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| Justin Turner was 2-3 with 2 runs scored, including a solo HR, in a 7-3 loss to the Red Sox |
After hanging on to defeat the Guardians on the strength of a grand slam by Daulton Varsho, the Blue Jays continued the home stand and were trying to extend the winning streak to 3 games as they opened a three-game set against the Red Sox, who edged the Blue Jays in the season series last year 7-6 with the Blue Jays outscoring the Red Sox 64-62. Yimi Garcia was placed on the 15-day IL with right elbow ulnar neuritis. Lefty Brandon Eisert was recalled from AAA-ball. Yusei Kikuchi got the start with Danny Jansen behind the plate. Bo Bichette missed his 3rd day with a nagging calf injury. Kevin Kiermaier was in CF and Daulton Varsho was in LF. Davis Schneider got the start at 2B. George Springer was back in the field after the half day off yesterday as DH (Justin Turner served as DH tonight). Could the Blue Jays make it 3 straight wins? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Red Sox opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Tyler O'Neil hammered a solo bomb to the second deck in left
- A batter later, Rafael Devers drilled a solo jack to the opposite field in left-center
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 2nd on a sac fly by Isiah Kiner-Falefa that scored Justin Turner
- The Red Sox added a run in the top of the 3rd as Ceddaine Rafaela hammered a solo bomb to the 2nd deck in left
- Four batters later. O'Neill hammered a solo bomb to dead center
- The Red Sox added a run in the top of the 4th as Bobby Dalbec singled scoring Connor Wong
- Yusei Kikuchi pitching line:4IP 7H 5R (all earned) 0BB 7K 79 pitches (55 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 5th as Justin Turner whacked a solo blast to left-center
- The Red Sox added a run in the top of the 7th as Rob Refsnyder doubled scoring Rafaela
- Two batters later, Jarren scored on a sac fly by Devers
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Davis Schneider drilled a solo bomb just fair down the left field line
- Nick Pivetta pitching line: 7IP 9H 3R (all earned) 1BB 4K 109 pitches (73 for strikes)
- Kenley Jansen got the last out for his 12th save of the season
- Final score: Red Sox 7 Blue Jays 3
My Take:
- Yusei Kikuchi battled through 4 innings, giving up 5 runs on 7 hits while walking none and striking out 7. The Red Sox took him deep four times. You know Kikuchi is off when he can't keeop the ball in the ballpark. Here's hoping he bounces back in Cleveland on Saturday.
- The bullpen gave up a further 2 insurance run, both charged to a struggling Tim Mayza who has not been himself for a large part of the season - hopefully the issue is mechanical and not physical
- Lefty Brandon Eisert made his big league debut, walking 3 and allowing a hit over 2 scoreless innings. He got fortunate twice with Danny Jansen nailing Romy Gonzalez at 3B on an attempted double steal in the 8th and getting a double play ball, aka MK special, behind him in the 9th. To me, he's done enough to warrant another appearance, but he'll only be up in the bigs until an injured pitcher returns
- The offence was 2 solo HR and a sac fly.
- How in the world are the Blue Jays failing to score in the 1st inning, but can score almost every time in the 2nd inning. It's a confusing enigma
- Quirky stat of the day: 8 of the 9 runs were scored on fly balls: 6 solo HR (4 by the Red Sox and 2 by the Blue Jays) and 2 sac flies (1 from each team). A Bobby Dalbec RBI single was the only run not scored with a fly ball
- The Blue Jays were 1-5 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series. Chris Bassitt starts against Red Sox righty Tanner Houck
