ANAHEIM, CALIF. - If, in the end, the Blue Jays blow this chance for a second consecutive run at the playoffs, this might be one of those uh-oh games that greased the skids.
Facing a pitcher of mediocre pedigree in Ricky Nolasco, the bats inexplicably went silent. Nolasco, who had lost 10 of his last 12 decisions, compiling an ERA of about 5.00 in the process, was made to look like the second coming of Cy Young by the Blue Jay lineup, as he fashioned six shutout innings on the way to a 6-1 victory.
On the other side of the coin, the Blue Jays defence went to sleep behind some decent work by lefty Francisco Liriano, committing three errors, leading to four unearned runs.