TORONTO (AP)—Tim Wakefield(notes) didn’t begrudge Daniel Bard(notes) for keeping him
waiting on career win No. 200.

Edwin Encarnacion(notes) hit a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning and the
Toronto Blue Jays rallied to deny Wakefield his milestone win, beating the
Boston Red Sox 11-10 on Wednesday night.

Wakefield has not won since July 24 against Seattle, a span of seven
appearances. The victory looked to finally be in hand before slipping away late,
but the knuckleballer wasn’t sweating it.

“If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t change what I’ve
done,” he said. “I’d like it to happen but more important is for us to get
into the postseason. That’s our ultimate goal.”

Toronto trailed 8-6 heading into the eighth against Bard (2-6), who opened
the inning by hitting Brett Lawrie(notes) and giving up a single to Adam Loewen(notes), the
former pitcher’s first career hit. J.P. Arencibia(notes) walked before Bard struck out
Dewayne Wise(notes) and caught Yunel Escobar(notes) looking. But the Blue Jays tied it when
Bard issued consecutive walks to Eric Thames(notes) and Jose Bautista(notes).

Matt Albers(notes) came on and gave up a three-run double to Encarnacion.

Bard said he was battling with his control throughout the eighth.

“It kind of came and went as the inning progressed,” he said. “I just
didn’t have very good timing with my delivery.”

Bard said Wakefield made sure he didn’t hang his head after coughing up the
lead.

“When I got in the clubhouse, he was the first guy to come up and shake my
hand, pat me on the back,” Bard said. “He knows how hard I’m trying. To be
that close to getting out of it with the lead intact makes it even tougher.
We’re trying for him. He did his job today and I didn’t do mine.”

Bard, who allowed five earned runs, saw his ERA rise from 2.10 to 2.76. He
came in having allowed just one earned run in his previous 10 outings.

“I guess it proves he’s human,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.
“Once you get to him you feel pretty good. It was a battle the whole inning. He
just couldn’t get the last out.”

Encarnacion went 2 for 4 with a sacrifice fly and matched a career-high with
five RBIs.

Shawn Camp(notes) (4-3) pitched one inning for the win and Frank Francisco(notes) survived
a two-run ninth to record his 13th save in 17 chances.

Adrian Gonzalez(notes) led off the ninth with his 24th home run, snapping
Francisco’s streak of 16 scoreless innings. David Ortiz(notes) followed with a single,
took second on a grounder and scored on a two-out hit by Marco Scutaro(notes) before
pinch-runner Mike Aviles(notes) was thrown out trying to steal second on an 0-2 pitch
to Josh Reddick(notes).

“It’s probably the best pitch to get thrown out on,” Aviles said. “It
wasn’t a pitchout but it was up and out. It just didn’t work out well.”

Blue Jays manager John Farrell called it “a fitting ending to an otherwise
crazy game.”

Jacoby Ellsbury(notes) homered and finished with four hits and Ortiz also went
deep, but it wasn’t enough for the Red Sox, who missed a chance to gain ground
on the first-place Yankees, who lost to Baltimore on Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s tough on our team,” Francona said. “The whole idea is to win and in
the course of winning games, things like what Wake’s doing is very special, or
will be. It’s hard for everybody and I’m sure it’s hard for him.”

Wakefield allowed five runs, four earned, and three hits in five innings. He
walked three and struck out three.

“I struggled the first three innings throwing strikes and put a lot of
pressure on those guys from the sixth on through the ninth,” Wakefield said.
“I take the blame for not getting deeper in the game.”

The Red Sox gave Wakefield an early lead by scoring three times in the first
against Brandon Morrow(notes). Kevin Youkilis(notes) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded
and Scutaro hit a two-run single to center.

Toronto answered with a run in the bottom half on Encarnacion’s sacrifice
fly, then tied it on J.P. Arencibia’s two-run drive to center in the second.

The homer was Arencibia’s 21st of the season, the most in a season by a Blue
Jays catcher. John Buck(notes) hit 20 homers for Toronto in 2010.

The Blue Jays took a 5-3 lead by scoring twice in the third. Thames was hit
by a pitch, took second on a wild pitch and scored on Bautista’s double. Two
outs later, Lawrie walked and Bautista stole third. Then, when Lawrie stole
second, Bautista broke for home on catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s(notes) throw to
second, sliding in ahead of a wide return throw from shortstop Scutaro.

Bautista is the first player to steal home and hit at least 40 homers in the
same season since Adam Dunn(notes) did it with Cincinnati in 2004.

