Daulton Varsho hit a 3-run HR in a losing effort as the Red Sox came from behind to defeat the Blue Jays 7-6 |
After a heartbreaking walk-off loss to the Red Sox last night, the Blue Jays were trying to snap a 2-game skid. Yusei Kikuchi got the start with Danny Jansen behind the plate. Vlad was back in the field after DH'ing yesterday (Alejandro Kirk served as DH tonight). Could the Blue Jays snap the two-game skid? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Red Sox opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Christian Arroyo belted a solo jack over the green monster in left-center
- The Red Sox added a run in the bottom of the 3rd as Rob Refsnyder singled scoring Alex Verdugo. Refsnyder was thrown out at 2nd base trying to stretch the single into a double
- The Red Sox added a run in the bottom of the 4th as Masataka Yoshida hammered a solo bomb to straightaway center
- The Blue Jays got a pair back in the top of the 5th as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled scoring Danny Jansen and Kevin Kiermaier
- A batter later, Bo Bichette scored on a passed ball charged to Red Sox catcher Conner Wong
- A batter after that, Daulton Varsho drilled a three-run bomb to right-center; also scoring Guerrero Jr. and Matt Chapman
- The Red Sox got one back in the bottom half of the imning as Refsnyder singled home Verdugo
- Three batters later, Yoshida singled scoring Justin Turner
- Yusei Kikuchi pitching line: 4.1IP 9H 5R (all earned) 0BB 2K 93 pitches (57 for strikes)
- Tanner Houck pitching line: 6IP 6H 6R (all earned) 3BB 5K 96 pitches (57 for strikes)
- The Red Sox tied the game in the bottom of the 6th as Wong smashed a solo jack just over the green monster in left
- The Red Sox retook the lead in the bottom of the 8th as Wong belted a solo blast over the green monster in left
- Josh Winckowski pitched a scoreless 9th for his 1st save of the season
- Final score: Red Sox 7 Blue Jays 6
My Take:
- The bad Yusei Kikuchi was on the mound tonight, giving up 5 runs on 9 hits while walking none and striking out 2. Simply put, Kikukchi did not have his best stuff tonight. The Red Sox kept chipping away tacking on runs in innings 2-6, taking Kikuchi deep twice
- The bullpen continues go through a rough patch. Erik Swanson took the loss with Connor Wong going yard on him to give the Red Sox a late lead
- The offense had a big inning in the 5th inning, putting 6 runs on the board, capped off by a 3-run HR from Daulton Varsho. They more or less went quietly after that inning with just 2 base runnes in the final 3 innings
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 3-game skid and avoid their second series loss of the season. Ace Alek Manoah starts against Red Sox righty Nick Pivetta