Adam Lind flew out to Jason Bay to end the game.
And that was that.
The Blue Jays officially were eliminated from post-season play. That makes 15 straight seasons since Joe Carter's home run off Mitch Williams to win the 1993 World Series.
Right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka sliced and diced for seven innings, while Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon each worked a scoreless frame, as the Boston Red Sox threesome combined on a three-hit, 3-0 shutout before 38,814 fans at the Rogers Centre.
Of course the Jays had entered the game with still a .00175% chance of reaching post-season play, according to Baseball Prospectus.
Only the Kansas City Royals, the Washington Nationals (nee Montreal Expos), the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Milwaukee Brewers -- 11/2 games back in the wild-card race going into last night's game -- can match the Jays' 0-for-15 run.
BATTLE FOR THIRD
Eliminated in Game 156, the Jays have six games remaining, with the New York Yankees coming in to decide third place. Then the Jays finish the season in Baltimore on the weekend.
"Will it be trouble motivating players the final games?" manager Cito Gaston repeated. "I've always felt you can only do so much as a manager. Players have to motivate themselves, but I will be talking to them."
A year ago the Jays were eliminated in Game 152. Under general manager J.P. Ricciardi the Jays have averaged more than 13 games a season after they've been knocked out of contention for a post-season berth.
From 1985 until 1993, the Jays played a grand total of 12 meaningless games after being eliminated, averaging slightly more than one per season.
"The fact is, it was just a matter of time," Lyle Overbay said.
During the Jays' 10-game winning streak, boosters pointed to the seven games remaining against Boston with glee. Plenty of time to do damage. As the Red Sox bus pulled away from the Rogers Centre yesterday, it was after five Boston wins in seven meetings.
Overbay left yesterday's game after two at-bats, lifted by Gaston after the manager noticed his right wrist was giving him pain.
"He should be able to play (tomorrow)," Gaston said.
Gaston wouldn't have been able to field a team if he lifted everyone who took awkward swings against Matsuzaka. Vernon Wells doubled and singled. Joe Inglett singled and that was it. Jays hitters struck out seven times.
"I'm not getting the bat on pitches I was getting the bat on two weeks ago," Overbay said. "Now, part of that is swinging at bad pitches, part of that is the hand. Cito saw that they were bad swings and thought it was best to rest."
Right-hander Scott Richmond, making his first start in 23 days since coming up from triple-A Syracuse, gave up a leadoff triple to Jacoby Ellsbury, who scored on a fly ball. Ellsbury doubled off the glove of Wells and Richmond and rookie catcher Curtis Thigpen doubled up, throwing back-to-back, changeups to David Ortiz, after falling behind 3-1 in the count.
Ortiz took the first one for strike two, and he took the second one over the left-field fence for a two-run homer.
"He'll get another start on the weekend in Baltimore," Gaston said of Richmond, filling in for injured Shaun Marcum.
"If he continues to pitch like that, he's a guy we should take a look at next spring."
Richmond said he hopes to get his first major-league win in Baltimore. Next season's rotation has Roy Halladay, Jesse Litsch, David Purcey and ... uh, we'll get back to you on that.
"I've been throwing my bullpens. When they call on you, you have to be sharp," Richmond said. "This team is built on pitching. You don't like to see anyone get injured.
"It could have been a one-run, five-inning outing very easily and after the long rest, that would have been nice. I didn't think Ortiz's ball was going to leave the park. I thought it was a fly ball."
Now, the Jays can take the final few games to see how many position Jose Baustita really can play, whether Lind or Travis Snider is better in left, how Thigpen, who threw out a runner yesterday, can handle the staff.
Just six games to decide.
Then Jays president Paul Godfrey is on the clock to decide whether he returns and if he does not, what happens to his hand-picked general manager, Ricciardi?