Boston reclaimed the lead with a four-run fourth. Reddick hit an RBI double
and Ellsbury drilled a three-run blast to right, his 25th.

Ortiz made it 8-5 with a solo shot to right in the fifth, his 29th.

Morrow left after Youkilis followed with a single. The right-hander allowed
eight runs and eight hits in 4 1-3 innings.

Toronto cut it to 8-6 against Dan Wheeler(notes) in the seventh when Escobar hit a
leadoff double and scored on a two-out base hit by Encarnacion.

Notes: The Red Sox are 73-3 when leading after seven innings. … Ellsbury
extended his hitting streak to 12 games. … Boston RHP Josh Beckett(notes) (right
ankle) was scheduled to rejoin the team Wednesday after traveling back to Boston
Tuesday to visit doctors. … Red Sox RHP Clay Buchholz(notes) (back) made 60 throws at
over 100 feet Wednesday. He’ll take Thursday off, then throw from 120 feet
Friday. … Loewen made his major league debut as a position player. A former
pitcher with Baltimore, elbow injuries forced Loewen off the mound in July,
2008. He’s been playing in Toronto’s minor league system since 2009. …
Youkilis has been hit by a pitch 81 times, the most in Red Sox history.

TORONTO (AP)—Tim Wakefield(notes) didn’t begrudge Daniel Bard(notes) for keeping him
waiting on career win No. 200.

Edwin Encarnacion(notes) hit a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning and the
Toronto Blue Jays rallied to deny Wakefield his milestone win, beating the
Boston Red Sox 11-10 on Wednesday night.

Wakefield has not won since July 24 against Seattle, a span of seven
appearances. The victory looked to finally be in hand before slipping away late,
but the knuckleballer wasn’t sweating it.

“If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t change what I’ve
done,” he said. “I’d like it to happen but more important is for us to get
into the postseason. That’s our ultimate goal.”

Toronto trailed 8-6 heading into the eighth against Bard (2-6), who opened
the inning by hitting Brett Lawrie(notes) and giving up a single to Adam Loewen(notes), the
former pitcher’s first career hit. J.P. Arencibia(notes) walked before Bard struck out
Dewayne Wise(notes) and caught Yunel Escobar(notes) looking. But the Blue Jays tied it when
Bard issued consecutive walks to Eric Thames(notes) and Jose Bautista(notes).

Matt Albers(notes) came on and gave up a three-run double to Encarnacion.

Bard said he was battling with his control throughout the eighth.

“It kind of came and went as the inning progressed,” he said. “I just
didn’t have very good timing with my delivery.”

Bard said Wakefield made sure he didn’t hang his head after coughing up the
lead.

“When I got in the clubhouse, he was the first guy to come up and shake my
hand, pat me on the back,” Bard said. “He knows how hard I’m trying. To be
that close to getting out of it with the lead intact makes it even tougher.
We’re trying for him. He did his job today and I didn’t do mine.”

Bard, who allowed five earned runs, saw his ERA rise from 2.10 to 2.76. He
came in having allowed just one earned run in his previous 10 outings.

“I guess it proves he’s human,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.
“Once you get to him you feel pretty good. It was a battle the whole inning. He
just couldn’t get the last out.”

Encarnacion went 2 for 4 with a sacrifice fly and matched a career-high with
five RBIs.

Shawn Camp(notes) (4-3) pitched one inning for the win and Frank Francisco(notes) survived
a two-run ninth to record his 13th save in 17 chances.

Adrian Gonzalez(notes) led off the ninth with his 24th home run, snapping
Francisco’s streak of 16 scoreless innings. David Ortiz(notes) followed with a single,
took second on a grounder and scored on a two-out hit by Marco Scutaro(notes) before
pinch-runner Mike Aviles(notes) was thrown out trying to steal second on an 0-2 pitch
to Josh Reddick(notes).

“It’s probably the best pitch to get thrown out on,” Aviles said. “It
wasn’t a pitchout but it was up and out. It just didn’t work out well.”

Blue Jays manager John Farrell called it “a fitting ending to an otherwise
crazy game.”

Jacoby Ellsbury(notes) homered and finished with four hits and Ortiz also went
deep, but it wasn’t enough for the Red Sox, who missed a chance to gain ground
on the first-place Yankees, who lost to Baltimore on Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s tough on our team,” Francona said. “The whole idea is to win and in
the course of winning games, things like what Wake’s doing is very special, or
will be. It’s hard for everybody and I’m sure it’s hard for him.”

