Game #122 - Boston Red Sox (64-56) @ Toronto Blue Jays (59-63) - game recap

 

Kazuma Okamoto scored twice and drove in a run as the Blue Jays hung on for a 6-4 win over the Red Sox

After prevailing over the Red Sox on the strength of a 2 RBI effort from Brett Bateman and a late clutch base hit off the bat of Myles Straw, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 15th series win of the season. Righty Paul Sewald was claimed off waivers from the Diamondbacks. Righty Jake Bloss was added to the MLB roster and moved to the 60 day IL.  Jose Soriano got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Kazuma Okamoto was back in the lineup as DH Street missing a couple of days with a sore knee. Jesus Sanchez was in LF, Myles Straw was in CF and Brett Bateman was in RF. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 15th series win of the season? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Ernie Clement singled scoring Kazuma Okamoto
• The Red Sox tied it in the top of the 5th as Willson Contreras whacked a solo blast to left-center
• Ranger Suarez pitching line: 5IP 6H 1R (earned) 1BB 2K 81 pitches (54 for strikes)
• Jose Soriano pitching line: 6IP  4H 1R (earned) 2BB 4K 90 pitches (63 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 8th as Okamoto singled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• Two batters later, Brandon Valenzuela was forced in on a bases loaded walk to Clement
• A batter later, Okamoto scored on a sac fly by George Springer
• A batter after that, Myles Straw doubled scoring Clement
• The Red Sox got one back in the top of the 9th as Caleb Durbin singled scoring Contreras 
• A batter later, Jarren Duran doubled scoring Wilyer Abreu
• A batter after that, Durbin scored on a sac fly by Andruw Monasterio
• Louis Varland got the last 2 outs for his 26th save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 6 Red Sox 4

My Take:

• Jose Soriano fired 6 solid innings,, giving up a run on 4 hits while walking 2 and striking out 4. One mistake pitch to Willson Contreras that went over the wall in left-center. Soriano faced the minimum through 3 innings and was bailed out by his catcher Alejandro Kirk, who gunned down Ceddane Rafaela at 3B on a wild pitch by Soriano. No question he'll be a huge part of the rotation in the coming years.
• The bullpen gave up 3 runs on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 1 over the last 3 innings. Mason Fluharty and Louis Varland, who had to bail out knuckleballer Matt Waldron after he struggled in the 9th inning with a 5-run lead.
• The offense exploded for a 5-run rally in the 8th inning. Kazuma Okamoto contributed with 2 runs scored and an RBI in his return to the lineup. George Springer came in as a pinch hitter and drove in a run with a sac fly.
• In terms of the wild card race, the Blue Jays passed the Orioles and are 2.5 games back of the Texas Rangers for the 3rd wild card spot with the Tigers, Twins and Guardians in the way. All teams are idle tomorrow so the Blue Jays will gain a half game if they win tomorrow
• Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschmann was 2-1 on ABS challenges. The Blue Jays did not attempt an ABS challenge today.
• The Blue Jays were 4-11 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to make it 4 straight wins and complete their 2nd sweep of the season. Max Scherzer starts against Red Sox lefty Payton Tolle 
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Game #122 Boston Red Sox (64-55) @ Toronto Blue Jays (58-63)

 

Game #121 - Boston Red Sox (64-55) @ Toronto Blue Jays (58-63) - game recap

 

Spencer Miles threw a scoreless 9th for his first career save in a  5-3 win over the Red Sox

After hanging on for the win thanks to a strong effort from the bullpen and a clutch base hit from the red hot Andres Gimenez, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the winning streak to 2 games. Jameson Taillon was placed on the 15-day IL with right elbow tendonitis after pulling himself from the game yesterday and Chase Lee was recalled from AAA-ball. Dylan Cease got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Myles Straw was in LF. Could the Blue Jays make it 2 straight wins? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• Tbe Red Sox opened the scoring in the top of the 3rd on a sac fly by Ceddanne Rafaela that scored Andruw Monasterio
• The Blue Jays tied it in the bottom half of the inning as Brett Bateman doubled scoring Nathan Lukes
• The Red Sox retook the lead in the top of the 4th as Willyer Abreu smacked a solo blast to right-center and into the Red Sox bullpen
• The Red Sox added a run in the top of the 5th as Rafaela hammered a solo bomb to dead center
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning on a sac fly by Charles MacAdoo that scored Gimenez
• A batter later, Brett Bateman singled scoring Myles Straw
• Dylan Cease pitching line: 5IP 5H 3R (all earned) 4BB 7K 104 pitches (63 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays took the leadi in the bottom of the 6th on a fielder's choice hit by Ernie Clement that scored George Springer
• Pedro Sandoval pitching line: 6IP 8H 4R (2 earned 3BB 4K 84 pitches (50 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 8th as Straw doubled scoring Josh Smith
• Spencer Miles threw a scoreless 9th for his 1st save of the season.
• Final score: Blues Jays 5 Red Sox 3

