Aussie Updates (10 July 2008)

The shine has rubbed off the success of Ryan Rowland-Smith and Grant Balfour today:

• Balfour pitched in the Rays loss to the Yankees, and he took the loss after giving up the game winning hit to Bobby Abreu. He hadn't pitched too badly, coming on in the ninth and getting out of a jam by striking out Melky Cabrera and drawing a pop out from Jose Molina, to leave the winning run stranded at third. He came out again in the bottom of the tenth, and struck out Brett Gardner. He then walked Derek Jeter, before giving up a long double to Abreu that allowed Jeter to score and the game to end. Unlucky Balf. He battled long and hard with both Jeter and Abreu, but just couldnt make the outs.
• Ryan Rowland-Smith featured in long relief today, as Seattle's starter Miguel Batista was forced to leave the game early with a groin strain. That's the last thing the Mariners need - more pitching injuries. He came into the game in the bottom of the third. He drew a ground out from Donnie Murphy, but then gave up a first pitch single to Daric Barton. Mark Ellis almost grounded into a double play, but the M's made an error and couldnt get the second out. RRS struck out Carlos Gonzalez and then drew a ground out from Ryan Sweeney. He returned in the fourth. He got a 1-3 ground out from Jack Cust but then gave up four hits in a row. Wes Bankston singled to centrefield on a 2-2 curveball. RRS threw nothing but fastballs to Kurt Suzuki, and he singled on a full count. Jack Hanahan then singled to right on the first pitch fastball. RRS went to his changeup for the first pitch against Donnie Murphy, but he slapped it down the left field line for a double, and scoring three runs. This prompted a visit to the mound, but RRS was left in the game. He then walked Daric Barton, and was replaced by Roy Corcoran. It seemed he had a bit less zip than he had in his previous two outings, perhaps because he was pitching on only 2 days rest after his longest outing of the year? Hopefully there are no injury concerns and he can bounce back quickly. Luckily, the M's offence bounced back in the fifth, scoring 5 runs. It is now the top of the 5th with 2 out, and the M's lead 6-4.