After another late inning rally to defeat the Red Sox, the Blue Jays were looking to keep it rolling with their third straight win overall and 5th straight over the Red Sox. A win would also mean5 series wins to start the season out of 6. Ryan Borucki was placed on the 10-day IL with a blister. Lefty Andrew Vasquez was recalled from AAA ball. Ross Stripling got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. George Springer was back in CF after starting in LF yesterday. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was back in the line up after missing yesterday with a tight hamstring, Raimel Tapia was in RF. Gosuke Katoh was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays make it 3 straight wins? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Red Sox took the lead in the top of the 1st as Rafael Devers doubled scoring Xander Bogaerts
- The Blue Jays tied the game in the bottom of the 3rd on a fielder's choice hit by Vladimir Guerrero that scored Tyler Heineman
- Ross Stripling pitching line: 5IP 5H 1R (earned) 0BB 7K 84 pitches (59 for strikes)
- The Red Sox added a run in the top of the 6th as JD Martinez singled scoring Bogaerts
- A batter later, Devers scored on a sac fly by Enrique Hernandez
- Michael Wacha pitching line: 6H 4R (earned) 2BB 5K 92 pitches (57 for strikes)
- The Red Sox added a run in the top of the 8th as Hernandez doubled scoring Martinez
- Two batters later, Hernandez scored on a sac fly by Bobby Dalbec
- The Red Sox added a run in the op of the 9th as Bogaerts singled home Trevor Story
- Two batters later Rob Refsnyder dlubled scoring Alex Verdugo
- Final score: Red Sox 7 Blue Jays 1
My Take:
- Ross Stripling threw 5 strong innings, allowing one run on five hits while walking none and striking out 7. Stripling has done a decent job spot starting with Hyun-Jin Ryu on the IL. Ryu is expected to come off the IL soon.
- It came down to the bullpens for the second straight night and it was the Blue Jays relievers who crumbled today. Six relievers combined to give up 6 runs on 6 hits while walking 2 and striking out 2 over the final 4 innings. Taylor Saucedo was the only reliever not to give up at least a hit or a walk.
- The Blue Jays offence was limited to a run on 5 hits and 3 walks. George Springer was the only Blue Jay with multiple hits,
- Every Blue Jays starter except Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Raimel Tapia reached base at least once
- The Blue Jays were 0-6 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, the Blue Jays go for their 5th series win and 4th series win when playing 4 games. Alek Manoah starts against Red Sox righty Garrett Whitlock
