Thursday, July 12, 2018

Game #92 Toronto Blue Jays (42-50) @ Boston Red Sox (66-29) - game recap

Mookie Betts took JA Happ deep for a grand slam and later added an RBI single as the Red ox defeated the Blue Jays 6-4

The Blue Jays faced their 10th meeting against their division rivals Boston Red Sox. They had won two games in nine tries heading into tonight. Boston had the best record in baseball heading into tonight's game and if the playoffs started today the Red Sox would be looking at home field advantage right through the world series. The Blue Jays will also be facing former teammate Steve Pearce, who was traded to the Bosox June 28th. JA Happ was making his final start before heading to Washington to represent the Blue Jays in the all-star game. Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights

  • The Blue Jays took an early lead as Teoscar Hernandez took David Price deep to straightaway center for a 2 run blast; also scoring Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
  • The Red Sox cut the lead in half in the bottom of the 4th as Xander Bogaerts scored on a fielder's choicehit by Sandy Leon
  • Two batters later, Mookie Betts hit a grand slam over the green monster scoring Leon, Eduardo Nunez and Jackie Bradley Jr.
  • JA Happ pitching line: 3.2IP 5H 5R (none earned) 1BB 6K 98 pitches (65 for strikes)
  • The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 7th as Kendrys Moprales led off with a blast to straightaway center
  • David Price pitching line: 6.2IP 6H 3R (all earned)
  • The Red Sox added another insurance run in the bottom of the 7th as Betts singled home Bradley Jr.
  • Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless 9th to pick up his 29th save of the season
  • Final score: Red Sox 6 Blue Jays 4
My Take

  • Scary moment in the bottom of the 1st. JA Happ drilled former teammate Steve Pearce in the lower right leg. Pearce needed time to get checked out by the trainers but he remained in the game to run the bases but was pulled from the game in the top of the 3rd.
  • JA Happ had a rough 4th inning in this one allowing 5 runs on 3 hits, a walk, culminated by a grand slam by Mookie Betts. The Blue Jays could have fared much better in the inning had Devon Travis not misplayed a routine fielder's choice that would have meant 2 outs in the inning with Brock Holt on first. Instead, there were runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out. the next batter, Eduardo Nunez hit a weak grounder in front of home plate and beat Happ's throw to first. The Blue Jays then conceded a run for an out to get the situation back to runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs. Happ walked Jackie Bradley Jr on 5 pitches to load the bases again. Then Mookie Betts came up, fouled off some tough pitches and crushed a grand slam over the green monster on the 13th pitch of the at-bat. I think Happ lacked that out pitch that was needed to escape jams in a timely manner. Definitely Happ was tiring that inning, as he was forced to throw over 40 pitches, which is an insane amount of pitches in a single inning. I think Happ was going to be done after that inning regardless of what Betts did. To any MLB GM's who might read this blog: Happ is still a good pick-up. The Blue Jays will take your 3rd best prospect instead of your best prospect since Happ has had tough goes against the top teams in the league.
  • Devon Travis had a great day at the plate with a 4 for 4 effort and some heads up base running in the 9th to advance to second on a wild pitch by Craig Kimbrel. It kind of made up for an earlier base running mistake where he was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double in the 2nd.
  • Up next, the Blue Jays look to even this four game series against the Red Sox as rookie phenom Ryan Borucki pitches against Red Sox righty Rick Porcello