JD Martinez was 2-4 at the plate, including a game-winning 3-run HR in the 5th as the Red Sox defeated the Blue Jays to take the opening series between the two division rivals.
It was the battle of 2 pitchers who can dominate. Marco Estrada relies on a devastating change-up and Chris Sale relies on a hard fastball and wicked slider. Who prevailed today? Here is today's game recap.Game Highlights:
- Kevin Pillar opened the scoring on a first inning sac fly that scored Teoscar Hernandez
- Devon Travis crushed a solo HR in the bottom of the 2nd to double the Blue Jays lead
- The Red Sox got on the board in the top of the third on an Andrew Benintendi double that scored pinch runner Tzu-Wei Lin
- Justin Smoak restored the 2 run lead with a solo HR in the bottom half of the inning
- Boston cut the lead to one on a Rafael Devers sac fly in the top of the 4th that scored Mitch Moreland
- The Red Sox took the lead the next inning courtesy of a three run HR by JD Martinez that also scored Hanley Ramirez and Benintendi
- Marco Estrada pitching line: 5IP 8H 5R (all earned) 1BB 5K 97 pitches (63 for strikes)
- Chris Sale pitching line: 6IP 4H 3R (all earned) 2BB 4K 104 pitches (71 for strikes)
- Toronto cut the lead to 1 in the bottom of the 7th as Devon Travis scored on a Kendrys Morales groundout
- Final score: Red Sox 5 Blue Jays 4
My Take:
- Big milestone for Marco Estrada, who recorded his 1000th career strikeout in the second inning. That tied him with Tom Browning and Ralph Terry for 503rd all-time. He finished with 5 strikeouts on the night, giving him 1004 overall. Nolan Ryan has the most career strikeouts with 5714K's.
- Estrada also recorded the Blue Jays first pick off of the season, catching Benintendi straying too far off second base
- The Red Sox lost Brock Holt to a hamstring injury in the second injury. Holt had victimized Toronto all series and finished 7-9 at the plate. He will be a big loss if he ends up on the DL
- Aaron Loup had his best outing of the season, retiring all 6 batters he faced in 2 innings of work.
- Key play in the 8th: Randal Grichuk hit a soft grounder to SS and was thrown out. The Blue Jays challenged that Red Sox 1B Mitch Moreland was not on the bag when he caught the ball. The call stood on replay meaning there were 2 outs and runners on 2nd and 3rd instead of the bases being loaded with 1 out.
- The difference in this one was a 3 run HR in the 5th inning that put Boston ahead. Toronto's best chance to come back was in the 8th inning when they had runners at 1st and 2nd with 1 out. Unfortunately Randal Grichuk is continuing to show he should be sent down to the minors or benched. Grichuk was 0-4 on the night.
- The early season magic of Luke Maile appears to have worn off. He was also 0-4 at the plate and he allowed Rafael Devers to steal 2nd in the 9th inning.
- Up next, the Blue Jays begin a three game series vs. the Texas Rangers tomorrow night with Marcus Stroman getting the start against Mike Minor. Minor won the first match-up by throwing 2 hit ball over 6 innings.
