Final
Bautista's HR in ninth boosts Blue Jays over Cardinals
Jun 25, 2011 - 7:11 AMVideo
With one out, Fernando Salas (4-2) threw an 0-1 fastball on the outside edge of the plate and up, and Bautista put a swing on it. The ball sailed just over the right field fence, an opposite field shot and his major league-leading 23rd home run of the year.
Bautista said he watched video of Salas and was expecting the pitch.
"He likes his fastball, he throws it away most of the time," Bautista said. "I was looking for it. It was a ball, but I ended up hitting it good. So, I'll take it."
Frank Francisco worked a 1-2-3 bottom half to secure the victory, which ended Toronto's four-game slide.
Aaron Hill and Adam Lind drove in two runs apiece for the Blue Jays, while Jason Frasor (2-1) picked up the victory for throwing a scoreless eighth.
Matt Holliday hit a game-tying two-run blast in the sixth inning for St. Louis, which fell to 3-4 on its nine-game homestand.
Holliday's homer got Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook off the hook. The right- hander gave up four runs on 10 hits and one walk in 4 1/3 innings, including two runs in the first.
A Bautista double put runners in scoring position before Lind grounded out to plate a run. Hill then lined a single to center to make it a 2-0 game.
"Today I was just all over the place from the get-go," Westbrook said. "Not controlling counts, and making mistakes that put our bullpen in a bind."
But the Cardinals got to Toronto starter Brandon Morrow in the second, when Colby Rasmus homered. Morrow threw a first-pitch splitter low but over the plate, and Rasmus jumped on it, golfing it over the right field fence.
Daniel Descalso led off the bottom of the third with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, then advanced to third on a passed ball. He tagged up on Jon Jay's fly ball to center, evening the game.
Eric Thames got a Toronto rally started in the fifth with a one-out double. After Westbrook intentionally walked Bautista, Lind and Hill hit consecutive run-scoring singles to put the Blue Jays up 4-2.
But the Cardinals got those runs back in the sixth. After Jay led off with a double, Holliday slugged a home run to left field. The breaking ball was low and Holliday's timing appeared to be slightly off, but he still managed to send it over the fence.
Game Notes
Morrow allowed four runs -- three earned -- on five hits and a walk in seven innings, and struck out nine...Lance Lynn threw three shutout relief innings for St. Louis...Blue Jays manager John Farrell indicated Friday that infielding prospect Brett Lawrie likely won't be able to play until late summer as he comes back from a broken hand...Francisco recorded his eighth save.
- TORONTO: 5
ST. LOUIS: 4
Final
Jun 24 11:21 PM - Adam Lind flied out to left. None on with two outs and Aaron Hill due up.
Blue Jays 5, Cardinals 4 Top 9, 2 OutsJun 24 11:12 PM - Skip Schumaker grounded out second to first to end the inning.
Blue Jays 4, Cardinals 4 End 6Jun 24 10:12 PM - Jose Molina infield single to second. On the play, Aaron Hill advances to second and Adam Lind advances to third. Bases loaded with one out and Edwin Encarnacion due up.
Blue Jays 4, Cardinals 2 Top 5, 1 OutJun 24 9:39 PM - Matt Holliday infield single to second. Runner on first with two outs and Lance Berkman due up.
Blue Jays 2, Cardinals 2 Bot 3, 2 OutsJun 24 9:10 PM - Colby Rasmus one-out, solo Home Run (6) to right. Skip Schumaker due up.
Blue Jays 2, Cardinals 1 Bot 2, 1 OutJun 24 8:48 PM - Jose Molina singled to right. On the play, Aaron Hill advances to third. Runners on first and third with two outs and Edwin Encarnacion due up.
Blue Jays 2, Cardinals 0 Top 1, 2 OutsJun 24 8:31 PM - TORONTO: 0
ST. LOUIS: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jun 24 8:17 PM
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