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| Bo Bichette hit a 3-run HR as the Red Sox defeated the Blue Jays 6-5 on a walk-off HR by Alex Verdugo |
After dropping the finale of a weekend series against their expansion cousins the Seattle Mariners, the Blue Jays hit the road on a ten day, nine game trip, beginning tonight in Boston. The Blue Jays absolutely dominated the season series against the Red Sox winning 16 of the 19 meetings between the AL East rivals, outscoring the Red Sox a whopping 125-55. Jose Berrios got the start with Danny Jansen behind the plate. George Springer got the full day off with Cavan Biggio in RF. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Brandon Belt. Daulton Varsho was in LF and Kevin Kiermaier was in CF. Whit Merrifield got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays start the week with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Red Sox opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Masataka Yoshida doubled scoring Alex Verdugo
- A batter later, Justin Turner singled home Yoshida
- The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 2nd as Bo Bichette smacked a 3-run blast to left-center and over the green monster; also scoring Danny Jansen and Kevin Kiermaier
- Corey Kluber pitching line: 5.1IP 5H 3R (all earned) 4BB 7K 104 pitches (59 for strikes)
- The Red Sox tied the game in the bottom of the 6th as Jarren Duran drilled a solo bomb to dead center
- Three batters later, Enmanuel Valdez crushed a 2-run jack to straightaway center; also scoring Triston Casas
- Jose Berrios pitching line: 5.1IP 11H 5R (all earned) 2BB 4K 93 pitches (56 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 8th as Cavan Biggio scored on a throwing error by Red Sox SS Ennrique Hernandez on a ball hit by Kiermaier
- Two batters later, Kiermaier scored on a fielder's choice and ensuing throwing error charged to Hernandez on a ball hit by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- The Red Sox walked it off in the bottom of the 9th as Verdugo belted a solo jack into the Red Sox bullpen in right-center
- Final score: Red Sox 6 Blue Jays 5
My Take:
- Jose Berrios battled through 5.1 innings, giving up 4 runs on 11 hits while walking 2 and striking out 4. After two solid starts in a row, Berrios did not have his best stuff and it showed He dealt with multiple base runners every inning.
- The bullpen was solid until the 9th, holding the Red Sox to a hit over 2.2 innings, while striking out three. Unfortunately, Verdugo ended the game in the bottom of the 9th, taking close Jordan Romano deep into the Red Sox bullpen.
- Bo Bichette has been swinging a hot stick and took Corey Kluber over the green monster for three runs. The Blue Jays then took advantage of some sloppy Red Sox defense in the 8th that led to a pair of runs, one of them unearned
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap a 2-game skid and even the series. Yusei Kikuxhi starts against Red Sox righty Tanner Houck
