Game #56 Toronto Blue Jays (25-31) @ Boston Red Sox (39-17) - game recap

Eduardo Nunez was 2-4 with 2 RBI and a run scored as the Red Sox defeated the Blue Jays 6-4 to sweep the three game series

After dropping the first 2 games of the series by identical 8-3 scores, the Blue Jays turned to spot starter Sam Gaviglio who had a great start last Saturday in Philadephia. By the way this was the last game of May and the best the Blue Jays could finish was 10-18. Here is today's game recap.

Game highlights:

• The Red Sox opened the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd as Jackie Bradley Jr doubled home Blake Swihart
• The Red Sox doubled the lead in the bottom of the 5th as Eduardo Nunez led off with a shot over the green monster.
• The Blue Jays tied it in the top of the 6th as Teoscar Hernandez homered to left also scoring Gio Urshela
• The Red Sox retook the lead in the bottom of the 6th as JD Martinez crushed a no-doubter over the green monster, also scoring Andrew Benintendi
• Eduardo Rodriguez pitching line: 6.2IP 3H 2R (both earned) 1BB 7K 100 pitches (70 for strikes)
• Sam Gaviglio pitching line: 6IP 7H 4R (all earned) 0BB 4K 83 pitches (55 for strikes)
• Nunez doubled scoring Xander Bogaerts
• The next batter Holt singled to score Martinez
• The Blue Jays got 2 back on a double by Kendrys Morales that scored Kevin Pillar and Yangervis Solarte 
• Final score: Red Sox 6 Blue Jays 4

My take:

• Key play in the bottom of the 3rd part 1: Andrew Benintendi was thrown out stealing second after initially being called safe on the play. The overturned call put a runner on 3rd with 2 outs as opposed to runners on 1st and 2nd with one out
• Key play in the bottom of the 3rd part 2: Jackie Bradley Jr. was thrown out trying to score on a wild pitch by Sam Gavoglio after he was initially called safe on the play, limiting the damage in the inning to a single run
• This one was not as close as the score would suggest. The Blue Jays had 3 hits in the first 8 innings and one of those hits was erased almost immeduately when Kendrys Morales was thrown out at 2nd on a strike 'em out throw 'em out
• More sloppy defense by the Blue Jays as Yangervis Solarte and Devon Travis got crossed up, allowing both Red Sox runners to score. Good teams capitalize on extra at-bats and Boston did just that as both Bogaerts and Martinez came around to score.
• The difference between the Blue Jays and Red Sox right now is vast. The Red Sox saw their starting pitchers pitch deep in the three games this series. They got production from top to bottom in their lineup and they were sound defensively. The Blue Jays were more or less the opposite this week and that is why they lost three straight to the Bosox. 
• Sam Gavigilo had a solid start getting through six innings. He was burned by the long ball, giving up 3 runs on 2 hit over the green monster. Gaviglio appears to be a better option as a spot starter than Joe Biagini at this point. In fact, I would argue he should stay in the rotation once Marcus Stroman returns from the DL and maybe more Jaime Garcia to the bullpen.
• Up next, after an off-day tomorrow, the Blue Jays begin a three game series in Detroit with Jaime Garcia starting against Tigers lefty Blaine Hardy.