Thursday, August 9, 2018

Game #114 Boston Red Sox (81-35) @ Toronto Blue Jays (52-62) - game recap

Justin Smoak was 3 for 4 at the plate with a pair of RBI and a run scored as the Blue Jays avoided the series sweep and knocked off the red-hot Red Sox 8-5

After two games, it is clear that the Blue Jays are vastly behind this historic Red Sox team. Today, the Blue Jays were looking to  avoid the series sweep after two games that weren't really close. Ryan Borucki was roughed up by Boston last time he faced them. Could the Blue Jays steal one? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights
  • The Red Sox took the early lead in the top of the 1st as Eduardo Nunez singled scoring Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi
  • The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Justin Smoak singled home Curtis Granderson
  • A batter later, Devon Travis scored on a fielder's choice hit by Randal Grichuk
  • The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 2nd as Russell Martin scored on a fielding error by Nunez
  • The Blue Jays doubled the lead in the bottom of the 3rd as Teoscar Hernandez homered to right-center
  • The Red Sox got one back in the top of the 5th as JD Martinez hit a solo HR to left-center
  • The batters later, Brock Holt singled home Nunez to tie the game
  • The Blue Jays retook the lead in the bottom of the 5th as Smoak doubled scoring Travis
  • A batter later, Grichuk hit a 2-run home run to left-center also scoring Smoak
  • Rick Porcello pitching line: 4IP 6H 7R (all earned) 3BB 5K 79 pitches (54 for strikes)
  • Ryan Borucki pitching line: 5IP 9H 4R (all earned) 3BB 2K 105 pitches (62 for strikes)
  • The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Travis singled home Granderson
  • The Red Sox got one back in the bottom of the 9th as Betts homered to left
  • Final score: Blue Jays 8 Red Sox 5
My Take
  • Neither starting pitcher had a great game today. The Blue Jays got to former Cy Young winner Rick Porcello early and often, scoring in 4 of the first five innings. Borucki fared a bit better than his Red Sox counterpart, pitching an extra inning and holding this offensive juggernaut to 4 runs on 9 hits and 3 walks. The main difference was the Blue Jays capitalized on their chances with runners in scoring position where as the Red Sox left more runners in account position.
  • Mookie Betts hit for the cycle, becoming the first Pruett to do so this season and the last player to hit for the cycle since Jose Abreu did it for the White Sox September 9th last season. Jeff Frye was the last Blue Jay to hit for the cycle back on August 17, 2001
  • The bullpen was lights out tonight. The Betts home run was the only hit and run allowed in 4 innings of work today. 
  • One Blue Jays fan caught not one, but two home run balls tonight. Most fans don't even get the opportunity to catch a foul ball or home run ball. The fan should consider buying a Lotto Max ticket this week
  • Justin Smoak and Devon Travis both had good nights at the plate with a combined 5 hits and 3RBI and 3 runs scored in 7AB.
  • The Blue Jays also snapped Boston's 6 game winning streak
  • Up next, the Tampa Bay Rays, another team that has been kryptonite to the Blue Jays come to town for a weekend series. The Blue Jays won't have to contend with Chris Archer, who is now a Pittsburgh Pirate. The Rays will start their only true starter in lefty Blake Snell while Marco Estrada takes the ball for the Blue Jays.