MLB Team Report – Toronto Blue Jays – INSIDE PITCH
Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ was released from a Tampa-area hospital Wednesday morning after he was hit in the head by a line drive during Tuesday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
Both teams were back in action Wednesday, with the Rays earning a 10-4 victory over the Jays, but that news not the biggest of the day in Toronto.
Happ being release from Bayfront Medical Center on crutches and with a bandage around his head after such a scary incident is what made most of the headlines.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Blue Jays placed the pitcher on the 15-day disabled list.
Happ was in good spirits, and his injuries were described as a head contusion and laceration to his left ear. He also came away with a sore right knee, an injury that occurred during his fall. Happ escaped a more serious injury in a scary incident that saw him bleeding profusely and carried off the field on a stretcher.
Happ, 30, was transported to the hospital Tuesday night after taking a shot off the bat of the Rays’ Desmond Jennings in the second inning. The sound of the impact of the ball striking Happ’s head could be heard as far away as the press box. The ball bounced down the right-field line into foul territory as Happ fell face-first on the mound.
“I’m in good spirits,” Happ said back at Tropicana Field on Wednesday. “I definitely appreciate the support of the baseball community. It’s been overwhelming, the messages and kind words I’ve been getting. I just want to thank everyone for that. And I look forward to getting back out there soon.”
After the play that injured Happ, Jennings stood on third base with hands on his head; his hit had resulted in a two-run triple. Other players were visibly concerned as Happ received medical attention for eight minutes on the field. The game resumed after an 11-minute delay.
The Blue Jays rallied for a 6-4 victory over the Rays.
Happ joined the Blue Jays last July after a trade with Houston. He suffered a season-ending broken right foot in September.
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MLB Team Report – Toronto Blue Jays – NOTES, QUOTES
RECORD: 13-22
STREAK: Lost one
PAST 10 GAMES: 4-6
NEXT: Blue Jays (R.A. Dickey 2-5, 5.36) at Rays (David Price, 1-3, 6.25)
PLAYER NOTES:
–RHP Edgar Gonzalez took the place of J.A. Happ on Toronto’s roster Wednesday afternoon, as his contract was selected from Triple-A Buffalo. He was immediately called into action, pitching 4 2/3 innings in Wednesday’s 10-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. Gonzalez gave up five runs on six hits and two walks. He was 1-0 with a 5.49 ERA in four starts for Buffalo this season.
–RHP R.A. Dickey can blame some of his struggles this season on tightness in his neck and upper right back. He gave up seven earned runs on six hits, two walks and three homers over six innings against the Mariners his last time out. Before that outing, Dickey seemed to have settled down a bit after an especially rough start. He lowered his ERA from 8.44 to 4.50 and has allowed only eight runs over his previous four starts. Dickey tossed a 12-strikeout one-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field when he was with the Mets last season.
–LHP J.A. Happ sustained a sprained right knee after being struck in the head by a line drive in Tuesday night’s game and will not need surgery. He also suffered a skull fracture behind his left ear, a head contusion and a lacerated left ear, though all the tests he underwent indicated that he did not sustain a concussion in what he admitted was a “scary” incident. Happ was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday but hoped he wouldn’t be out long, although he might not be able to travel with the Blue Jays due to the nature of his head injury.
–1B Edwin Encarnacion is tied for the American League lead in homers (10) with Cleveland’s Mark Reynolds, though both trail Atlanta’s Justin Upton (12) for the major League lead. Encarnacion has eight homers since April 23, the most in the majors, although his two-run shot in the first inning Wednesday was his first since April 30 against the Red Sox.
–LF Melky Cabrera went 2-for-4 on Wednesday night for his 10th multi-hit game of the season. He’s put together four straight multi-hit games, matching the longest streak of his career — he’s now done so nine times, most recently July 14-19, 2012. During that streak, Cabrera is hitting .556 (10-for-18) with four extra-base hits and four RBIs.
–LHP Ricky Romero allowed three runs on four hits and two walks while recording only one out Wednesday, the shortest outing of his career. He has lost 15 of his last 16 decisions and has a 7.60 ERA in those starts. Romero allowed three runs over four innings in his first start of 2013 but refused to call Wednesday’s rough night a step backward. He had been pitching for Class A Dunedin since being demoted there at the end of spring training to work on his mechanics.
–RHP Casey Janssen has recorded nine saves in nine chances this year. He’s gone three-up, three-down in all but one of his saves this season, has retired 25 consecutive batters dating back to April 13 and has allowed just three base runners all season, all of them reaching on singles. He’s recorded a save in each of his last 15 opportunities and in 31 of his 33 chances while posting a 1.79 ERA since taking over as the Blue Jays’ closer.
QUOTE TO NOTE: I don’t see it as a step backwards. The statistics don’t show that, but you hold your head high and continue to work.” — LHP Ricky Romero after taking a loss Wednesday.
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MLB Team Report – Toronto Blue Jays – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–LHP J.A. Happ (sprained right knee, skull fracture, lacerated left ear) was placed on the 15-day disabled list May 8. Tests indicated he did not sustain a concussion after taking a line drive to the head May 7.
–RHP Sergio Santos (strained right triceps) went on the 15-day disabled list April 15. An MRI showed a flexor pronator muscle strain. He is scheduled to pitch in extended spring-training games on May 9 and 11. He could begin a minor league rehab assignment next week.
–RHP Josh Johnson (right triceps inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 29. Johnson missed his previously scheduled start April 26 in New York. An MRI showed only inflammation, but he did not feel right while playing catch before a bullpen session May 1.
–SS Jose Reyes (severe left ankle sprain) went on the 15-day disabled list April 13, and he was transferred to the 60-day disabled list on April 23. He does not require surgery. He was in a walking cast as of late April, and the earliest possible date for a return is early July, according to GM Alex Anthopoulos.
–RHP Michael Schwimer (right lat strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. There was no set date for his return.
–RHP Dustin McGowan (right shoulder surgery in August 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 9.
–RHP Kyle Drabek (Tommy John surgery in June 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list Feb. 27. He isn’t expected to return before midseason.
–RHP Drew Hutchison (Tommy John surgery in August 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list March 22. He isn’t expected to return until late in the season.
–LHP Luis Perez (Tommy John surgery in July 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list Feb. 23. He probably won’t be available until late in the season.
ROTATION:
RHP R.A. Dickey
RHP Brandon Morrow
LHP Mark Buehrle
LHP Ricky Romero
BULLPEN:
RHP Casey Janssen (closer)
LHP Darren Oliver
LHP Brett Cecil
RHP Steve Delabar
LHP Aaron Loup
RHP Esmil Rogers
RHP Brad Lincoln
RHP Edgar Gonzalez
CATCHERS:
J.P. Arencibia
Henry Blanco
INFIELDERS:
1B Edwin Encarnacion
2B Emilio Bonifacio
SS Munenori Kawasaki
3B Brett Lawrie
INF Adam Lind
INF Maicer Izturis
INF Mark DeRosa
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Melky Cabrera
CF Colby Rasmus
RF Jose Bautista
OF Rajai Davis
