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| Kazuma Okamoto scored twice and drove in a run as the Blue Jays hung on for a 6-4 win over the Red Sox |
After prevailing over the Red Sox on the strength of a 2 RBI effort from Brett Bateman and a late clutch base hit off the bat of Myles Straw, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 15th series win of the season. Righty Paul Sewald was claimed off waivers from the Diamondbacks. Righty Jake Bloss was added to the MLB roster and moved to the 60 day IL. Jose Soriano got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Kazuma Okamoto was back in the lineup as DH Street missing a couple of days with a sore knee. Jesus Sanchez was in LF, Myles Straw was in CF and Brett Bateman was in RF. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 15th series win of the season? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Ernie Clement singled scoring Kazuma Okamoto
- The Red Sox tied it in the top of the 5th as Willson Contreras whacked a solo blast to left-center
- Ranger Suarez pitching line: 5IP 6H 1R (earned) 1BB 2K 81 pitches (54 for strikes)
- Jose Soriano pitching line: 6IP 4H 1R (earned) 2BB 4K 90 pitches (63 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 8th as Okamoto singled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- Two batters later, Brandon Valenzuela was forced in on a bases loaded walk to Clement
- A batter later, Okamoto scored on a sac fly by George Springer
- A batter after that, Myles Straw doubled scoring Clement
- The Red Sox got one back in the top of the 9th as Caleb Durbin singled scoring Contreras
- A batter later, Jarren Duran doubled scoring Wilyer Abreu
- A batter after that, Durbin scored on a sac fly by Andruw Monasterio
- Louis Varland got the last 2 outs for his 26th save of the season
- Final score: Blue Jays 6 Red Sox 4
My Take:
- Jose Soriano fired 6 solid innings,, giving up a run on 4 hits while walking 2 and striking out 4. One mistake pitch to Willson Contreras that went over the wall in left-center. Soriano faced the minimum through 3 innings and was bailed out by his catcher Alejandro Kirk, who gunned down Ceddane Rafaela at 3B on a wild pitch by Soriano. No question he'll be a huge part of the rotation in the coming years.
- The bullpen gave up 3 runs on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 1 over the last 3 innings. Mason Fluharty and Louis Varland, who had to bail out knuckleballer Matt Waldron after he struggled in the 9th inning with a 5-run lead.
- The offense exploded for a 5-run rally in the 8th inning. Kazuma Okamoto contributed with 2 runs scored and an RBI in his return to the lineup. George Springer came in as a pinch hitter and drove in a run with a sac fly.
- In terms of the wild card race, the Blue Jays passed the Orioles and are 2.5 games back of the Texas Rangers for the 3rd wild card spot with the Tigers, Twins and Guardians in the way. All teams are idle tomorrow so the Blue Jays will gain a half game if they win tomorrow
- Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschmann was 2-1 on ABS challenges. The Blue Jays did not attempt an ABS challenge today.
- The Blue Jays were 4-11 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to make it 4 straight wins and complete their 2nd sweep of the season. Max Scherzer starts against Red Sox lefty Payton Tolle
