TEAM REPORTS
Toronto Blue Jays
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/tor
It was Cito Gaston Night at the old ballpark, and the Blue Jays celebrated in style.
With Gaston returning to the scene of many a triumph as the Jays manager for the first time since Sept. 19, 1997, the Jays provided an absolute outburst of offensive might.
They posted a 14-1 laugher over the Reds after dealing Cincinnati a body blow in the first inning by scoring six runs on seven hits. Overall, the Jays pounded three balls into the seats and battered the Reds staff for 22 hits—three shy of team record. It marked their highest hit and run totals of the season.
In the sixth inning many in the crowd of 28,153 began the rhythmic chant of "Ci-to, Gas-ton."
Cincinatti Reds
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/cin
Joey Votto grew up within 20 minutes of Rogers Centre in Toronto, where his mother and father operate a restaurant. And manager Dusty Baker says, “Votto’s mom and dad did a nice job with him.
“He can be one of the leaders of our team. He is very respectful. And you tell him something that he did wrong and he says, ‘Don’t worry, skipper, it won’t happen again.’ And it doesn’t.”
Since Votto is the regular first baseman, he will play all three games in Toronto, but if he weren’t, Baker said he would endeavor to get him into games for the home folks.
“I remember a teammate once was going to play in his hometown for the first time and he left 50 tickets,” said Baker. “He never got a sniff—didn’t get into the game, didn’t pinch-hit, didn’t pinch-run. Nothing. I said right then that if I ever managed I’d make sure I played guys in their hometowns. And I have.”
Votto took a seven-game hitting streak into Tuesday’s game (14-for-28, .500) but went 0-for-3.
