News
Lind flexible, producing results for Jays
Toronto (47-50) vs. Tampa Bay (53-44), 1:07 p.m. ET
By Erika Gilbert / MLB.com
07/24/09 10:37 PM ET
TORONTO -- When the Blue Jays started the season expecting rookie Travis Snider to play left field, Adam Lind needed to come up with a routine for staying sharp between at-bats as he learned to adjust to life as a designated hitter.Now, with Snider back at Triple-A Las Vegas after struggling in the month of May, Lind is adjusting to splitting time in left field with Jose Bautista and Joe Inglett, and at DH with Kevin Millar. Lind was on a career-high 13-game hitting streak going into Friday's game that included seven starts in left field and six at DH. The streak was snapped as he went 0-for-4 in a 4-2 loss in 10 innings to the Rays.
"I want him to be able to play out there sometimes," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said. "I don't want him to DH all the time, so he doesn't DH all the time. You think about all the games we played on the road when we played Interleague, he had to play the outfield there."
Snider's last game as a Blue Jay came on May 20, and in the 29 games that followed, Lind spent 22 as the team's left fielder. Nine of those starts came while visiting National League teams during Interleague Play, when the team could not use a DH.
In 20 games since then, however, Lind has spent only seven in left field and 13 at DH.
When asked about what has changed since then, Gaston attributed the difference to Interleague Play and the presence of Inglett in the lineup.
"I don't think there's been that much difference, has there?" Gaston said with a smile. "I guess when Snider went down, we brought Joe up. So what happens is Joe doesn't play against left-handers and Lind does, so that might be a little difference that you see."
Inglett was called up to replace Snider when the rookie was optioned to Las Vegas, spent a month with the team before being sent down on June 21, then was recalled again on Thursday when David Dellucci designated for assignment.
Gaston did not indicate that he planned to change Lind's role on the team, but mentioned that he lets Lind know in advance where he will be playing.
"I don't surprise him," Gaston said. "I'll let him know the night before."
Pitching matchupTOR: LHP Brian Tallet (5-6, 4.95 ERA)
Tallet was moved to the bullpen following the All-Star break, but was not used. His last start came on July 8 in St. Petersburg in a 10-9 loss to the Rays. Tallet lasted only three-plus innings, giving up eight runs (all earned) on 11 hits -- which tied a season high -- en route to a no-decision. Three of those runs came on a fourth-inning home run to Ben Zobrist. Tallet had two walks and four strikeouts in his only appearance against the Rays so far this season. TB: LHP David Price (3-4, 4.86 ERA)
Price, making his first start in 11 days because of the All-Star break, looked a bit out of sync in a 4-3 loss against the White Sox on Monday. He struck out six batters, matching his third-highest total this season, but he allowed four runs on eight hits in six innings and walked two. His biggest mistake came in the bottom of the third inning when he surrendered a three-run home run in a tie game to White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko. Price has faced the Blue Jays only once, on July 9 in his last start before the break. He went six innings, allowing one run on six hits while striking out seven in a 3-2 win to earn his third victory of the season. Bird Feed
After Thursday's game, the Blue Jays optioned right-hander Casey Janssen to Triple-A Las Vegas after he completed his Minor League rehab assignment. ... Right fielder Alex Rios stole three bases on Thursday -- the most any Blue Jays player has swiped in a game this year. Rios last performed the feat on July 5, 2008, in Los Angeles against the Angels. His 18 stolen bases lead the team. ... Second baseman Aaron Hill hit his 22nd home run of the season on Thursday -- the fourth-highest home run total in the American League and the second most by an AL second baseman. It was the third time this season Hill has homered in back-to-back games. His 22 home runs are the most by a Blue Jay since Frank Thomas' 26 and Rios' 24 in 2007. Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.
On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio• Gameday
• Official game notes On television
• SNET On radio
• FAN 590 Up next
• Sunday: Blue Jays (Brett Cecil, 3-1, 4.67) vs. Rays (Jeff Niemann, 9-4, 3.61), 1:07 p.m. ET
• Monday: Blue Jays (Ricky Romero, 8-4, 3.44) at Mariners (TBD), 10:10 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Blue Jays (Marc Rzepczynski, 1-2, 2.82) at Mariners (TBD), 10:10 p.m. ET
Erika Gilbert is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
