KIDWCKED
08-09-2010, 11:03 PM
c/p from Tsn by the a/p
TORONTO - The year of the pitcher across the majors has been the year of the longball for the Toronto Blue Jays, who surely found the zenith of their season-long air show with an eight home run performance over the weekend.
For some perspective, Saturday's assault of shellshocked starter James Shields and the Tampa Bay Rays was just the 20th time a big-league team has hit eight or more home runs in a single game, according to Elias Sports Bureau, and was two short of the record 10 the Blue Jays established against Baltimore on Sept. 14, 1987.
Consider, too, that there have been just 20 perfect games thrown in the majors.
Yet the fireworks were overshadowed by the excitement over prospect J.P. Arencibia's stunning two-homer, four-hit debut in the 17-11 win, and then nearly completely forgotten as Brandon Morrow came within an out of the franchise's second no-hitter in Sunday's 1-0 win.
The rarity of the power display, however, made it just as memorable as the efforts by Arencibia and Morrow, even if what was somewhat lost in the other buzz.
"I've never seen anything like that," marvelled Jose Bautista, whose major-league best 34th home was No. 5 on Saturday for the Blue Jays.
Added Lyle Overbay, whose 13th of the year was the capper: "We were awfully close to (the record) but you're still pretty far away from it on the same token. Two home runs to tie it, takes some good luck more than anything. But it's what we've been doing all year, hitting homers."
Of that there is no doubt.
TORONTO - The year of the pitcher across the majors has been the year of the longball for the Toronto Blue Jays, who surely found the zenith of their season-long air show with an eight home run performance over the weekend.
For some perspective, Saturday's assault of shellshocked starter James Shields and the Tampa Bay Rays was just the 20th time a big-league team has hit eight or more home runs in a single game, according to Elias Sports Bureau, and was two short of the record 10 the Blue Jays established against Baltimore on Sept. 14, 1987.
Consider, too, that there have been just 20 perfect games thrown in the majors.
Yet the fireworks were overshadowed by the excitement over prospect J.P. Arencibia's stunning two-homer, four-hit debut in the 17-11 win, and then nearly completely forgotten as Brandon Morrow came within an out of the franchise's second no-hitter in Sunday's 1-0 win.
The rarity of the power display, however, made it just as memorable as the efforts by Arencibia and Morrow, even if what was somewhat lost in the other buzz.
"I've never seen anything like that," marvelled Jose Bautista, whose major-league best 34th home was No. 5 on Saturday for the Blue Jays.
Added Lyle Overbay, whose 13th of the year was the capper: "We were awfully close to (the record) but you're still pretty far away from it on the same token. Two home runs to tie it, takes some good luck more than anything. But it's what we've been doing all year, hitting homers."
Of that there is no doubt.