Dustin McGowan got his second major league start of the season Saturday and helped Toronto beat Tampa Bay 5-4. It was the second win in a row for the Blue Jays, after they had been on a nine-game losing streak.
McGowan was steady through four innings, giving up only one run on three hits and striking out four batters.
However, in the fifth and sixth innings, the Devil Ray batters started finding the sweet spot. They put up four more hits and two more runs, giving Tampa Bay a 4-3 lead.
For the night, McGowan faced 23 batters and issued only one walk, while striking out six.
In 5-2/3 innings, he threw 95 pitches, of which 58 were strikes. He gave up seven hits and four earned runs, and his season ERA is now 7.59.
He received a no-decision because the Blue Jays scored single runs in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings, for a 5-4 win, giving the Devil Rays their sixth straight loss.
On a night when the big bats sent four balls over the fence for home runs, McGowan’s team mate Frank Thomas hammered the 492nd of his career, nearing the magical 500-mark.
McGowan, getting his second start, seemed to be more comfortable in this game than he was in his first game a week ago. He also matched a career-high for the majors, with six strikeouts.
McGowan’s chance of staying in Toronto improved dramatically Friday when Blue Jay ace pitcher Roy Halliday had to have an appendectomy and was placed on the disabled list. Halliday is expected to miss 4-6 weeks of the season due to the surgery.
McGowan was called up two weeks ago, when pitcher Gustavao Chacin was put on the 15-day disabled list with a sore shoulder. Chacin may be back early next week, and this send McGowan back down to Triple-A Syracuse. With Halliday out, the Long County native has a much better chance of staying in Toronto.
The Blue Jays are currently in fourth place in the American League East with a 16-22 record. They are 10-1/2 games behind the first place Boston Red Sox.
McGowan was steady through four innings, giving up only one run on three hits and striking out four batters.
However, in the fifth and sixth innings, the Devil Ray batters started finding the sweet spot. They put up four more hits and two more runs, giving Tampa Bay a 4-3 lead.
For the night, McGowan faced 23 batters and issued only one walk, while striking out six.
In 5-2/3 innings, he threw 95 pitches, of which 58 were strikes. He gave up seven hits and four earned runs, and his season ERA is now 7.59.
He received a no-decision because the Blue Jays scored single runs in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings, for a 5-4 win, giving the Devil Rays their sixth straight loss.
On a night when the big bats sent four balls over the fence for home runs, McGowan’s team mate Frank Thomas hammered the 492nd of his career, nearing the magical 500-mark.
McGowan, getting his second start, seemed to be more comfortable in this game than he was in his first game a week ago. He also matched a career-high for the majors, with six strikeouts.
McGowan’s chance of staying in Toronto improved dramatically Friday when Blue Jay ace pitcher Roy Halliday had to have an appendectomy and was placed on the disabled list. Halliday is expected to miss 4-6 weeks of the season due to the surgery.
McGowan was called up two weeks ago, when pitcher Gustavao Chacin was put on the 15-day disabled list with a sore shoulder. Chacin may be back early next week, and this send McGowan back down to Triple-A Syracuse. With Halliday out, the Long County native has a much better chance of staying in Toronto.
The Blue Jays are currently in fourth place in the American League East with a 16-22 record. They are 10-1/2 games behind the first place Boston Red Sox.