Talk » (6-8) scattered six hits over six inning

Echoing the comments made by Edwin Encarnacion prior to Mondays Home Run Derby, general manager Alex Anthopoulos made it clear the Blue Jays need their rotation to step up in the seasons second half if the team has any hopes of contending for a playoff spot. Speaking with Bill Hayes and Bruce Arthur Monday night on TSN Drive on TSN 1050, Anthopoulos said the talent is there for a post All-Star break improvement from the likes of R.A. Dickey and Josh Johnson. "It comes down to the rotation," Anthopoulos said of a group who holds the second highest starters ERA in baseball. "Almost all of our starters have ERAs in the high fours or low fives and thats certainly not something that we expected." Rebound second halves from Dickey, who is second last in the Amercian League with 10 losses and Josh Johnson, who has contributed just one win and a 5.16 ERA, combined with the return to health of Brandon Morrow and J.A. Happ will be necessary if Toronto is to make up ground in the Wild Card race according to Anthopoulos. "The rotation, as it sits right now, we need those guys to perform better," he said. "The guys in the rotation certainly have the ability to pitch a lot better than they have." The GMs comments came just hours after Encarnacion suggested the team will require its starters to step up in order for the Jays to dig themselves out of their first half hole. "I think the starting pitching," Encarnacion told reporters in New York. "If we want to win, we know and they know we need to pitch better. "We have the talent in the clubhouse and I know the pitchers can do better than theyve been doing," he said. "We just need to focus in the games and I know things are going to change." Despite the teams struggles, Anthopoulos reiterated that he would not be a seller at the deadline, saying he made his offseason moves with the intention of allowing the team to compete over the long haul. "When we made all these acquisitions and trades, we did it with the thought that it was not only for one year," Anthopoulos said. "It just doesnt make sense to sell low on players. When players arent performing well, youre not going to get much in trade. "I dont see us doing anything where we take away from the team unless we clearly feel that we have depth in certain areas. But Id say right now, the only area I could see us having some depth is in the bullpen. So maybe we would be open-minded if there was a deal there to trade a reliever." He suggested at this point the team should not expect help to come externally, with the trade market being relatively quiet. "We have not had one discussion with a team about a starter," Anthopoulos said. "If people are reading names that are out there, it would be a 100 percent complete fabrication in terms of us going after a starter right now. Doesnt mean that if something came up a week from now that we wouldnt be open to it, but right now, were not engaged in having any dialogue at all with respect to a starter with respect to trades." Anthopoulos explained he thought the lack of "sellers" was due to the extra wildcards that were added prior to this season and the no-trade and no-movement clauses in players contracts, but admitted things could change following the break. "For us its been very quiet, right now we dont have anything close or anything that were serious about," Anthopoulos said. "Expect those conversations to change once we come out of the break though." Although the Jays sit four games under .500 with just over 60 to play and are nearly nine back in the Wild Card race, Anthopoulos said he gained confidence from seeing teams in previous years coming back in the second half to claim playoff spots. He used the example of Tampa Bay being eight games out and responsding with a playoff run following the break and a Brewers team led by Zach Greinke bouncing back from having a 5.40 ERA in the first half. The pitching staff could potentially get a boost from former two-time All-Star Ricky Romero who was impressive in his last start, throwing just 93 pitches through eight innings of four-hit ball. "It should come to the point where he dominates that league," Anthopoulos said of a possible return for the talented lefthander. "If he can do that a few more times in a row…hell certainly be in the mix to get back here." Anthopoulos also commented on the controversial decision to move Brett Lawrie to second base, saying he was all for it since he thought Lawries athleticism would allow him to handle it. He mentioned it also gives manager John Gibbons more roster flexibility and helps him in the pursuit of possible trade candidates. "We dont think theres any danger at all, in terms of moving him around," Anthopoulos said, referring to Rays All-Star Ben Zobrist, who has played above average defensively in both the infield and outfield, while still producing at the plate. "Its not a permanent move…but I dont know if were married to one spot with him."Hyun-jin Ryu Jersey . Malkin got tangled up with Detroits Luke Glendening early in the third period and his left skate took the brunt of collision with the boards behind Pittsburghs net. Maury Wills Dodgers Jersey . 8 Iowa State on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their third consecutive loss. The Longhorns (14-4, 3-2) got their biggest win of the season with their third in the row in the Big 12. https://www.cheapdodgersonline.com/2625h-russell-martin-jersey-dodgers.html . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. Rich Hill Jersey . Jay Feely kicked a 41-yard field goal in overtime, and the Cardinals edged the Tennessee Titans 37-34 in overtime after blowing a 17-point lead late in the fourth quarter. Matt Beaty Dodgers Jersey . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League.DENVER -- Jon Gray was closing in on his first complete game when everything unraveled with eight outs to go.Instead of a breakthrough win, he wound up with a tough loss.Socrates Brito snapped a seventh-inning tie with a three-run homer off the Rockies right-hander, and the Arizona Diamondbacks held off a late rally to beat Colorado 8-5 on Sunday.The home run spoiled a great start for Gray (9-7), who was cruising along until he ran into trouble in the seventh.My fastball was working, I was getting ahead of guys and getting quick outs, he said. That is what kept it efficient. I wanted to go deep into the game. I felt like I could have gone 20 innings.Gray had allowed a run in the first inning on a sacrifice fly but retired 17 of 19 batters before Arizona roughed him up in the seventh.Trailing 2-1, the Diamondbacks tied it with three straight one-out singles. Brito made it 5-2 when he hit Grays first-pitch fastball into the second deck in right-center field.Hes got a good fastball and I wasnt trying to do too much, Brito said. Hes a guy that throws a lot of fastballs, so I was always looking fastball.It was his third of the season and the first home run off Gray in 22 1/3 innings.He was in complete control the entire game, Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. Then he had baserunners there in the seventh.Pinch-hitter Tom Murphy belted a solo homer off Patrick Corbin in the bottom of the inning, but Brandon Drurrys two-run single in the eighth gave Arizona a four-run lead.ddddddddddddMurphys home run carried an estimated 482 feet.He put the whole barrel on it, so when you get it airborne it goes a long way, Weiss said.The Diamondbacks added a run in the ninth and then had to withstand Colorados comeback attempt. The Rockies scored twice on a single and a wild pitch, but Daniel Hudson struck out DJ LeMahieu and Carlos Gonzalez with two runners on to end it.Archie Bradley (6-8) scattered six hits over six innings and Jean Segura had three hits for Arizona.TRAINERS ROOMRockies: OF Charlie Blackmon was out of the lineup for the second straight game with back tightness. Weiss said Blackmon has improved and was getting treatment. He could return Monday.STREAKSPaul Goldschmidt failed to reach base for the first time in 51 games against the Rockies. He was 0 for 4 with a sacrifice fly. He struck out looking in the ninth with a chance to prolong the streak. ... LeMahieu extended his streak of reaching base safely to 21 games with a single in the first.FIRST IMPRESSIONSRockies rookie Raimel Tapia was 3 for 5 in his second start since being recalled Friday. He also got his first stolen base.UP NEXTRockies RHP Chad Bettis (11-7, 5.17 ERA) opens a three-game series against San Francisco on Monday. ' ' '