News
Richmond set to replace Halladay
Toronto (35-31) at Philadelphia (36-26), 7:05 p.m. ET
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
06/17/09 2:00 AM ET
PHILADELPHIA -- Scott Richmond sat in front of his locker in the visitors' clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday afternoon, lost in a copy of a familiar book. It was H.A. Dorfman's "Mental ABC's of Pitching," the same title Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay often reads.It seemed fitting that Richmond would turn to one of the staple's of Doc's routine. Come Wednesday, Richmond will be filling in for Halladay, who is sidelined with a strained right groin. It will be a chance for Richmond to move past some of his recent struggles and try to find the form he displayed early in the season.
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"He hasn't been locating like he did to start the season," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said.
Over his past seven appearances, Richmond is 0-3 with a 5.06 ERA, allowing 32 hits over 32 innings. The right-hander has posted a .258 opponents' batting average and compiled 23 strikeouts against 10 walks while throwing 60 percent of his pitches for strikes over that period.
Compare that showing to Richmond's performance in his first five trips up the hill this season. During that span, he went 4-0 with a 2.67 ERA, earning the American League Rookie of the Month Award for April. Over 30 1/3 innings, Richmond gave up 25 hits, struck out 26, walked 12, posted a .217 opponents' batting average and threw 62 percent of his pitches for strikes.
"It's all about location, man," Gaston said. "That's what makes Doc such a dominant pitcher. You sit here in the dugout and I watch where catchers set up and I see they don't move a lot [when Halladay pitches]. I see Richmond and [Casey] Janssen out there, sometimes they're set up inside and they catch the pitches outside.
"If [Richmond] just gets his location down like Doc, then he's going to pitch well. If he gets his breaking ball over in counts that people are looking fastball, then he'll do well."
Richmond performed admirably in his last outing, relieving Halladay after the ace exited his start on Friday in the fourth inning against the Marlins. Richmond logged three shutout innings and was pulled after allowing a two-out single in the seventh. Richmond later was charged with a run, but it was a strong showing that he'll look to build on against the Phillies.
Pitching matchup
TOR: RHP Scott Richmond (4-3, 3.90 ERA)
Richmond has gone 2-1 with a 3.56 ERA in five starts on the road this year.
Moyer is 14-8 with a 5.27 ERA in 37 career appearances against the Jays. Bird feed
Catcher Michael Barrett, who has been on the 15-day disabled list since April 18 with a right shoulder injury, began a rehab assignment with Class A Dunedin on Monday. Barrett went 0-for-2 in a pair of plate appearances. ... Entering Tuesday, left-hander Scott Downs' 0.99 ERA ranked second among relievers with at least 30 innings in Interleague Play history. ... Left fielder Adam Lind snapped an 0-for-13 slump at the plate with a solo home run in the fourth inning on Tuesday night. Lind has launched five homers in his last 10 games. ... On Sunday, Alex Rios and Kevin Millar each homered in the fourth inning against the Marlins. It marked the eighth time this season the Blue Jays enjoyed a multihomer inning. Toronto had six such innings in all of 2008. ... Lefty B.J. Ryan has not allowed a run in seven straight appearances. Tickets
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• Thursday: Blue Jays (Casey Janssen, 2-3, 6.23) at Phillies (Joe Blanton, 4-3, 5.17), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Friday: Blue Jays (Brian Tallet, 4-4, 4.87) at Nationals (Jordan Zimmermann, 2-3, 5.37), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Blue Jays (TBA) at Nationals (Ross Detwiler, 0-3, 5.23), 7:05 p.m. ET
Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
