Game #146 Toronto Blue Jays (65-81) @ Boston Red Sox (101-46) - game recap

Xander Bogaerts scored the game winning run on a fielding error by Yangervis Solarte as the Red Sox edged the Blue Jays 4-3

The good news is this is the last meeting of the season between the Blue Jays and Red Sox. This series, the Blue Jays hung in with the Red Sox for good chunks of the game. Tuesday, Ryan Borucki matched the Red Sox bullpen pitch for pitch and it was only after he left after 7 innings that Boston put the game away with 7 runs over two innings off Jake Petricka and Ryan Tepera. Yesterday, the game was scoreless through 4 innings and Aaron Sanchez and David Price were matching each other pitch for pitch through 7 innings. It was the one mistake by Aaron Sanchez, a wild pitch, that was the difference in the game. Tonight, Sam Gaviglio was hoping to make it three stellar starting pitching performances in a row. Could the Blue Jays steal a game from Boston? Here is tonight's recap.

Game Highlights

• The Red Sox took the lead in the bottom of the 2nd as JD Martinez homered into the Red Sox bullpen
• The Blue Jays tied it in the top of the 3rd as Justin Smoak singled scoring Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
• The Red Sox took the lead in bottom of the 3rd as Jackie Bradley Jr. scored on a sac fly by Ian Kinsler
• Sam Gaviglio pitching line: 3.1IP 6H 2R (both earned) 1BB 1K 53 pitches (32 for strikes)
• The Red Sox added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Rafael Devers homered to right
• Eduardo Rodriguez pitching line: 6IP 5H 1R (earned) 0BB 7K 78 pitches (52 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got within one in the top of the 8th as Gurriel Jr. crushed a moonshot off one of the light stantions atop the green monster
• Five batters later, Jonathan Davis was forced in as Kevin Pillar was hit by a pitch
• The Red Sox took the lead in the bottom of the 8th as Bogaerts scored on a fielding error by Yangervis Solarte 
• Craig Kimbrel pitched a perfect 9th for his 40th save of the season
• Final score: Red Sox 4 Blue Jays 3

My Take

• Sam Gaviglio was definitely on a short leash tonight. He was removed after 3.1 innings having given up 2 runs on 6 hits and a walk. I actually thought he was pitching better than in previous outings where he was done before completing 6 innings. Gaviglio has been an enigma of sorts. Acquired for cash considerations from KC March 21, Gaviglio was recalled from the minors May 11. He last won August 21 when he threw 7 strong innings. He has been a completely different pitcher at home vs. away (2-2 with a 3.23 ERA in 12 appearance, 10 starts; on the road he has won just once in 10 starts heading into tonight's start in Boston and lost 6 times and had a mediocre 8.10ERA). At one point, his spot in the rotation looked in doubt, but the Blue Jays opted to move Jaime Garcia, who struggled just as bad, to the bullpen and eventually he was DFA'd. It will be interesting to see if the Blue Jays try to move Sammy G in the off-season
• Today's loss really defined the season. The winning run, scored after the jays worked hard to come back by scoring two runs in the top half of the inning, was scored on a fielding error by Yangervis Solarte. A number of times this season, needless runs have been scored off misplays by the defense that frankly shouldn't happen. Many of the errors can be attributed to inexperience and taking bad routes to balls. Next season could see more of the same, hopefully fewer, as the team will be a year more experienced
• One more loss and the Blue Jays will be guaranteed to finish with a losing record. If they go on a crazy streak starting tomorrow and win out, they will finish .500 (chances of that happening 0.000000001%)
• Jonathan Davis came in as a pinch runner for Justin Smoak and scored the tying run at the time, when Kevin Pillar was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded 
• Rowdy Tellez came in as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the 8th and fielded one ball (a throw from Yangervis Solarte) on a ground out. He did not get an at-bat tonight\
• Reese McGuire started the game and caught the first 7 innings before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the top of the 8th. He was 0-2 at the plate. Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez stole second base off McGuire and Tim Mayza in the 6th
• Danny Jansen pinch hit for McGuire in the 8th. He was 0-2 on the night. Defensively, he had a rough inning as Xander Bogaerts and Blake Swihart both stole bases off him and he also had a wild pitch against him.
• Dwight Smith Jr. pinch ran for Justin Smoak in the 8th. Nothing consequential happened when he was on the basepaths, except for advancing to second and third on the consecutive hit by pitches
• Jose Fernandez retired all four batters he faced.
• Mark Leiter Jr. pitched an inning giving up a run on 2 hits and striking out 3
• Up next, the Blue Jays head to the Bronx to take on a Yankees team that is fighting for home field advantage in the wild card game. They are currently 1.5 games up on Oakland and 8 games ahead of the third place in the WC race and AL East standings, Tampa Bay Rays. Marco Estrada takes on Blue Jays killer Masahiro Tanaka. It was almost a year ago that the Yankees Japanese import struck out 15 Blue Jays in the second to last game of the 2017 season. Hopefully the Blue Jays have better success this time around.