Flashback- August 1990

Watching the Jays this last little while reminded me of a darkness that I had buried. Unfortunatly, I woke up on the couch screaming between the Jays-Tribe double bill.

Oh the dog days of summer and the expectancy of youth. The 1990 Blue Jays were, unlike this years club, were a offensive juggernaught. They led the AL in runs and slugging. Steib, Wells, Stottlemyre and Key held down the rotation.

I was sure I was at a few games that year but cannot remember any in particular. I do remember the front page of a Toronto paper which showed a three game strecth of the Jays scoring 0 runs over three games. It was close tonight but next time this happens I won’t have to have a flashback to May 2008

…August 23 1990
The Jays come home for a four game, weekend stand against the Red Sox after being swept at Yankee Stadium by the dead last, that’s right, dead last Bronx Bombers. The sweep left the Jays a game behind the Red Sox and the four game set at the year old SkyDome should be a classic. The opener saw Steib go up agianst Tom Bolton. The pitchers starters dueled until Steib was pulled in the 8th after a lead off single by Ellis Burks. Tom Henke came in a promptly gave up a dinger and the lead as Mike Greenwell connected for a two-run shot. Henke was able to vulture the win off of Steib’s gem. Boston reliever, Joe Hesketh’s throw went wild and Mookie Wilson went first to third on the error. Jays clutch hitting was in fine form as Kelly Gruber, ‘fielder’s choiced-in’ the winning run with one out in the bottom of the ninth. Sox 3 at Jays 4

…August 24 1990
Another pitcher’s duel. The Jays are stimied by Dana Kiecker and Jimmy Key shutdown the BoSox for 8 innings before Duane Ward came in the top of the 9th. This time, four singles, score 2 runs and the deal was done. The Jays went silently in order to Jeff Gray in the home half. Sox 2 at Jays 0

…August 25 1990
Another pitcher’s duel. Roger Clemens and David Wells matched each other. Both giving up 5 hits. Wells, needed only 90 pitches to get through 8. Clemens went the distance. A 7th inning homer by Dwight Evans was all that was needed. Sox 1 at Jays 0

…August 26 1990
The Sunday afternoon finale was another pitcher’s duel!@!! Stottlemyre and Greg Harris this time. The Jays managed only 2 singles and an 8th inning walk, wild pitch and single by Jody Reed scored Tom Brunansky. That was all it took. Sox 1 at Jays 0

..E.pilogue
The Jays were a pitiful 3-10 vs the Beantowners in 1990. They were an odd 54-56 in those games. Apart from the 4-3 win in the series described the Jays beat up on Boston 11-0 and 10-5 in their other victories. This series was pretty much the end for the Jays of the 1980’s. This slump instigated Pat Gillick to “Blow it Up” and made big trades and big FA aquistions before 1991. The Jays went in a nose dive after this series and found themselves 6.5 GB at Labour Day. Maybe they switched it into auto then, but they went on a tear. They went 12-2 after Labour Day to find themselves a game up with two weeks to go. They won 3 of their last 9 on the road including 2 one run games at Fenway.