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May 14, 2007
Litsch thrust into spotlight
By MIKE RUTSEY -- Sun Media
Right-hander Jesse Litsch will make his major-league debut for the Blue Jays tomorrow against the Orioles. Litsch will make the start in place of Roy Halladay, who will be out from four to six weeks after undergoing an emergency appendectomy on Friday. Litsch, 22, a 24th-round selection by the Jays in the 2004 June draft, has been having a sensational season at double-A New Hampshire. In six starts, Litsch is 5-1 with a 0.96 ERA. In 372/3 innings, the right-hander has allowed 22 hits, walked seven and struck out 28. GOING, GOING, GONE With Carlos Pena hitting a home run for Tampa Bay in the seventh inning yesterday, the Jays pitching staff has allowed at least one home run in each of their past nine games. The Jays pitching staff entered yesterday's game having allowed the most homers in the league -- 50. LONG OVERDUE By taking two of three games from the Devil Rays, the Jays managed to win their first series of three games or more since they won two of three games against Kansas City on April 9-11. REMAIN HOPEFUL Third baseman Troy Glaus, who re-injured his left heel on Friday, is making progress and the Jays are hopeful that he will not have to go back on the disabled list. Glaus did not play on Saturday or Sunday. Ryan Roberts started at third yesterday, batted ninth and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. --- REPORT CARD D At the plate: The Jays managed just two hits against the Rays sad-sack starter Jae Seo and three in total. One was a solo homer by Matt Stairs. A Starter: Shaun Marcum was brilliant in his first start. In six innings he didn't allow a hit and struck out seven. D Bullpen: Jason Frasor allowed a solo homer by Carlos Pena for Tampa Bay's first hit while Brian Tallet failed to cover first in the ninth, allowing the second run to score. |