COMEBACKS ARE SWEET, JAYS SWEEP O'S

The announcers had said that it was a perfect night for baseball.

If the first two games of the Blue Jays-Orioles series was any indication of how nerve-wracking games have been at times in this up and mostly down season for the Toronto Blue Jays, Canada hadn't yet witnessed game three of the series.

A small number of fans were beginning to entrust in the Parrish. John Parrish, Toronto's new number five starter, replacing both the injured Shaun Marcum and Dustin McGowan, proved his worth in his lone start June 28th against the Atlanta Braves, surrendering just one run over six solid innings of work.

Thursday night was no different, as Parrish, now a journeyman 30-year old, made his second start as a Toronto Blue Jay. Even though things started rocky—Parrish allowed three runs in the first two innings—he would settle down and shut down the Baltimore Orioles for five innings after that. Of course, leaving the game having thrown seven innings and allowed three runs.

Toronto, however, had to face Baltimore's victim of minimal run support, who boasted a losing record despite a tidy 3.61 ERA. Guthrie would throw seven innings too, just allowing two runs, and would leave the game with a 3-2 lead.

Baltimore wanted to get a win for Guthrie, and a win in the series.

Melvin Mora singled home two runs with the bases loaded in the 8th, and Baltimore took a 5-2 lead. Tallet was charged with both earned runs, which is rather unencouraging considering that he will start Sunday against the Evil Empire, in the final showdown before the all-star break.

But a lead was never safe.

It just wasn't meant to be Baltimore's night once again.

Jim Johnson would surrender two runs in the bottom half of the inning, giving back whatever insurance Baltimore had suddenly gained.

And after a scoreless top of the 9th inning by the eventual winning pitcher Shawn Camp, the O's turned to George Sherill, one of the more dominating closers in the American League...

But Sherill didn't have his stuff.

The Jays loaded the bases once again.

Lyle Overbay hit a sacrifice fly with one out to tie it up at FIVE!

And then, the man that John Gibbons would not trust with a starting job would come through for the new manager, Cito Gaston.

ADAM LIND!

As I called it...

"The pitch from Sherill, LIND SWINGS!, It's through the hole on the right side! Rolen's coming hard around third, can he make it and win this game? The throw is wide, and ROLEN WINS IT! THE JAYS WIN IT! 6-5! AND FOR A SECOND TIME IN THREE NIGHTS, THE JAYS HAVE SHOCKED THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES IN DOING SOMETHING THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO ALL SEASON LONG! COME FROM BEHIND TO WIN IT IN THE NINTH INNING!

All in the wake of injuries to key players such as Dustin McGowan (torn rotator cuff), and Vernon Wells (grade three hamstring pull). Both will miss at least four weeks, and McGowan probably won't be back until September at the earliest.

The Blue Jays seemed to play extremely well in Vernon Wells' absence last time around. Perhaps the same will happen this time.

Maybe the injuries will be a blessing. And for John Parrish, it's a major league dream come true. A spot in the starting rotation for good, because AJ Burnett will likely be dealt by the trade deadline.

But if tonight was any indication of how the 2008 Jays were supposed to win, were supposed to play, this could be an exciting team to watch down the stretch, as they heat up in the dog days of summer.

The Evil Empire rolls into town Friday Night, and we'll see a matchup much looked forward to, the ace Roy Halladay (the best pitcher in the American League), against the up and coming Joba Chamberlain.

The Jays, should they sweep New York, will have a winning record (48-47) by the all-star break. That's the goal.

Toronto's about to play over their heads, and quickly climb into contention.