Game #18 Toronto Blue Jays (8-10) @ Boston Red Sox (12-7) - game recap

 

Ryan Boruxki threw two clutch innings in relief in a 6-3 victory over the Red Sox to earn a split in the 2-game series

The Blue Jays wrapped up a mini two game series vs. the Red Sox. They have been slogging through a slew of injuries to their pitchers, which now includes enough players to fill a bullpen. The offense has been puttering along to as they await the debut (hopefully) Friday of prize free agent signing George Springer. Trent Thornton got the start in what's expected to be a bullpen day. Cavan Biggio batted leadoff and was at the hot corner. The struggling Marcus Semien slid to 6th in the batting order. Rowdy Tellez DH'd tonight. Could the Blue Jays make it a series split? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled scoring Cavan Biggio
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 2nd on a sac fly by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. that scored Marcus Semien
• Two batters later, Josh Palacios scored on a groundout by Biggio
• A batter later, Bo Bichette singled scoring Jansen
• Trent Thornton pitching line: 2IP 2H 0H 0R 0B 0K 25 pitches (18 for strikes)
• The Red Sox got one back in the bottom of the 4th on a ground out by Rafael Devers that scored JD Martinez
• Garrett Richards pitching line: 4.2IP 4H 4R (all earned) 6BB 2K 92 pitches (48 for strikes)
• The Red Sox got one back in the bottom of the 5th as Enrique Hernandez doubled scoring Marwin Gonzalez
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 9th as Alejandro Kirk singled scoring Bichette 
• A batter later, Randal Grichuk singled home Guerrero Jr.
• Anthony Castro got the final out for his 1st save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 6 Red Sox 3

My Take:

• It was a bullpen day for the Blue Jays and they got mixed results tonight. Trent Thornton allowed a pair of hits over 2 innings. He induced a DP to get out of the 1st inning and stranded Devers on second after he hit a one-out double. Tommy Milone was next up and he allowed 2 runs on 4 hits while striking out 4 over 2.1 innings. David Phelps then came in and got the final 2 outs of the 5th inning, but not before conceding a run on a ground out and walking a batter. Ryan Borucki was excellent over 2 innings, allowing a hit and walking a batter while striking out 2. Rafael Dolis continues to struggle getting through an inning efficiently. He gave up a solo shot to Devers to make it a 1 run game and thanks to a throwing error by Biggio, the Red Sox had the go-ahead run on 2B with 2 outs. Tim Mayza retired two of the three batters he faced and Castro got the final out.
• Offensively, the Blue Jays jumped all over Red Sox starter Garrett Richards, tagging him for 4 runs over the first 2 innings. Alejandro Kirk and Randal Grichuk both hit clutch RBI singles in the 9th to give the Blue Jays a three-run cushion
• With three closers injured (Kirby Yates, Julian Merryweather and Jordan Romano) the Blue Jays are likely going to utilize a closer by committee. Tonight, Mayza got a chance to record his first career save, but Charlie Montoyo opted to turn to righty Anthony Castro to get the final out with the Red Sox big bats coming up.
• Cavan Biggio drew a pair of walks and scored a run in the lead-off spot. Marcus Semien, demoted from the lead-off spot, was 2-4, drew a walk and scored a run
• Danny Jansen's average continues to plummet. He was 0-3, but drew a walk and scored a run
• Up next, after a travel day/off day the Blue Jays open a weekend series against the Rays. The Rays won 6 of the 10 meetings between the squads last season, but the Blue Jays outscored the Rays 48-44 in season series. Friday night, Blue Jays batters will be facing Rays ace Tyler Glasnow, who has been lights out to start the season. The Blue Jays have not named a starter yet.