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| Matt Chapman hit a 2-run HR in the 8th inning in a losing effort as the Red Sox came from behind to edge the Blue Jays 7-6 |
First of all, happy Canada day to everyone. After a shutout loss to the Red Sox yesterday, the Blue Jays were looking to even the series and get their first win of the season against the Red Sox. Yusei Kikuchi got the start with Danny Jansen behind the plate. Brandon Belt served as DH. Kevin Kiermaier was in CF and Daulton Varsho was in LF. Cavan Biggio got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays send the fans home with a win on Canada Day? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as George Springer led of with a solo blast to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen
- The Red Sox took the lead in the top of the 3rd as Rafael Devers hammered a 2-run bomb to left-center; also scoring Justin Turner
- The Blue Jays did the game in the bottom half of the inning as Bo Bichette smashed a solo blast to left-center
- The Red Sox took the lead in the top of the 5th as Turner doubled scoring Rob Refsnyder
- A batter later, Devers singled home Turner
- Two batters later, a avatars Yoshida singled scoring Devers
- Yusei Kikuchi pitching line: 4.1 IP 7H 5R (all earned) 2BB 7K 86 pitches (56 for strikes)
- The Red Sox added a run in the top of the 6th on a sac fly by Alex Verdugo that scored Christian Arroyo
- Kutter Crawford pitching line: 5.2IP 3H 2R (both earned) 2BB 5K 74 pitches (46 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 7th on a throwing error on a pick off attempt by Red Sox pitcher Josh Winckowski that scored Matt Chapman
- The Blue Jays got a pair back in the bottom of the 8th as Chapman smashed a 2- run blast to the opposite field in right; also scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- The Red Sox added a run in the top of the 9th as Turner smacked a solo jack to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Guerrero Jr singled scoring scoring. Bichette was thrown out trying to score the tying run on the play to end the game
- Kenley Jansen got the last 4 outs for his 17th save of the season
- Final score Red Sox 7 Blue Jays 6
My Take:
- Yusei Kikuchi battled through 4.1 innings, giving up 5 runs on 7 hits while walking two and striking out 7. There were signs he was a bit of right from the get-go. Kikuchi walked the first batter of the game on four pitches. He was just missing on other pitches as well. He pitched in an out of jams all day. Hopefully his next start goes better so he can end the unofficial first half on a positive note.
- With the Blue Jays offense chipping away at the lead to turn a 4-ru deficit into a one-run deficit, the Blue Jays needed Erik Swanson to hold the Red Sox. Alas, he gave up a solo blast to Justin Turner and that turned out to be the difference in the game. Trevor Richards also gave up a run scoring single. Yimi Garcia appears to have figured things out. He had a dominant 1-2-3 inning in the 8th inning
- Offensively, George Springer started the Canada Day festivities with a banf and may have inadvertently caused the loss by waving Bo Bichette home. Matt Chapman had a huge 2-run HR in the 8th to get the Blue Jays within a run. Cavan Biggio JUST missed giving the Blue Jays the lead with a line drive that just went foul. Unfortunately he struck out to end the inning.
- Not paying attention to the little details cost the Blue Jays big time today. Luis Rivera should have stopped Bo Bichette WAY sooner as Vlad hit the ball sharply and right at Alex Verdugo, who gunned a strike to Connor Wong, who fielded it perfectly and had plenty of time to slide over and tag Bichette out. Matt Chapman was on deck and very likely would have tied the game. Danny Jansen also dropped a pop fly, but made up for the brain cramp with a later catch near the screen behind home plate
- The Blue Jays are now 16-28 in Canada Day games. There was no Canada day in 1981 (lockout), 1993 (off-day) and 2020 (pandemic - season did not start unril July 24
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to avoid being swept by the Red Sox forbthe second time this season and swept for the 4th time this season. Kevin Gausman starts against Red Sox righty Garrett Whitlock.