Wakefield allowed five runs, four earned, and three hits in five innings. He
walked three and struck out three.

“I struggled the first three innings throwing strikes and put a lot of
pressure on those guys from the sixth on through the ninth,” Wakefield said.
“I take the blame for not getting deeper in the game.”

The Red Sox gave Wakefield an early lead by scoring three times in the first
against Brandon Morrow(notes). Kevin Youkilis(notes) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded
and Scutaro hit a two-run single to center.

Toronto answered with a run in the bottom half on Encarnacion’s sacrifice
fly, then tied it on J.P. Arencibia’s two-run drive to center in the second.

The homer was Arencibia’s 21st of the season, the most in a season by a Blue
Jays catcher. John Buck(notes) hit 20 homers for Toronto in 2010.

The Blue Jays took a 5-3 lead by scoring twice in the third. Thames was hit
by a pitch, took second on a wild pitch and scored on Bautista’s double. Two
outs later, Lawrie walked and Bautista stole third. Then, when Lawrie stole
second, Bautista broke for home on catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s(notes) throw to
second, sliding in ahead of a wide return throw from shortstop Scutaro.

Bautista is the first player to steal home and hit at least 40 homers in the
same season since Adam Dunn(notes) did it with Cincinnati in 2004.

Boston reclaimed the lead with a four-run fourth. Reddick hit an RBI double
and Ellsbury drilled a three-run blast to right, his 25th.

Ortiz made it 8-5 with a solo shot to right in the fifth, his 29th.

Morrow left after Youkilis followed with a single. The right-hander allowed
eight runs and eight hits in 4 1-3 innings.

Toronto cut it to 8-6 against Dan Wheeler(notes) in the seventh when Escobar hit a
leadoff double and scored on a two-out base hit by Encarnacion.

Notes: The Red Sox are 73-3 when leading after seven innings. … Ellsbury
extended his hitting streak to 12 games. … Boston RHP Josh Beckett(notes) (right
ankle) was scheduled to rejoin the team Wednesday after traveling back to Boston
Tuesday to visit doctors. … Red Sox RHP Clay Buchholz(notes) (back) made 60 throws at
over 100 feet Wednesday. He’ll take Thursday off, then throw from 120 feet
Friday. … Loewen made his major league debut as a position player. A former
pitcher with Baltimore, elbow injuries forced Loewen off the mound in July,
2008. He’s been playing in Toronto’s minor league system since 2009. …
Youkilis has been hit by a pitch 81 times, the most in Red Sox history.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Dustin McGowan throws against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 2, 2008, in Seattle. (File/Associated Press)

Dustin McGowan could rejoin the Toronto Blue Jays in September after not pitching in the majors since 2008 because of an injured right shoulder.

Toronto manager John Farrell said Tuesday the team is looking at adding McGowan to the big league roster for the final month of the regular season. The right-hander is set to join Double-A New Hampshire after one more minor league start in Florida.

McGowan went 6-7 with a 4.37 ERA in 19 starts for the Blue Jays in 2008. He has had two shoulder surgeries since getting hurt.

Also, Farrell said the Blue Jays still plan on calling up highly regarded third baseman Brett Lawrie from the minors later this month.

With Lawrie playing at third, slugger Jose Bautista would move from the infield to right field.

Ricky Romero struggled in his first 10 starts against Boston. No. 11 was even worse.

Romero got knocked around as the Toronto Blue Jays lost 6-4 to the Red Sox on Wednesday night. The left-hander gave up six runs and nine hits in 4 1-3 innings as his ERA against Boston climbed to 8.08.

“I’m about as lost as I can be against this team. I’ve done everything. I’ve tried everything,” said Romero, who dropped to 2-6 in his career against the Red Sox.

“I don’t know what it is. I felt good coming out of the ‘pen. I thought this was going to be a good night for me. I had everything working.”

Not quite well enough to stop the Red Sox, who won two of three in the series.

Romero (7-8) surrendered leadoff homers in the first two innings, to Jacoby Ellsbury and Kevin Youkilis, and allowed five straight hits — three of them doubles — as Boston scored four times in the fourth inning.

“I just don’t know what it is about this team,” Romero said. “I don’t know if they see the ball well off me. I don’t know if I tip something. I don’t know.”

Romero had allowed just 17 runs in his previous 75 2-3 innings.

Toronto manager John Farrell said Romero was throwing well again on Wednesday, but the Red Sox were able to pounce on his mistakes.

