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Percival Makes It Interesting, But Allows No Runners In 9th

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The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 31, 2008

TORONTO - The only drama present in Troy Percival's 23rd save of the season came when he went to a 3-0 count on both Joe Inglett and Alex Rios in the bottom of the ninth.

He locked back into the strike zone and dispatched both of them, though - Inglett on a grounder to first, Rios on a pop-up to first - in outs sandwiched around a Marco Scutaro fly to center to breeze through his least stressful appearance in quite a while.

Percival had given up a run before recording each of his previous two saves, but both of those came protecting three-run leads. So while fans may have been sweating them out, he wasn't.

"Whether I give up a run or not with a three-run lead, it doesn't faze me at all, because I pitch differently in those situations anyway," Percival said.

There were no complaints Wednesday as he navigated the top third of the Blue Jays' batting order with ease, finishing a game without allowing anyone to reach base for the first time since June 14.

"I felt pretty good about getting, especially, the top of that lineup," Percival said. "It's a pretty tough challenge to get through those three guys."

The save was the 347th of Percival's career, tying him with Randy Myers for eighth on the all-time list. Next in line is Jeff Reardon at 367.

BRACING HIMSELF: It will take some convincing on SS Jason Bartlett's part, but he hopes Wednesday was the last game he will have to play with a bulky brace on his right knee.

"I think head trainer Ron Porterfield wants me to wear it for a couple weeks, just in case something did happen," Bartlett said, "but I'm going to try not to wear it after this day off and see if he lets me."

In seven games since returning from the disabled list, Bartlett said he still isn't quite back to normal - and having to wear a brace has added to that sense - but he hasn't given too much thought to his knee while he's actually on the field.

"The one that's really in my head is turning a double play, that's the one thing," Bartlett said. "In a crucial spot, that runner's going to want to take me out, and I'm going to have to get out of the way, or else I'm going to be paying for it."

TOUGH TWO-FER: RHP Matt Garza's victory Tuesday night made him only the sixth pitcher to record two career wins against Toronto's Roy Halladay, according to Stats, Inc.

The others: Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez, Vicente Padilla, Pat Rapp and Tim Wakefield.

NOTEWORTHY: LF Carl Crawford recorded his fourth triple in the last five games after going 28 games without one. ... LHP J.P. Howell turned in his 12th consecutive scoreless appearances. RHP Edwin Jackson collected his first win against the Blue Jays in his ninth appearance (eight starts) against them.

Marc Lancaster

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