Texas @ Toronto preview
Rogers Centre
Last Meeting ( May 14, 2010 ) Texas 10, Toronto 16
Friday night was a rough one for Toronto Blue Jays starter Brett Cecil.
Teammate Ricky Romero can only hope Saturday afternoon is a little kinder.
The second-year hurler looks for his fourth win of the season as he leads the Blue Jays into the second of a three-game series against the visiting Texas Rangers. Romero (3-1) is among the American League leaders with 47 strikeouts and boasts a tidy 3.42 ERA through seven starts this season.
He’ll try to fare better than fellow southpaw Cecil, who was rocked in Toronto's 16-10 victory a night earlier. Cecil allowed eight runs in just two innings - and Texas counterpart Rich Harden didn't fare much better, surrendering seven runs in fewer than three innings of work.
Both were banished to the showers long before the final pitch was thrown.
The Blue Jays’ bats feasted on Texas pitching, belting five home runs to increase their major league-leading total to 57. The 16 runs were a season high for Toronto, and the most the Rangers had allowed all season.
The big night allowed a pair of slumping Jays to shake lengthy slumps. Lyle Overbay ended a dreadful 8-for-63 drought with three hits, including a solo home run, while Aaron Hill climbed out of a 2-for-28 rut with a three-run homer.
Overbay’s breakout was especially critical, as first-base prospect Brett Wallace continues to mash for the Jays’ Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas. Wallace, acquired in the off-season deal that sent Roy Halladay to Philadelphia, could be in Canada by the All-Star break if Overbay can’t improve dramatically on his .189 batting average.
Facing off against Romero is towering Texas right-hander Scott Feldman (1-3), who is looking to recapture some of his 2009 magic. A surprise 17-game winner last season, Feldman is sporting an ugly 5.84 ERA, and is 0-3 over his last five decisions.
Feldman is still looking for his first career victory over Toronto - he’s 0-2 with a 5.90 ERA all-time against the Blue Jays. He started Texas’ 5-4 win over Toronto on April 5, but earned a no-decision after allowing three runs in seven innings.
Despite their deplorable performance on the mound Friday, the Rangers were a force at the plate. Vladimir Guerrero continued his tear with three hits and three RBIs, while Nelson Cruz drove in four runs in his first taste of action since being activated from the disabled list.
His return resulted in the demotion of utilityman Ryan Garko, who was sent to Triple-A Oklahoma City after going just 3-for-33 in 15 games.