“He’s certainly not tipping his pitches by any means, but there might have been a little bit of a pattern early on,” Farrell said. “They got into some fastball counts and put some good swings on pitches.”

Ellsbury and Youkilis had three extra-base hits apiece, and Tim Wakefield (5-3) scattered nine hits in seven innings for career win No. 198. The 44-year-old knuckleballer, who filling in for a rotation that is without Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka, allowed three runs, struck out seven and walked one as Boston earned its sixth win in its last seven games.

“When he’s got that knuckleball going, he gets you out on your front foot,” Farrell said. “There was a lot of late action on his knuckleball tonight.”

The game was delayed by rain with two outs in the top of the eighth inning, Boston leading 6-3 and Aaron Hill coming to bat. After a 40-minute delay, Dan Wheeler struck Hill out, then Jonathan Papelbon gave up one run in the ninth but earned his 19th save.

Yunel Escobar had four hits, including an RBI single in the ninth, for Toronto, which went homerless for the first time in 14 games. Jose Bautista and Travis Snider had two hits apiece.

The homers gave Boston a 2-1 lead before the Blue Jays made it 3-2 in the third on a sacrifice fly by Bautista and Adam Lind’s RBI single. But with two out in the fourth, J.D. Drew doubled, then Darnell McDonald and Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled and Yamaico Navarro and Ellsbury doubled to give Boston a 6-3 lead.

Youkilis left Monday’s game after being hit by a pitch in the fourth inning and rested Tuesday night. He returned to the lineup on Wednesday and started at first base for the first time this season, filling in for Adrian Gonzalez, who got his first day off of the season because of a stiff neck.

NOTES: Saltalamacchia had three passed balls trying to handle Wakefield’s knuckleball. … The Red Sox put LHP Lester on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his back. RHP Scott Atchison was called up to replace him on the roster; he’ll work out of the bullpen. … Bautista’s 28 home runs before the All-Star break is one short of the Blue Jays’ record set by George Bell in 1987. … Toronto fell to 29-30 on the road this season. … Papelbon hit J.P. Arencibia with a pitch in the ninth. He was replaced by pinch-runner Mike McCoy.

Another Red Sox pitcher goes on the disabled list, and Tim Wakefield just keeps trotting out to the mound.

The oldest active player in the majors — he’ll be 45 in less than a month — Wakefield earned his 198th career victory on Wednesday night, scattering nine hits over seven innings to lead Boston to a 6-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

“He was pitching the best I’ve seen him so far,” said catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who chased three of Wakefield’s knucklers to the backstop for passed balls. “He’s definitely a guy that deserves to be in the rotation.”

Jacoby Ellsbury and Kevin Youkilis had three extra-base hits apiece as the Red Sox won for the sixth time in seven games. Wakefield (5-3) allowed three runs, struck out seven and walked one, providing the team a boost as it tries to cobble together a rotation without Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka.

“He stepped in and pitched professionally,” manager Terry Francona said. “It’s sure nice to have a guy like that.”

The longest-tenured member of the Red Sox, Wakefield started the season without a spot in the rotation but has made 20 appearances, including 11 starts, because of injuries to other Boston starters. The latest was Lester, who went on the DL before Wednesday’s game, a day after leaving after four innings with a strained muscle in his back.

The day before that, John Lackey lasted just 2 1-3 innings.

“I know I had to go deep in the game tonight because the bullpen had been taxed lately,” Wakefield said. “As a starting pitcher, it’s something you take a lot of pride in.”

The Red Sox said after the game that Lester had an MRI that confirmed a strained latissimus muscle; he will be re-evaluated after the All-Star break. Doctors also confirmed Buchholz’s strained lower back can be treated with rehabilitation.

Francona said the news on both was good.

“Yeah,” he said. “Really good.”

Ricky Romero (7-8) gave up six runs and nine hits in 4 1-3 innings for Toronto. He surrendered leadoff homers in the first two innings, to Ellsbury and Youkilis, and allowed five straight hits — three of them doubles — as Boston scored four times in the fourth inning.

The game was delayed by rain with two outs in the top of the eighth inning, Boston leading 6-3 and Aaron Hill coming to bat. After a 40-minute delay, Dan Wheeler struck Hill out, then Jonathan Papelbon gave up one run in the ninth but earned his 19th save.

Yunel Escobar had four hits, including an RBI single in the ninth, for Toronto, which went homerless for the first time in 14 games. Jose Bautista and Travis Snider had two hits apiece.

Romero had allowed just 17 runs in his previous 75 2-3 innings, but he has struggled against the Red Sox. In 11 career starts vs. Boston, he is 2-6 with an 8.08 ERA — his worst numbers against any team.