My Take:

• Dylan Cease battled through 5 innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits while walking 4 and striking out 7.  Not the most efficient outing for Cease who needed 100 pitches to get 15 outs. The Blue Jays bullpen could have used an extra inning or two from him. Red Sox took him deep twice on a pair of solo home runs. He should get votes for the Cy Young award
• The bullpen threw 4 scoreless innings, giving up 2 hits, walking three and striking out 1. It looks like it'll be closer by committee when Louis Varland needs a day off. Tonight, Spencer Miles took care of business with a scoreless 9th for his first career save. Brendon Litlle was the only reliever to retire every batter he faccd
• Offensively, Brett Bateman drove in a pair of runs and Myles Straw had a huge clutch hit in the 8th inning to give Spencer Miles a 2-run cushion in the 9th inning
• The Red Sox were 2-1 on ABS challenges. Alejandro Kirk was unsuccessful in the Blue Jays only ABS challenge
• The Blue Jays were 3-7 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 15th series win of the season. Jose Soriano starts against Red Sox lefty Ranger Suarez

Game #121 Boston Red Sox (64-54) @ Toronto Blue Jays (57-63)

 

Game #120 - Boston Red Sox (64-54) @ Toronto Blue Jays (57-63) - game recap

 

Andres Gimenez drove in a run as the Bklue Jays hung on to edge the Red Sox 2-1

After dropping a hard fought game yesterday in Philadelphia due to the exhausted bullpen being unable to hold the lead in the 12th inning, the Blue Jays returned home to open a week long homestand that began against Boston tonight.  The Blue Jays have won 6 of the 9 games played in the season series thus far, outscoring the Red Sox 35-22. Lazaro Estrada and Davis Schneider were optioned to AAA-ball. Simeon Woods-Richardson and Charles McAdoo were recalled from AAA-ball. Rudy Martin Jr cleared waivers and catcher Willie MacIver was DFA'd. Jameson Taillon got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. George Springer was back in the lineup as DH after missing a couple of days with a sore left shoulder. Vlad was back in the field after a half day off yesterday. Kazuma Okamoto, who was in the original lineup, was removed with a left knee contusion from fouling a ball off his knee yesterday (Charles McAdoo got the start at the hot corner). Jesus Sanchez was in LF and Nathan Lukes was in RF. Ernie Clement got the full day off with Josh Smith at 2B. Could the Blue Jays start the home stand and week with a win and notch their 8th season series win of the season? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• Jameson Taillon pitching line: 4IP 1H 0R 3BB 3K 61 pitches (34 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 5th as Charles McAdoo whacked a solo blast to the oppoite field in right and into the Red Sox bullpen
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Andres Gimenez singled scoring George Springer
• The Red Sox got one back in the top of the 8th on a bizarre play where Anthony Siegler scored on a sac fly double play ball hit by Ceddanne Rafaela that ended the inning, but the run was allowed to score because the Blue Jays did not appeal that one of the runners left the base early 
• Louis Varland pitched a scoreless 9th for his 25th save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 2 Red Sox 1

My Take:

• The way this season has gone on the injury front this year, it's almost no surprise that Jameson Taillon left tonight's start with right forearm tightness, which can be a precursor to the dreaded UCL. It's too bad because Taillon was dealing with 4 shutout innings, allowing 1 hit and walking 3 and striking out 3. No doubt he'll get an MRI to determine the damage.
• It will be the bullpen getting the brunt of the workload if Taillon misses even one start. Friday would be a potential bullpwn day witg SWR and Spencer Miles pitching in some capacity. Tonight, the bullpen gave up a run on 5 hits while walking 2 and striking out 4 over the last 5 innings. Just 6 more days till the next off day
• Offensively, Charles McAdoo took full advantage of the unexpected start and took Sonny Gray deep the opposite way. The red-hot Andres Gimenez added an important insurance run in the 6th inning. McAdoo was the only player to reach base multiple times. The team can't keep asking the pitchers  to bail them out every night.
• The Red Sox successfully overturned all 4 ABS challenges and Brandon Valenzuela was 0-2 on ABS challrnges
• The Blue Jays were 2-9 with runners in scoring positon
• Up next, the Blue Jays go for 2 straight wins. Dylan Cease starts against Red Sox lefty Patrick Sandoval