TORONTO–Brandon Morrow’s breakout 2012 season has come to a sudden, painful halt.
In the first inning of Toronto’s 6-3 loss to the visiting Washington Nationals on Monday, the Toronto Blue Jays pitcher felt something below his rib cage on his first pitch to No. 2 hitter Bryce Harper.
Two pitches later, the pain was too much to bear, Morrow motioned for the trainer and his night was done.
When he next pitches is now anybody’s guess.
During the game the Blue Jays announced that the 27-year-old right-hander had suffered a strained left oblique muscle and listed him as day-to-day. Following the game however, Blue Jays manager John Farrell said the injury looks much worse.
“We’ll get a better read on his condition after further tests are done tomorrow, but I think at this point, it’s safe to say it’s probably substantial in terms of what he’s dealing with right now,” said Farrell. “Any kind of time length, there’s really no read on that yet until we get the further testing, but it’s unfortunate given how well he’s been pitching and what he means to this rotation, this staff and certainly this team.”
Morrow, who said he felt a “stabbing” in his side on his first offering to Harper, added he tried to put the pain out of his mind for the second pitch, hoping it was nothing.
It was something however; something Morrow hopes turns out to be less serious than it appears.
“We’re calling it an oblique strain right now and then we’ll know by tomorrow,” he said. “Hopefully it’ll just be a best-case scenario. We still don’t know what that is, but like I said, we’ll know more tomorrow.”
After signing a three-year, $20 million extension in the off-season, Morrow has taken his game to new heights in 2012, fulfilling the vast promise he’d shown since flashes of ever since the Seattle Mariners selected him with the fifth overall pick in the 2006 draft.
Entering Monday’s game, Morrow had a MLB-best three shutouts to his name and his opponent’s batting average (.194) and opponent’s OPS (.586) were good enough for third and fifth best respectively in the American League.
On May 30, Morrow was fortunate to only sustain a bruise after taking a hard line drive off his leg.
It remains to be seen whether he’ll be so lucky this time, with Morrow himself conceding some concern.
“Yeah, sure there’s some worry,” he said. “It’s hard to say because it’s sore just from it happening today, so it could feel better tomorrow. Hopefully it doesn’t feel any worse.”
Really hoping by boy @2Morrow23 is back in action soon. He’s been a stud all year and we need him. Praying his injury is nothing serious.
— Ricky Romero (@RickyRo24) June 12, 2012
JAYS MAKE ROSTER MOVES: Following the game, the Blue Jays announced that they have recalled left-handers Evan Crawford and Aaron Laffey from triple-A Las Vegas, while righ-hander Chad Beck has been returned to the club. The Blue Jays will announce another roster move Tuesday.
THE BIG PICTURE: With the loss, the Blue Jays dropped back to a game over .500 at 31-30 and 4.5 games behind the first place New York Yankees and idle Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East. Toronto’s home record is now 16-13. With the win, the NL East-leading Nationals improved to 36-23.
THE ARMS: Chad Beck was the first man summoned out of the Toronto ‘pen in place of Morrow. The right-hander delivered 3.2 innings of three-hit, three-run (two earned) ball before handing things over to Luiz Perez with two out in the top of the fourth. The 27-year-old Dominican gave up six hits over his 2.1 innings of work, but just one run. Jason Frasor pitched a scoreless inning of work while Francsico Cordero served up a leadoff home run to Rick Ankiel to open the eighth.
As for Nationals starter Edwin Jackson, he walked and struck out three in eight innings of work to improve to 3-3.
THE BATS: In addition to Rasmus’ homer, Brett Lawrie (single), Jose Bautista (two walks), J.P. Arencibia (walk), Edwin Encarnacion (double), and Yan Gomes (home run) reached for Toronto. Toronto’s offence entered the game fifth best in MLB, averaging 4.9 runs per game. At home, Toronto began the night second in the AL in OPS (.794), slugging (.464) and tied for second in home runs (47).
Toronto entered the bottom of the ninth down 6-1, but cut the lead to 6-3 thanks to a two-out, two-run shot from Gomes.
HARPER TRACKER: The 19-year-old outfielder was as predicted, a sight to behold at the plate and on the base paths Monday. In the first inning, he drove in the game’s first run with a single to right. In the third, he drew a walk and then proceeded to swipe second base with relative ease.
In the fifth, Harper made his worst swing of the night, getting way out in front of an 84 m.p.h. slider from fellow lefty Luiz Perez. On the next pitch, an 83 m.p.h slider, Harper laced it into right for his second hit of the night. When Ryan Zimmerman followed with another single to right, Harper decided to test his legs against the right arm of Jose Bautista, attempting to go from first to third on the play. Bautista made a terrific throw on the play to nail the rookie by a couple of the steps but Harper’s hard shoulder-to-chest slide into Brett Lawrie at third raised eyebrows as well.
In the seventh, Harper singled to centre to cap off a 3 for 4 night with two runs scored, an RBI, a walk and a stolen base. Not a bad night’s work for a teenager. He’s now batting .295 on the season.
WHAT ABOUT VLAD? Vladimir Guerrero was not in the lineup Sunday for the Las Vegas 51s, one day after leaving a game early after being hit on the hand in a 4-2 win. Farrell said the 37-year-old slugger suffered no structural damage on the play. The Blue Jays later updated his status as day-to-day. In seven games (28 at-bats) with Las Vegas, Guerrero is batting .214/.233/.286/.519 with no home runs and three RBIs. Guerrero was back in the 51s lineup Monday, batting fourth at DH.
WHAT ABOUT TRAVIS? Travis Snider, who continues to work his way back from a wrist injury with the single-A Dunedin Blue Jays, could find himself ready for his next assignment by the middle of this week. On Monday Farrell said the initial plan called for the 24-year-old to be re-assessed this weekend, but added that it’s now likely his next destination will be determined mid-week.
UP NEXT: Game 2 of the three-game series pits Toronto’s Henderson Alvarez (3-5, 3.76 ERA) vs. Washington’s Chien-Ming Wang (1-2, 5.11 ERA). Start time will be 7:07.