“This is not the way I wanted to end the first half, like this,” Romero said. “I know I’m good enough to pitch against any team. … I’m looking forward to facing them next time and hopefully I’m successful.”

The solo homers gave Boston a 2-1 lead before the Blue Jays made it 3-2 in the third on a sacrifice fly by Bautista and Adam Lind’s RBI single. But with two out in the fourth, J.D. Drew doubled, then Darnell McDonald and Saltalamacchia singled and Yamaico Navarro and Ellsbury doubled to give Boston a 6-3 lead.

Youkilis left Monday’s game after being hit by a pitch in the fourth inning and rested Tuesday night. He returned to the lineup on Wednesday and started at first base for the first time this season, filling in for Adrian Gonzalez, who got his first day off of the season because of a stiff neck.

NOTES: RHP Scott Atchison was called up to replace Lester on the roster; he’ll work out of the bullpen. … Bautista’s 28 home runs before the All-Star break is one short of the Blue Jays’ record set by George Bell in 1987. … Toronto fell to 29-30 on the road this season. … Papelbon hit J.P. Arencibia with a pitch in the ninth. He was replaced by pinch-runner Mike McCoy.

TORONTO First baseman Matt LaPorta hit a three-run home run in an eight-run third inning as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 13-9 on Wednesday.

Cleveland (33-20), which has the best record in the American League, belted out 18 hits against seven Blue Jays pitchers including three doubles and a single by shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who drove in three runs for the game.

Blue Jays starter Kyle Drabek (3-4) did not survive the first inning, allowing three doubles, three walks and four runs in two-thirds of an inning, his shortest major-league outing.

Cleveland’s designated hitter Grady Sizemore, drove in three runs with a first-inning double as the Indians took the rubber match of the three-game series with the Blue Jays (28-28) who committed two errors during the third inning.

Toronto centre-fielder Rajai Davis drove in three runs with his first homer of the season in the sixth and added another RBI with a triple in the fifth.

Cleveland starter Josh Tomlin (7-2) struck out a career-best seven but allowed eight hits and six runs in six innings.

The Blue Jays, who were down 12-0 after three innings, fought back to within four runs after Jose Bautista’s two-run single in the ninth against Rafael Perez. But Vinnie Pestano closed out the game.

Shawn Camp allowed six hits and seven runs (six earned) in 1 2/3 innings, including LaPorta’s seventh homer of the season, and did not survive the third. Cabrera hit a two-run double in the inning and Adam Everett chipped in with an RBI single.

Jason Frasor replaced Camp in the third and allowed one hit and one unearned run in two-thirds of an inning. Davis, on a fly ball, and shortstop Yunel Escobar, on a pop up, made errors in the inning with Frasor pitching. Escobar also had his 12-game game hit streak come to an end.

Toronto scored three runs in the fifth with three consecutive triples by Eric Thames, Davis and Jayson Nix and a single by Corey Patterson. It is the first time a team has hit consecutive triples in an inning since the Montreal Expos did it against the San Diego Padres on May 6, 1981.

Bautista who entered Wednesday’s game leading the majors with 20 home runs, was the top overall vote-getter — 1,261,659 — in the first American League balloting figures for the July 12 all-star game at Chase Field.

“I’m really excited by that,” Bautista said before Wednesday’s game against Cleveland. “Hopefully I’ll get the start. Hopefully I get that No. 1 vote-getter or whatever. Knowing that there are markets that really push for these votings, knowing that the Yankees and some guys in L.A. and Texas and Chicago, the coverage is in bigger markets, I wasn’t expecting it at all.”

NOTES: Attendance at Rogers Centre was 15,397. … X-rays showed that Blue Jays third-base prospect Brett Lawrie of Langley, B.C. had a bruised left hand after being hit by a pitch on Tuesday while playing for triple-A Las Vegas. He is listed as day to day. … Blue Jays first baseman Adam Lind (lower back) was the designated hitter for Class A Dunedin on Wednesday on his minor-league rehabilitation assignment. He is scheduled to be DH again Thursday for Dunedin and then play a game at first base on Friday before returning to the Blue Jays during their series in Baltimore. … Pitchers in the starting rotation will go in their usual order despite Thursday’s day off in the schedule, which means right-hander Carlos Villanueva (2-0, 2.62 earned-run average) will start Friday in Baltimore against left-hander Zach Britton (5-3, 2.93 ERA).

