Toronto Blue Jays pitcher David Carpenter throws to first base as he works against New York Yankees during ninth inning of American League action in Toronto on Friday August 10 , 2012.Chris Young/The Canadian Press
A couple of seemingly catchable balls fell in for hits, there was an errant throw by the veteran catcher and another by the rookie right-fielder that were both recorded as errors.
It wasn't a good night overall for both the defence or the offence as the Toronto Blue Jays dropped their fourth straight game, 10-4, to the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre on Friday night.
And in the what else is new department, the Blue Jays suffered another injury with centrefielder Colby Rasmus leaving the game after the eighth inning after re-aggravating a groin injury.
"He's day to day," Toronto manager John Farrell said. "We don't think this is a DL [disabled list] situation. But it's questionable whether he's going to be able to go [on Saturday]."
After the game, the Blue Jays optioned pitcher David Carpenter back to Triple A and recalled utility player Mike McCoy.
Carpenter didn't exactly shine in his Blue Jays debut, allowing four runs off three hits in 0.2 innings of work in the ninth inning.
While the Toronto offence continues to sputter in the absence of several key bats, the defence has for the most part, remained solid.
However, this was not the case on Friday night. Catcher Jeff Mathis set the tone in the second inning after he fielded a sacrifice bunt off the bat Jayson Nix with runners at first and second.
Attempting to get the lead runner at third, Mathis' throw drifted into left fielder as Omar Vizquel tried in vain to cover the bag after taking a couple steps in when Nix turned to bunt.
The error allowed Robinson Cano to score all the way from second base giving New York a 1-0 lead.
In the third inning, rookie Anthony Gose's futile throw home from right field was well wide of the mark and allowed Cano to move up to second base.
The miscues continued in the eighth when a flare in shallow centre struck by Russell Martin was misplayed by second baseman Kelly Johnson.
And in the ninth, Rajai Davis appeared to have a bead on a liner to left field off the bat of Ichiro Suzuki, only to see it whiz by his head at the last moment that scored the last two New York runs.
Toronto manager John Farrell said the ball was lost in the lights on both occasions.
"I wouldn't say it's bad vibes," Farrell said when asked if the play of his defence is slipping a bit. "We're grinding, we're battling. There's no double about it."
About the only positive on the night for Toronto was a third consecutive quality start for Ricky Romero, who nevertheless wound up a loser for the eighth time in his last nine outings.
Romero pitched seven innings, allowing three runs on four hits, and afterward credited pitching coach Bruce Walter for helping him get back on track.
"He's helped me a lot," Romero said. "He's been one of the guys who stuck with me through all this. He just kind of said a little thing between innings and it kind of stuck with me and I kind of used it out there. I've gone back to the basics in my last three starts, which is just using my heater and working off of that."