Game #78 - Toronto Blue Jays (35-43) @ Boston Red Sox (43-36) - game recap

 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a 3-run HR in a losing effort as the Red Sox came from behind to walk off the Blue Jays 7-6

After another loss due to a comeback falling short, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the six game losing streak and exact some revenge on a Red Sox team that swept them a week ago in Toronto, outscoring the Blue Jays 18-9. Chris Bassitt got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Daulton Varsho remained out with a sore back. The Blue Jays went with the same lineup that lost yesterday save for the battery (maybe to see if lineup consistency makes a difference in their fortunes?) Could the Blue Jays snap the 6-game skid and 3-game skid against the Red Sox? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 4th as Justin Turner singled scoring Isiah Kiner-Falefa
• The Red Sox took the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Rafael Devers belted a 2-run jack to right; also scoring Jarren Duran
• The Blue Jays tied it up in the top of the 7th as Kevin Kiermaier singled scoan ring Addison Barger 
• Two batters later, Spencer Horwitz singled scoring Kiermaier 
• A batter later, Guerrero Jr. hammered a 3-run bomb over the green monster in right; also scoring Kiner-Falefa and Horwitz
• Tanner Houck pitching line: 6.2IP 5H 3R (2 earned) 1BB 7K 101 pitches (68 for strikes)
• Chris Bassitt pitching line: 7IP 5H 2R (both earned) 1BB 2K 102 pitches (71 for strikes)
• The Red Sox got a pair back in the bottom of the 8th as David Hamilton whacked a 2-run blast to right; also scoring Durran
• Five batters later, Romy Gonzalez singled scoring Devers and Tyler O'Neill
• The Red Sox walked it off in the bottom of the 9th on an RBI single by Duran that scored Ceddanne Rafaela
• Final score: Red Sox 7 Blue Jays 6

My Take:

• Chris Bassitt threw seven strong innings, giving up a pair of runs on five hits while walking one and striking out two. Bassitt really just made the one mistake that gave the Red Sox the lead. For a while it looked like he would take the L until the offence bailed him out in the 7th inning. He deserved to win today
• The bullpen was a disaster. In the 8th inning, Nate Pearson gave up a 2-run HR, Tim Mayza came in and faced the minimal 3-batters and did not retire one batter. Zach Pop came in and gave up two runs to tie the game on the first pitch he threw. He stayed in the game for the 9th, gave up a leadoff single and that baserunner advanced on a balk and scored 4 pitches later on a walk-off single. I mean, a four run lead in the 8th should have snapped the 6-game skid. Instead, the Blue Jays are in an even deeper hole and who know when they'll win a game next given they have two more against Boston and 4 each against the Yankees and Astros.
• It was encouraging to see the 5-run rally and dscouraging to see the missed opportunity with the bases loaded in the 6th (George Springer flied out to CF to end that rally) and the Blue Jays not tacking on more runs in the 8th or scoring to retake the lead in the 9th
• The home run jacket seriously needs to be retired for good. It is doing zero to help the team win
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 7-game skid. Kevin Gausman starts against Red Sox righty Brayan Bello