Justin Barracosa

Jesse Litsch pitched eight strong innings as theJays wrapped up a three-game set against the Reds with a 7-1 win.

Litsch (8-4) gave up just one run on three hits with a walk and six strikeouts for the Blue Jays, who have won three of four after a seven-game losing streak. Scott Rolen hit a two-run home run and drove in three while Vernon Wells had a pair of RBI and scored twice.

“The last few days we have swung the bat better than in the past,” Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said.

Edinson Volquez (10-3) had his worst start of the season as he gave up seven runs — five earned — on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings of work while Brandon Phillips drove in the lone run for the Reds, who have dropped three of their last four.

“The only thing I can say is it’s a bad day,” Volquez said. “I knew it was going to happen some day. All I can do is get ready for my next start.”

The Blue Jays took the lead in the second as Matt Stairs started the frame with a walk and Rolen followed by roping a slider into the left field stands.

Toronto tacked on three more runs to its lead in the third. With the bases loaded, Wells hit into a fielder’s choice that scored Marco Scutaro. Lyle Overbay later added a two-run single to extend the lead to 5-0.

The Reds got on the board in the fourth inning when Adam Dunn hit a double, moved to third on a wild pitch and crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly from Phillips.

The Blue Jays added to their lead in the fifth. Alex Rios led off with a double and then scored on a double from Wells. Later in the inning, Rolen belted a double to right that brought home Wells for a 7-1 lead.

After giving up the double in the fourth, Litsch was nearly flawless as he allowed just a single to Jerry Hairston Jr. in the sixth and a double to Corey Patterson along with a walk to Paul Bako in the eighth.

Brian Tallet pitched the ninth for Toronto to finish the win.

Howard Miller

Volquez for Hamilton: Who is winning?

It’s not very often you can say a trade worked out equally well for both sides (just look at the trades of Jeff Bagwell, Scott Kazmir, Vince Carter, Kobe Bryant, Alexei Yashin, Roberto Luongo, Brett Favre, or Randy Moss). But sometimes it does, as is the case in the Josh Hamilton to Texas for Edinson Volquez trade that went down in the off season.

Through 40 games Josh Hamilton is raking for the otherwise unspectacular Rangers. He is on pace for 31 homeruns and 175 RBI. Let’s just hope he can stay healthy because this guy is such a good story and I’m surious to see what he can do in 162 game season. The RBI total (44 at this point) is 11 clear of Emil Brown and leads the American League.

Volquez has been wonderful for the Reds. He walks too many guys and his pitch count is always high, but he also strikes out a lot of batters, throws 3 great pitches, and is on pace for a 23-4 record with 220 strikeouts on a team struggling badly through the first 40 games of the season. Incidentally, while Hamilton leads the AL in RBI, Volquez leads the NL in ERA with a miniscule 1.12 ERA and he plays in Great American Ballpark. Not exactly known for its friendliness to pitchers.

I’m excited to see what happens this Sunday in Cincy when Cliff Lee brings his insane record into GAB to face off with Eddie V. Should be a great one.

Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn: Who is staying and who is going?

My opinion here is Ken Griffey Jr. will be traded as soon as he hits number 600. When asked by Walt Jocketty what he wanted to do, Griff said he’d like to finish the season in Cincy, but would be willing to consider trades. Ken is in the unique position of being able to pick his landing spot because he has a blanket no-trade clause due to his 10-5 status (10 years experience, 5 with the same team).

Ken Rosenthal is reporting Jr. is open to going to more places than in the past. The feeling is his children are old enough that he doesn’t feel he has to be near his Orlando home. He has also stated he does not require the new team to pick up his option. The Mariners are an obvious pick for sentimental reasons. Griffey admittedly was blown away from the response he received last year when he returned and has been quoted as saying he would like to finish where he started.

I see Jr. going to Seattle this season and signing elsewhere next year with a team he considers to be a contender. We all know money is not important to him, he is set for life, and he just wants a ring. However, I think Toronto would be an interesting place for him to land this season (but living in Ottawa, I’m just being hopeful).

As for Dunn, I don’t think Dunn gets traded. He’s still young and is good for 40 in Cincy every year. Play him with Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips and the middle of your lineup is set for the next decade. The strikeouts are a problem, but power hitters strike out…plain and simple.

Aaron Harang: 2-5?

He gets almost no run support and seems to face the other teams ace every time out. Very deceiving record. He’s reminding me of Matt Cain last year.

Broken Knee Caps?

Something is amiss in Cincinnati. Reds shortstops must owe some bad people money because they keep breaking their knee caps. I feel awful for Keppinger. This guy has been incredible all year, and in limited playing time last year, only to have it all put on hold with a freak injury. But he’ll be back and I think he’ll pick up right where he left off. This guy is a professional hitter whose numbers are NOT inflated from Cincy as some other guys are. Small parks don’t help ground ball and line drive hitters.

Enjoy the weekend series…its the Battle of Ohio.  

Howard Miller

The Reds have fired General Manager Wayne Krivsky today and have replaced him with Walt Jocketty. The news is only surprising in the sense of its timing. Krivsky had to see the writing on the wall when ownership hired Jocketty in the offseason.

 I liked Wayne Krivsky, but Jocketty has a ring and that’s really all that matters in my book. The Reds need to get things turned around here and it’s now up to Walt to do it.

My guess is a Jay Bruce call up would be tops on Mr. Jocketty’s to-do list.

I am gone until Sunday. Enjoy the weekend.