Randy Ruiz the Pinch Runner...

That's not something you're too likely to see the big boy from the Bronx doing during the regular season even though he has trimmed about 20 lbs. off his frame over the offseason.

The bigger, or biggest story of the game was arguably how Marc Rzepczysnki struggled to hit his spots giving up 5 earned runs, 8 hits and 2 walks to the Yankees over 4 and 2/3rd of an inning. Rzepczynski's only real saving grace was his curveball at times, which helped him strike out the last two hitters in the 4th inning - catcher Francisco Cervelli, and minor league speedster Greg Golson. The young pitcher must have felt that his curveball was working so well for him that he decided to open up the 5th inning against Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter with that pitch, only to hang it a little bit up in the zone. Jeter made Zep pay by tripling to center field. That was the beginning of the end for Zep who left later on that inning after reaching out for a ground ball hit up the middle by Ramiro Pena which hit him on his throwing hand. The extent of the injury to Rzepczynski was not made known during or after the game, but one could tell that he was in obvious pain.

Zep's lack-lustre outing tonight coupled with a potential injury makes things even more interesting for the Blue Jays' starting rotation. Brett Cecil, who many in the media had already pegged to start the season in Triple-A Las Vegas, starts on Wednesday for the Blue Jays against the Phillies and could book himself a ticket for a flight out to Texas next week as opposed to Sin City if he delivers a solid outing against Roy Halladay's new club. Rzepczynski's shaking outing also keeps things open for Dana Eveland to join the Jays' rotation as opposed to the bullpen.

The Jays struggled at the plate especially during Sergio Mitre's first three innings where he was perfect and had his changeup working particularly well for himself. Mitre started the game even though Phil Hughes has already been named the Yankees fifth starter. The only hits for the Jays came from Aaron Hill who homered in the 4th inning to give the Jays a brief 1-run lead; Jose Bautista and Lyle Overbay who both singled; and Adam Lind who doubled.

In other Blue Jays news, a few more cuts were made today with David Purcey, Jesse Carlson and Jeremy Reed being sent to Triple-A Las Vegas. Purcey doesn't come as much of a surprise, but Carlson and Reed were a little less expected. As I mentioned yesterday, Gaston seemed very partial to Carlson last year and was quoted as saying about Carlson, "He's one of the guys I really, really like as a person." Carlson who has dealt with a knee injury this spring will get some work in Vegas and we will surely see him up with the big club later this season. Jeremy Reed is being sent to Las Vegas after hitting .431/.460/.490 in the spring over 51 ABs (more than any other Blue Jay hitter). Although Reed couldn't have done much more during the spring, Blue Jays' GM Alex Anthopolous felt that Mike McCoy did that much more than Reed, and McCoy's versatility in the field was surely one factor that made the decision easier for management.

If you have MLB.TV, tune in tomorrow at 1:05pm EST because the Jays take on the Phillies in Clearwater with Roy Halladay taking the mound for the Phils!