Talk about a bounce-back performance.

As a Jays Fan, it is highly encouraging that a rookie starter could take a licking like he did against the Dodgers on the 19th - 1.2 / 8 / 6 / 6 / 2 / 2 - and come back with arguably one of the greatest regular-season pitching performances in franchise history in his very next start. It was a mature, efficient performance: Dustin threw 109 pitches, 73 of them for strikes, and gave up just one walk. I liked that he got 14 ground ball outs compared to just 6 fly ball outs - it confirms that he was down in the zone, and had excellent command throughout the evening.

I want to focus on what it must have taken to shake off the last start though. Let's remember, it was not long ago that this kid was in the minor leagues, and as a pitcher trying to break into the big leagues, a miserable outing like that one can be disasterous. But maybe Frank Thomas is right in his assessment of McGowan: "He's got dominant stuff," Thomas said. "I've been telling him since spring training, 'Kid, you've got something special. You're not an average starter. You're a way above average starter. Your stuff is electric and you can shut down teams for seven, eight innings like it's no big deal any day of the week." Big words from the Big Hurt, indeed.

Let's face it - there has been precious little to be optimistic about this season, particularly with Halladay and Burnett spending time on the DL and BJ being out for the season. However, it's great to see a young kid like Dustin pitching like a seasoned veteran, especially when one remembers that he's a product of the Jays' system and has grown up with the team. The Jays drafted him 33rd overall in the 2000 amateur entry draft, and he's developed through their farm teams. If he continues to refine his stuff and show the kind of tough mental makeup he exhibited in between these last two starts, a healthy lineup with Halladay, Burnett, and McGowan in the rotation and Ryan coming out of the 'pen could do some serious damage in the second half of the season and beyond.