Cito’s last game in Toronto guides the Blue Jays to an inspirational 8-run win (Part 1)
Manager Cito Gaston was presented with a pre-game celebration that included the likes of Devon white, Joe Carter, Pat Hentgen and George Bell. The former players were present there in the Rogers Centre, alongside 33,143 fans who
gave Cito a memorable standing ovation. The skipper couldn’t hold back on his tears that rolled down his cheeks. The Toronto Blue Jays were facing the New York Yankees at home for the final time in the season the series. With the games-set squared at 1 – 1,
both teams were contesting to come up with the final win to oust the other for the victory.
The Blue Jays were facing the World Series champions for the last time and they had to make the night count for their departing manager. Since 2008, Cito’s been in charge for the ball club and Wednesday night provided the side
an ample opportunity to pay back the skipper with a memorable home town farewell. Gaston was overjoyed by the pre match ceremony and couldn’t hold back on his tears. Looking back at the moment, Cito said: “I was certainly trying to hold it back but I think
all the different things that were said out there, you just can't hold that back after a while. I was just feeling that you try to do the best job you can at all times, but when you find out that you touched that many people's lives, and it's all for the good,
how can you hold it back?"
The Jays were charged up and most of the players idolized Cito’s moustache with figurine fake versions that they applied on themselves, before the game started. The players rubbed the moustaches off after the 2nd innings
but Travis Snider was one player to keep his one, for the duration of the game. For the Yankees, however, game meant staying up to the Tampa Bay Rays’ push for the title. Their playoff berth has been confirmed already but there is still the desire to go for
the East division title.
The Toronto side brought on Brett Cecil for the pitching duties, in the day. His inclusion in the side meant there was a strong chance the side was going to win the bout. The player featured in his 27thgame, tallying
14 wins and 7 losses in the season. The match catered an opportunity for the young ball thrower to capitalize on his chance to make it 15 victories. The fortunate thing to go behind the 24 year old was the basic inkling that Cito was managing his last game
at home. Spirits were high and while the hitters were in good swing, the runs were going to pile over sooner or later. Cecil made an impacting contribution on the match as he played for 5.1 innings and pitched 92 balls in the process. He struck out 2 players
and allowed a walk. He also conceded 3 runs off 9 hits in the night, pushing his Earning Runs Average to 4.22.
The Yankees have been under some serious debilitations in the recent days. Their fortunate victory over the Jays in the last game came with Carsten Charles Sabathia’s influence in the team. However, the pitcher’s rotation was a
concern for Joe Girardi, nevertheless. With the Boston Red Sox coming up in the next series, the careful selection of the players heading to the mount had to be given great thought.
New York made a tactical judgement on bringing on Javier Vazquez for the game. The ball thrower has been considerably reliable in times of pitcher injuries and his 26 starting game meant the player was being considered to throw
in the post season. He has been effective in the season, having won 10 and lost 9. However, last night provided an opportunity to improve on the figures. Unfortunately, that wasn’t to be the case as the ace man allowed 7 runs off 10 hits in 4.2 innings, pummelling
the Yankees to their 4 – 8 loss to Jays
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