Sunday, September 6, 2020

Game # 40 Toronto Blue Jays (22-18) @ Boston Red Sox (14-28) - game recap

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was 4-6 with 2 runs scored and an RBI as the Blue Jays came from behind and held on for a 10-8 win over the Red Sox 


After splitting the first four games of this rare 5-game series, thanks to a double header Friday, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the 2-game losing streak and end the road trip with a W. Robbie Ray got the start on the mound. Caleb Joseph got his first career start behind the plate, after coming in as a defensive replacement late last night. Randal Grichuk got the complete day off with Cavan Biggio in CF today and Joe Panik patrolling 2B. Jonathan Villar got the start at SS and Derek Fisher was in RF. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was back in the field in LF after the day off yesterday. Could the Blue Jays snap the losing streak and end the road trip with a victory? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

  • The Red Sox too the lead in the bottom of the 1st as Kevin Plawecki hammered a 3-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Jonathan Arauz and Xander Bogaerts 
  • The Blue Jays got a run back in the top of the 3rd as Caleb Joseph got his first career hit and home run at the same time with a shot to left-center 
  • Andrew Triggs pitching line: 3IP 3H 1R (earned) 2BB 4K 63 pitches (36 for strikes)
  • The Red Sox added a run in the bottom of the 4th as Bobby Dalbec smacked a solo blast to right-center 
  • The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 5th as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
  • A batter later, Joe Panik singled home Rowdy Tellez and Travis Shaw 
  • Two batters later, Derek Fisher singled scoring Gurriel Jr.
  • A batter later, Cavan Biggio doubled home Fisher and Panik
  • Robbie Ray pitching line: 4IP 6H 4R (all earned) 3BB 5K 83 pitches (48 for strikes)
  • The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 6th as Tellez drilled a solo bomb to dead center 
  • Four batters later, Shaw scored on a fielder's choice hit by Joseph
  • A batter later, Fisher singled home Gurriel Jr.
  • The Red Sox got one back in the bottom half of the inning on a sac fly by Jose Peraza that scored Michael Chavis
  • The Red Sox got one back in the bottom of the 8th on a solo bomb to left-center by Peraza
  • Two batters later, Bogaerts cranked a 2-run blast to dead center; also scoring Arauz
  • Rafael Dolis pitched a perfect 9th for his 2nd save of the season
  • Final score: Blue Jays 10 Red Sox 8

My Take:

  • Robbie Ray had a rough 1st inning, taking 31 pitches to strike out the side (actually both starters struck out the side in the 1st inning). In between he gave up three runs on 3 hits (capped by a 3-run HR) and a walk. It took him a further 52 pitches to get through the next 3 innings. He gave up 3 more hits, 2 more walks and another run. Pete Walker has much work to do to help with the consistency of his delivery
  • Caleb Joseph is now the best hitting catcher on the team. He had on hit (a HR) in 5AB and drove in a pair of runs. Defensively, he made a bad throw in the 2nd inning, allowing Jose Peraza to advance to 3rd after stealing 2B. I suspect the Blue Jays will keep things rolling with Joseph to see how he fares for a bit.
  • No base running gaffes so, improvement!
  • Every Blue Jays starter had at least 1 hit
  • Up next, the Blue Jays head back to Buffalo, where they will begin a three game set with the Yankees, who they face 10 times in the final 20 games. These head to head games should decide 2nd place in the AL East. Ace Hyun-Jin Ryu gets the start against Yankees lefty Jordan Montgomery