Friday, July 13, 2018

Game #93 Toronto Blue Jays (43-50) @ Boston Red Sox (66-30) - game recap

Kevin Pillar was 4-5 with 4 RBI and a pair of runs scored as the Blue Jays pounded the Red Sox to snap their 10-game winning streak

The Blue Jays came into this one looking to snap a pair of streaks; their personal 2 game losing streak and Boston's 10 game winning streak. For the first time in 2 weeks (since just prior to Steve Pearce being traded) the Blue Jays had a .300 hitter in their lineup (Dwight Smith Jr.). On the mound, they had rookie sensation Ryan Borucki, who threw three solid games facing the league's best teams in the Houston Astros and the NY Yankees. Could the Blue Jays create some magic and get back to winning? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights

  • The Red Sox took the lead on a botched fielder's choice by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. that allowed JD Martinez to score
  • The Blue Jays tied it in the bottom of the second as Kevin Pillar doubled scoring Kendrys Morales
  • A batter later, Russell Martin scored on a sac fly by Dwight Smith Jr.
  • Three batters later, Gurriel Jr. singled to center to score Pillar
  • The Red Sox got within one in the bottom half of the 2nd on a single by Jackie Bradley Jr. that scored Sam Travis
  •  The next batter, Mookie Betts tripled home Sandy Leon and Bradley Jr
  • The next batter, Brock Holt Singled to score Betts
  • Two batters later, Xander Bigaerts singled home Holt
  • The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 3rd as Justin Smoak homered to right-center
  • Three batters later and the game was tied as Kevin Pillar doubled home Martin and Morales
  • A batter later, Smith Jr. homered to right; also scoring Pillar
  • Rick Porcello pitching line: 2IP 7H 8R (all earned) 4BB 2K 64 pitches (35 for strikes)
  • The Red Sox got one back in the top of the 4th as Mitch Moreland singled home Martinez
  • Ryan Borucki pitching line: 3IP 8H 7R (4 earned) 4BB 5K 81 pitches (49 for strikes)
  • The Blue Jays added an insurance run in the top of the 8th as Justin Smoak singled home Gurriel Jr.
  • A batter later, Morales hit a ground rule double that scored Yangervis Solarte 
  • Two batters later, Pillar singled home Morales
  • The Blue Jays added two more in the top of the 9th as Smoak homered to left, also scoring Aledmys Diaz
  • Final score: Blue Jays 13 Red Sox 7
My Take

  • Both starting pitchers had rough outings giving up a combined 15 runs on 15 hits. Porcello only recorded 6 outs and Jays starter Ryan Borucki got just three more outs than the Red Sox starter. Borucki was tasked with facing arguably his most difficult lineup yet. There is really no easy batter in the Red Sox lineup, from all-stars Mookie Betts, Mitch Moreland and JD Martinez to #9 batter Jackie Bradley Jr., the Red Sox make you work for outs and pay for mistakes.
  • The Blue Jays bats came alive to the tune of 13 runs on 14 hits. Kevin Pillar had 4 hits and 4 RBI, Justin Smoak hit a pair of HR and had 4 RBI and Dwight Smith Jr. collected 2 big RBI on one swing of the bat. Curtis Granderson and Devon Travis were the only Blue Jays without a hit.
  • I really liked the spunk this team showed. They could have folded like a cheap tent after Boston put up a five spot in the 2nd. Instead, the Blue Jay batters responded with a 5 run inning of their own and they never looked back. The bullpen held the Red Sox potent lineup to 4 hits and a walk over the final 6 innings.
  • Up next, the Red Sox and Blue Jays continue this four game series with Sam Gaviglio looking to bounce back from a difficult outing against Atlanta on Wednesday, where he could not get out of the 2nd inning. The Red Sox will counter with lefty Eduardo Rodriguez.