four years. However, they need to do it over again for it to mean something.
Bats explode to complete sweep
By Cathal Kelly
"Guys were caught between high-fiving their teammates and grabbing their bats and helmets," Zaun said afterward. "And then you look up and you've scored eleven. It's awesome."
The whopping inning hit a high-water mark matched only twice before in franchise history. The last time the Jays scored so many in one go-around came April 26, 1995 against the Oakland A's.
Jays mail bag
By Richard Griffin
: What kind of time frame does J.P. Ricciardi have to turn this team into a contender? Will the 2008 season be a make-it or break-it season for him?
Zaki Ameen, Mississauga
A: J.P.'s time frame for winning? What time is it?
The window of opportunity for Ricciardi's tenure as GM is closing fast. As Year 6 of the five-year plan winds down, J.P.'s legacy is one of mediocre teams making annual excuses for failure based on injuries and the huge payrolls of division rivals. Even Ted Rogers is tiring of the wheels spinning.
The Jays salary plateau has now been raised to the point where this team is what it is until the end of Ricciardi's reign, when his contract runs out in 2010. This team's payroll is more back-end loaded than Queen Latifah. The only changes and additions that Ricciardi will be allowed to make from now on are salary for salary. He is back to having to make shrewd baseball acquisitions, which is not his forte. But given that, yes 2008 is make-or-break for Ricciardi, if he lasts that long.
Toronto Sun
Jays keep rolling
By Mark Rutsey
[quote"We've played winning baseball, pitching great, had very good defence, and when you're hitting, you're going to win," Gibbons said. "To get on a roll, you've got to do all of those together."
The Jays broke open a 2-1 game with an 11-run explosion in the sixth on seven hits, three walks and one error. [/quote]
Overbay ends drought
By Mike Rutsey
First baseman Lyle Overbay has played 14 games since his return to the lineup following a broken bone in his right hand and up until yesterday had driven in just two runs.
In the fifth inning, though, Overbay hit a two-run double snapping an 0-for-13 skid. It was his first muliti-RBI game since May 28. It was also just his second extra-base hit over the 14-game stretch.
Thrown bottle hits Piazza
By AP
A man has been arrested after a water bottle hit Oakland Athletics DH Mike Piazza yesterday while he was in the on-deck circle.
While Piazza was in the on-deck circle in the ninth, he was struck by a water bottle thrown by a spectator several rows up.
Globe & Mail
McGowan keeps streak alive
By Larry Millson
You wouldn't know it by his 71/3 runless innings last night as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Minnesota Twins 7-0 before an announced attendance of 30,669 at the Rogers Centre, but he didn't have his best stuff all the time.
He spiked a few curveballs, but didn't give up on the pitch, and, as catcher Gregg Zaun mentioned, the hitters don't hit a spiked curveball, but they do hit the hangers.
Thomas leads hit parade
By James Mirtle
"I've not been a happy camper the last few days," said beaming Thomas, who homered for the first time since July 1. "My timing's been off, I've been working hard to get the mechanics right and today, it just clicked. I was really able to get in the groove."
Extras
Box Score
Sunshine Girl
Who says brandy is only for old guys? SUNshine Girl Brandi is 20 years old and enjoys gymnastics. She hopes to pursue a career in physiotherapy.