The Canadian Press

ST. PETERSBURG – David Price seems unbeatable against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Price allowed one unearned run while pitching into the ninth inning, Johnny Damon got his 2,600th career hit and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Blue Jays 3-1 on Thursday.

“Really commanding performance,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said of Price. “The best game I’ve seen fastball command out of him.”

Price (4-3) is undefeated against the Blue Jays, winning eight times in nine starts. The left-hander allowed four hits and struck out 10 over 8 2-3 innings.

“He was strong,” Toronto manager John Farrell said. “He kept his velocity throughout the eight-plus innings he was there. I thought he had a lot of strikes on the inside part of the plate. Caught a number of guys looking. Obviously he’s had a lot of success against us, and again that was the case today.”

Price is 19-4 against AL East opponents. Toronto’s first three hitters, Rajai Davis, Corey Patterson and Yunel Escobar, went a combined 0 for 11 with six strikeouts against Price.

Damon had two hits, which moved him past Steve Garvey (2,599) into 75th place on the career list. His fifth-inning double (490) tied him for 59th place with Mickey Vernon on that list.

The Rays took two of three from the Blue Jays and won their 12th consecutive home series over Toronto, since July 30-August 1, 2007. Tampa Bay has won eight of its last 11 overall.

Price was pulled by Maddon with two outs and nobody on base in the ninth, prompting boos, after Patterson hit an RBI grounder. John McDonald reached second to start the inning on a throwing error by shortstop Sean Rodriguez.

Maddon was concerned about Price’s pitch count, which had reached 118 for the game.

Kyle Farnsworth got the final out after allowing a single to Escobar for his sixth save.

Adam Lind extended his hitting streak to 10-games with an infield single off Price during the seventh, but it wasn’t enough to help Toronto avoid its fourth loss in five games.

John Jaso had an RBI double, Damon drove in a run with an infield single and Matt Joyce hit a sacrifice fly off Kyle Drabek (2-2) to put the Rays ahead 3-0 in the third. Joyce has eight RBIs over his last seven games.

“He’s a great pitcher,” Drabek said of Price. “He did a good job today.”

Drabek had his start moved up one day to replace Ricky Romero, who was scratched due to a mild left oblique strain. The right-hander gave up three runs and six hits in 5 2-3 innings.

Romero is scheduled to pitch Saturday against Detroit. The left-hander had a long-toss session and threw at 60 feet on flat ground.

Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista, who missed his third straight games with neck spasms, continues to improve and remains on target to resume swinging a bat Friday. He could return to the lineup Sunday.

Notes: Maddon said RHP Jeff Niemann (back) is expected to go on the DL after an MRI exam. He left his start Wednesday night after four innings. … Toronto 2B Aaron Hill (strained right hamstring) was sent to Class A Dunedin for a rehab assignment. … Rays CF B.J. Upton, ejected after striking out in the ninth Wednesday, had not heard before the game about any punishments from MLB officials. He slammed his bat and helmet to the ground after being thrown out by umpire Chad Fairchild. … Maddon, also ejected Wednesday, said postgame the Rays still had not been contacted by baseball officials about the matter. .. Rays INF Felipe Lopez accepted an assignment with Triple-A Durham. He was designated for assignment on Tuesday.

TORONTO — Brett Cecil’s angry outbursts in the dugout and sullen mood with the media didn’t provoke his demotion to the minor leagues, Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos says.

But it became clear to team management that the 24-year-old left-hander needs time to calm down and revive his 2010 form.

He wasn’t doing that in Toronto, so he will try in Las Vegas. The Jays sent him to their triple-A club on Thursday and promoted veteran infielder Chris Woodward to take his roster spot until they decide who will replace Cecil in the rotation.

Cecil is the second Jays starter sent to Las Vegas this week. Jesse Litsch was optioned Tuesday to accommodate Frank Francisco’s return from the disabled list.

After giving up five runs in five innings Wednesday night against the New York Yankees, Cecil has a 1-2 record and 6.86 ERA in four starts.

“It’s clear also that Brett is extremely frustrated as well,” general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. “So we just think from a timing standpoint, this is the right move for us and also the right move for Brett.

“This gives him a chance to catch his breath a little bit, get his confidence back. I think everyone’s seen that his performance is starting to wear on him.”

Cecil won a team-high 15 games last season. But his velocity has been down and his pitches up in the strike zone. Anthopoulos said the Jays are more concerned about his fastball command than velocity.

“If Brett’s throwing strikes, and he gets to the secondary stuff, he’s fine,” Anthopoulos said. “His command hasn’t been the same and I think there’s some things with his delivery that he still needs to get ironed out.”

