Most Valuable Player
Blue Jays first baseman Lyle Overbay is continuing his very hot June. The No. 7 hitter had a breakout game, going 3-for-5 and driving in five runs on a pair of two-run singles and a solo homer.
All-Star Performance
Toronto starter Ricky Romero picked up his fourth win of the year with a seven-inning, eight-hit performance, giving up just two runs in the second inning. The lefty struck out six and threw just 42 balls in his 118-pitch outing.
Overlooked
Nats catcher Josh Bard was about two feet shy of a big game. The only blemish in his 3-for-4, 2 RBI performance was a deep fly out in the fourth that was caught at the wall by Adam Lind.
Oops!
Shairon Martis had a pretty crummy first inning. He got a double-play out on the second batter, but then surrendered three hits and two walks. After 33 pitches and 4 runs, the Nats were in a hole they couldn’t climb out of.
From the Dugout
Winning back-to-back series against two of the best teams in the AL East should quell any rumors surrounding Manny Acta’s ousting. Acta was smart to ride Martis as far as he could — might as well get the bullpen rested for Boston.
Cito Gaston had a pretty easy go of it — aside from having to work a pitcher into the batting lineup. Romero’s nice outing would make any day easy, but the four-run first allowed the Jays to cruise.
