Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Game #12 Toronto Blue Jays (4-8) @ Boston Red Sox (3-9) - game recap

Billy McKinney was 2-3 with a pair of runs scored as the Blue Jays knocked off the Red Sox 7-5

Stiff  test today facing the defending World Series Champions. Dustin Pedroia started his first game in the majors since May 29th, 2018. The Red Sox 2nd baseman has missed the bulk of the last 2 seasons, although he did play three more games than Tulo last season. Neck injuries continue to plague the Blue Jays with Justin Smoak and Luke Maile both scratched today with neck stiffness. Perhaps next road trip, the Blue Jays need to bring their own pillows. Matt Shoemaker was looking to continue his strong start to the season. Shoemaker has thrown 14 shutout innings heading into today's tilt. Could the Blue Jays snap the four-game skid and ruin the Red Sox WS celey and home opener? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:
  • The Red Sox opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Mitch Moreland smacked a HR just over the Blue Jays bullpen
  • The Red Sox doubled the lead in the bottom of the second as Xander Bogaerts scored on a double play ball hit by Dustin Pedroia
  • The Blue Jays got a run back in the top of the 3rd as Freddy Galvis singled home Alen Hanson
  • A batter later, Billy McKinney scored on a sac fly by Teoscar Hernandez
  • The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 4th as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singled home Randal Grichuk
  • Two batters later, Danny Jansen scored on a passed ball charged to Red Sox catcher Christian Vasquez
  • The same batter, Gurriel Jr. caught Chris Sale napping and stole home, ala Kevin Pillar just over a year ago
  • Chris Sale pitching line: 4IP 7H 5R (all earned) 0BB 3K 76 pitches (54 for strikes)
  • The Red Sox got one back in the bottom of the 6th on  a Mookie Betts solo shot to left-center
  • Four batters later, Bogaerts scored on a fielding error by Hernandez
  • Matt Shoemaker pitching line: 5.2IP 5H 4R (2 earned) 2BB 4K 93 pitches (57 for strikes)
  • The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 7th as Grichuk singled home Hernandez
  • The Red Sox got one back in the bottom of the 8th on a Bogaerts double that scored JD Martinez
  • The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 9th as Galvis doubled home Billy McKinney
  • Ken Giles pitched a scoreless 9th for his 3rd save of the season
  • Final score: Blue Jays 7 Red Sox 5
My Take:
  • I loved the aggressiveness on the base paths today. That was a huge heads-up play by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. stealing home plate. Also, great heads up play by Danny Jansen reacting so nicely to the passed ball. The Blue Jays were 3-3 on stolen base attempts today and Danny Jansen threw out Christian Vasquez
  • The bullpen did a great job, allowing 1 run on 3 hits and a walk over 3.1 innings.
  • A much better job with managing strikeouts. Two days after 16 Blue Jays batters went down swinging/looking, nine Blue Jays struck out against one of the better strikeout pitchers in the league.
  • Freddy Galvis continues to swing a hot bat, with 2 more hits today and 2 more RBI
  • Dustin Pedroia got his first hit of 2019- good for him after a tough 2 seasons with injury
  • Up next, the Blue Jays wrap up this brief 2 game set after an off-day tomorrow. They go for the series sweep and first series win of the season. The Blue Jays will be facing Nathan Eovaldi, who was roughed up in his first 2 starts of the season. Aaron Sanchez looks to continue his strong start to the season.