Anthopoulos said the Jays had been considering a demotion for Cecil before Wednesday’s start. Early in his previous start in Boston, “we thought that was the move we were going to make.” But Cecil settled down and pitched well for three innings, buying one more chance.

Wednesday’s start was that chance. Five runs, four walks and a temper tantrum in the dugout followed. It was time for a change, which Anthopoulos expects will be brief.

Cecil’s spot in the rotation comes up Tuesday in Texas. Anthopoulos said he and manager John Farrell have discussed their options but will likely not make a decision until the end of the weekend.

He intimated that Cecil’s replacement would be called up from the minors and acknowledged that Brad Mills (1-1, 0.82 ERA in three starts at Vegas) is under consideration. But he took pains to say Mills is only one of several candidates.

He also indicated that Marc Rzepczynski and Carlos Villanueva, who have started in the past, will probably remain in the bullpen.

Woodward, 35, was called up to provide infield insurance while the Jays determine whether Aaron Hill (hamstring strain) needs to go on the DL. Anthopoulos said a Wednesday MRI left team officials feeling “inconclusive” about Hill’s injury.

He said it’s likely the Jays will use the weekend to make a decision on Hill. Meanwhile, they will continue to carry eight relievers through the Tampa Bay series.

If Hill goes on the DL, they could recall Litsch as his roster replacement. An optioned player must remain in the minors for at least 10 days unless he is recalled to replace an injured player.

Woodward, who was batting .305 at Las Vegas, is a career journeyman originally drafted by the Jays in 1994. Anthopoulos said he is the “perfect” short-term replacement because of his versatility and his willingness to accept the 25th-man role.

As for Cecil, the GM said he will benefit from pitching in the minors where every game is not “life and death.”

“This is a good time to send him down, let him clear his head, go down there and let him have some success and not have to worry about having to go out there every time and make a perfect pitch and throw a scoreless inning,” Anthopoulos said.

He said he reminded Cecil that many good pitchers have had to take a step back to the minors in order to renew their careers.

“We expect him to go down, pitch well, get his confidence back and be back here soon.”

National Post

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New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain, left, manager Joe Girardi, (28), and pitcher Mariano Rivera, right, chat with Vice President Joe Biden who visited the team before their spring training baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Wednesday, March 23, 2011. Photo: Kathy Willens / AP

New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain, left, manager Joe…

Vice President Joe Biden, left, and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., right, chat with New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera while visiting the Yankees before their spring training baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Wednesday, March 23, 2011. Photo: Kathy Willens / AP

Vice President Joe Biden, left, and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.,…

Vice President Joe Biden, left, puts his arm around New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera during a visit to the team before their spring training baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Wednesday, March 23, 2011. Photo: Kathy Willens / AP

Vice President Joe Biden, left, puts his arm around New York…

New York Yankees pitchers Joba Chanberlain, left, Mariano Rivera, center, and CC Sabathia, right, chat with Vice President Joe Biden who showed up during a team practice before the Yankees spring training baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Wednesday, March 23, 2011. Photo: Kathy Willens / AP

New York Yankees pitchers Joba Chanberlain, left, Mariano Rivera,…

BY SHI DAVIDI
sportsnet.ca

The inflammation in Brandon Morrow’s forearm is pushing the race for the final two spots in the Toronto Blue Jays’ starting rotation into extra innings.

Jesse Litsch, Kyle Drabek and Jo-Jo Reyes will all head north to open the 2011 season after the team announced Wednesday that Morrow will open the 2011 season on the disabled list.

The club also announced Wednesday that highly-touted infield prospect Brett Lawrie will begin the season at triple-A Las Vegas. Lawrie came over in the trade with Milwaukee that saw 2010 Opening Day starter Shaun Marcum go the other way.

In 17 games this spring Lawrie posted a .282 average with two homeruns and six RBI.

Watch the Blue Jays vs. Yankees live Wednesday on Rogers Sportsnet East, Ontario and Pacific beginning at 7 p.m. ET..

The flame throwing right-hander’s injury isn’t considered serious and he’s expected to miss as little as one start. His absence means Litsch, Drabek and Reyes will each end up in the starting rotation after spending the entire spring competing for only two spots.

But given that the Jays feel Morrow should return quickly, it all amounts to an extension of the audition process, as once the 26-year-old is ready to return, one of them will have to go.

