The Blue Jays continued a crucial series vs. the Red Sox. A win tonight would vault them into 1st in the AL East for the first time in forever. That the Blue Jays accomplished this in spite of tons of injuries, including to star free agent George Springer, who's played all of 4 games due to a nagging quad injury and an earlier oblique strain. They've started 12 different pitchers (tops in the MLB). Bo Bichette has been nothing sort of an adventure in the field. On the plus side, Vlad has been looking as good as his father back in the day. Hyun-Jin Ryu has been an ace, Steven Matz has been a pleasant surprise and the bullpen has been lights out most nights. Tonight, Ross Stripling got the start and was looking to keep his spot in the rotation. Blue Jays hitters had to contend with Red Sox righty Garrett Richards. Teoscar Hernandez was back in RF, Cavan Biggio was at the hot corner and Jonathan Davis was in CF. Reese McGuire got the start behind the plate. Randal Grichuk got the half day off, serving as the DH. Could the Blue Jays make it 4 wins in a row? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Red Sox opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Alex Verdugo clobbered a 2-run bomb to right; also scoring Enrique Hernandez
- A batter later, JD Martinez hammered a solo bomb to right-center
- Three batters later, Xander Bogaerts scored on a ground out by Christian Vazquez
- Two batters later, Bobby Dalbec doubled home Rafael Devers
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled scoring Bo Bichette
- The Red Sox added a run in the top of the 2nd as Hernandez smacked a solo blast to left-center
- Ross Stripling pitching line: 3.2IP 8H 6R (all earned) 0BB 3K 76 pitches (51 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays got a pair back in the bottom of the 7th as Marcus Semien hooked a two-run blast just inside the left field line; also scoring Reese McGuire
- Garrett Richards pitching line: 6.2IP 7H 2R (both earned) 4BB 5K 99 pitches (64 for strikes)
- Final score: Red Sox 7 Blue Jays 3
My Take:
- It was a rough go for Ross Stripling, who was lit up for 6 runs (all earned) on 8 hits while walking none and striking out 3. The Red Sox were on the Blue Jays righty right from the get-go, with 3 runs scored on less than ten pitches. The first five batters had hits before Stripling got an out, and even that produced a run. He did settle down and retire the final eight batters he faced, but you can't regularly spot an opponent 5 runs and expect to stay in the rotation long-term
- Reese McGuire is taking full advantage of his second chance after he was DFA'd after a dreadful season last year that led to Alejandro Kirk, currently out for a month with an injury), getting recalled. McGuire was 2-3 today, bumping his average to an impressive .400 in a small sample size.
- The Blue Jays had plenty of opportunity to score and they failed to do so. They were 1-9 with runners in scoring position tonight.
- Marcus Semien might be difficult to knock out of the leadoff spot if/when George Springer is ever ready to play. He was 2-3 tonight, including a 2-run HR and drew a pair of walks
- The bullpen was decent tonight, giving up a run, 5 hits, walking none and struck out 8 over the final 5.1 innings
- Up next, the Blue Jays go for the series win. Red Sox righty Nick Pivetta pitches against Blue Jays lefty Steven Matz
