With a limited bullpen, from an extended game, Dustin McGowan knew he needed to go as long as he could Monday, when he and the Blue Jays took on the Boston Red Sox.
In Sunday’s game against Baltimore, the contest lasted four a half hours, and the team used eight pitchers, leaving the bull pin very short when McGowan took the mound Monday.
Fortunately for the Jays, the 25-year-old pitcher had been solid recently, going eight innings in three of his last four starts, while posting a 3-1 record.
In Monday’s game, the local hurler left no doubt in anyone’s mind he was up to the task as he went the distance, allowing only five hits and one run, as the Blue Jays got an easy 6-1 victory over the Sox.
The pitcher was in the zone for most of the night, as he only allowed Boston to put four runners in scoring position, and gave up the lone run in the fourth inning.
The right-hander wasn’t alone in having a dominating night, as teammate Frank Thomas added three more home runs to his total, giving him 512 for his career.
With the three added homers, Thomas moved into 18th place on the home run list, being tied with Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews.
This was only the second time in Thomas’ career he had a three-homer-night. The first time was on Sept. 15, 1996, and believe it or not, it too was against the Red Sox.
For the night, McGowan faced 31 batters, striking out 9 and didn’t allow single walk. He gave up 5 hits and 1 earned run, and now has an ERA of 3.84 and a record of 11 wins and 9 losses.
But more important than McGowan’s statistics, is the fact he has become one of the Blue Jays dominate pitchers, and down the back stretch of the season, he has put together 17 quality starts out of his last 22 outings.
And even though the Blue Jays won’t be going to the post season tournament, they will have a lot to look forward to in 2008, with McGowan giving the team three outstanding starters, with ace’s Roy Halladay and A.J. Burnett.
On Tuesday night Toronto beat the Red Sox, 4-3 to go up two games to none in their three game series and as of that game the Blue Jays record was 76-75.
McGowan should be back on the mound this Sunday, September 23rd when the Toronto travels to New York to take on the Yankees (87-64).
In Sunday’s game against Baltimore, the contest lasted four a half hours, and the team used eight pitchers, leaving the bull pin very short when McGowan took the mound Monday.
Fortunately for the Jays, the 25-year-old pitcher had been solid recently, going eight innings in three of his last four starts, while posting a 3-1 record.
In Monday’s game, the local hurler left no doubt in anyone’s mind he was up to the task as he went the distance, allowing only five hits and one run, as the Blue Jays got an easy 6-1 victory over the Sox.
The pitcher was in the zone for most of the night, as he only allowed Boston to put four runners in scoring position, and gave up the lone run in the fourth inning.
The right-hander wasn’t alone in having a dominating night, as teammate Frank Thomas added three more home runs to his total, giving him 512 for his career.
With the three added homers, Thomas moved into 18th place on the home run list, being tied with Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews.
This was only the second time in Thomas’ career he had a three-homer-night. The first time was on Sept. 15, 1996, and believe it or not, it too was against the Red Sox.
For the night, McGowan faced 31 batters, striking out 9 and didn’t allow single walk. He gave up 5 hits and 1 earned run, and now has an ERA of 3.84 and a record of 11 wins and 9 losses.
But more important than McGowan’s statistics, is the fact he has become one of the Blue Jays dominate pitchers, and down the back stretch of the season, he has put together 17 quality starts out of his last 22 outings.
And even though the Blue Jays won’t be going to the post season tournament, they will have a lot to look forward to in 2008, with McGowan giving the team three outstanding starters, with ace’s Roy Halladay and A.J. Burnett.
On Tuesday night Toronto beat the Red Sox, 4-3 to go up two games to none in their three game series and as of that game the Blue Jays record was 76-75.
McGowan should be back on the mound this Sunday, September 23rd when the Toronto travels to New York to take on the Yankees (87-64).