For now, the Blue Jays rotation lines up as ace Ricky Romero on opening day, followed by Drabek, Brett Cecil, Reyes and Litsch, sticking mostly to the schedules each pitcher is on at spring training. Only Drabek is changing his day, providing a power arm to separate lefties Romero and Cecil the way Morrow would have, and the team says nothing further should be read into the alignment.

Morrow went 10-7 with a 4.49 earned-run average in 26 starts during his first season with the Blue Jays, throwing a career-high 146 1/3 innings before he was shut down to protect his arm. He made three starts this spring, most recently March 18, going 2-0 while allowing just one earned run on eight hits and three walks in 12 innings, striking out 16.

The DL stint can be back-dated to March 22, allowing him to return as early as April 6. Opening day is April 1.

The spring hasn’t been particularly kind to the Blue Jays as Frank Francisco, the leading closer candidate when camp started, is also expected to start the year on the DL with pectoral and biceps inflammation. Another reliever, Octavio Dotel (hamstring), may very well join him while second baseman Aaron Hill is trying to avoid a similar fate after struggling with a right quadriceps problem all spring.

The news on Morrow will also have a domino effect on the bullpen’s composition, as Reyes was expected to break with the club as a reliever if he didn’t make it as a starter since the left-hander can’t be sent to the minors without clearing waivers first.

Assuming Francisco opens the season on the DL and that Dotel remains healthy, the Blue Jays are down to eight candidates for seven bullpen spots. Jon Rauch is set to close with Jason Frasor and Shawn Camp his set-up men. That leaves right-handers Casey Janssen and Carlos Villanueva, plus lefties David Purcey and Marc Rzepczynski fighting it out behind them.

When the Toronto Blue Jays kick off the 2011 season April 1 against the Minnesota Twins, it will be before a full house.

The Blue Jays announced Wednesday they’ve sold out the Rogers Centre for opening night against the Twins.

Toronto will begin the season with a three-game series against Minnesota with the Jays giving away Jose Bautista bobbleheads to the first 10,000 fans attending the April 3 contest. The Jays will then host the Oakland A’s for three games starting April 5.

Toronto will embark on a 10-game road trip before returning to Rogers Centre to host the New York Yankees starting April 19.

DUNEDIN, Florida — The Toronto Blue Jays are apparently convinced that Jose Bautista is just getting started at age 30.

The Jays and their late-blooming slugger agreed to a five-year, $65-million US contract, The Associated Press reported early Thursday, citing a person familiar with the negotiations.

The club is expected to make a formal announcement later Thursday.

ESPNDeportes.com first reported the parameters of the deal on Wednesday night.

Asked in a text message Wednesday night about the report, Toronto general manager Alex Anthopoulos replied: “You know I can’t comment.”

The Jays and Bautista were scheduled to have an arbitration hearing on Friday. Bautista was asking for a $10.5-million contract for the 2011 season, while the Jays had offered $7.6 million.

Bautista, 30, made $2.4 million last year when he led the majors with 54 home runs. He batted .260 with 124 RBIs and 100 walks.

Prior to his breakout year, he had been a part-time player for five clubs.

An arbitration hearing scheduled for Monday was postponed until Friday to allow negotiations on a multi-year deal to continue.

Last week, Bautista said that if a long-term contract was not finalized before an arbitration hearing, he would not negotiate further with the Jays until after the season.

National Post

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DUNEDIN, Florida — The Toronto Blue Jays are apparently convinced that Jose Bautista is just getting started at age 30.

The Jays and their late-blooming slugger are closing in on a five-year, $65-million US contract, ESPNDeportes.com reported Wednesday night.

Asked in a text message about the report, Toronto general manager Alex Anthopoulos replied: “You know I can’t comment.”

The story, quoting an anonymous source, was written by Enrique Rojas, who is well-known for his impeccable sources on contract negotiations involving Latin American players.

If the report is true, the Jays will have avoided a Friday arbitration hearing in which Bautista would have been awarded a one-year contract worth either $10.5-million — his demand — or the club’s offer of $7.6-million.

Bautista, 30, made $2.4-million last year when he led the majors with 54 home runs. He batted .260 with 124 RBIs and 100 walks.

Prior to his breakout year, he had been a part-time player for five clubs.

An arbitration hearing scheduled for Monday was postponed until Friday to allow negotiations on a multi-year deal to continue. Earlier on Wednesday, Anthopoulos said he had nothing new to report on the progress of the talks.

Last week, Bautista said that if a long-term contract was not finalized before an arbitration hearing, he would not negotiate further with the Jays until after the season.

National Post

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