Hugh Hefner (RIP) approves of the win
Porcello wasted no time taking a dump on the mound in the top of the first inning. Teoscar Hernandez struck out but Josh Donaldson doubled. Justin Smoak doubled and Jose Bautista launched a 600 foot home run onto the Mass Pike to give the Jays a commanding lead just 4 batters into the game. Kendrys Morales lined out to short and Kevin Pillar grounded out to short, but it was 3-0 Jays at the end of the inning.
Porcello blows kibbles n bits already
Somehow the Sox fought back in the bottom of the first against Estrada although Xander Bogaerts struck out to begin. Dustin Pedroia grounded out to short but Andrew Benintendi singled in the hole at short. Hanley Ramirez hit a ball off the Monster....that Hernandez misplayed, allowing Benintendi to score from first and advancing Ramirez to second. Mitch Moreland grounded out to short to end the inning but it was 3-1.
Ramirez delivers for once
Somehow the Sox fought back in the bottom of the first against Estrada although Xander Bogaerts struck out to begin. Dustin Pedroia grounded out to short but Andrew Benintendi singled in the hole at short. Hanley Ramirez hit a ball off the Monster....that Hernandez misplayed, allowing Benintendi to score from first and advancing Ramirez to second. Mitch Moreland grounded out to short to end the inning but it was 3-1.
Shockingly Porcello pitched a clean top of the second inning as Russell Martin lined out to center, Ryan Goins whiffed and Darwin Barney struck out as well to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the second inning as Christian Vazquez walked to start, but Rafael Devers struck out. Rajai Davis doubled Vaz over to third and he scored on the Jackie Bradley Jr ground out that advanced Davis to third. Bogaerts slammed a single to score Davis to tie the game and Pedroia singled as well. Bogaerts broke from home all the way from first and the throw came in....OUT! But wait! Sox manager John Farrell challenged the call and he was ruled safe on the replay to give the Sox the lead. Benintendi hit a comebacker to end the inning but it was 4-3 Sox.
The lead lasted approximately three minutes in the top of the third although Hernandez flied out to right to begin. Donaldson singled and Smoak walked, although Bautista froze on a strike three call. Morales singled and Donaldson broke for home. JBJ fired the ball 400 feet over the head of Vazquez completely out of Fenway, but Vazquez pretended to make the tag to try to fool the umpire. It didn't work, Donaldson scored and it was a time game. Pillar whiffed but it was 4-4.
The Sox exploded in the bottom of the third inning and it began with a 451 foot bomb launched by Ramirez to give the Sox the lead. Moreland and Vazquez singled before Devers beat out a double play ball to put runners at the corners. Davis singled to score Moreland and chase Estrada from the game as Jays manager John Gibbons waddled to the mound to bring in Luis Santos. Davis swiped second but JBJ whiffed. Bogaerts iced the game by blasting a 3 run home run into the Monster Seats, his 10th of the season. Pedroia singled but Benintendi struck out to end the inning with the Sox ahead 9-4.
Porcello failed to pitch a clean inning in the top of the fifth although he struck out Martin to start. Goins whiffed as well but Barney swatted a 834 foot home run halfway to Northeastern University to make fans boo Porcello. Hernandez singled but Porcello struck out Donaldson to end the inning with the score now 9-5.
Aaron "Fruit" Loup got the ball in the bottom of the fourth inning and got Ramirez and Moreland both to ground out to start. Vazquez whiffed to end the inning.
Porcello returned for the top of the fifth inning and fans groaned when he walked Smoak. Fans cheered when he got Bautista to hit one up the elevator shaft and Morales to bang into a double play to end the inning. Tim Mayza replaced Loup in the bottom of the fifth inning and got Devers to pop up to third to start. Davis looked at strike three and JBJ grounded out to third to end the inning.
Porcello returned briefly for the top of the sixth inning and Pillar grounded out to third to start. Martin grounded out to second and napping manager John Farrell woke up to see the Jays had 5 runs and sprinted out of the dugout to chase Porcello away. In an sight to see unheard of 2 months ago, David Price came out of the bullpen and was NOT booed. He got Goins to ground out to end the inning. Porcello gave up 5 runs but ate up 5 2/3 innings and probably could have finished the sixth.
Carlos Ramirez was brought in to pitch the bottom of the sixth and Bogaerts grounded out to second to start. Pedroia also grounded out to second and Benintendi flied out to left to end the inning.
Price returned for the top of the seventh inning and all he did was strike out the damn side. Barney froze, Hernandez whiffed and Donaldson froze to end the inning. From Public Enemy Number 1 to the lefty bullpen horse in just 2 months.
The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the seventh as Ramirez whiffed but Moreland belted a solo home run to right to give the Sox their five run lead back, Vazquez lined out and Devers flied out to center to end the inning but it was 10-5 Sox.
Addison Reed got the ball in the top of the eighth inning and got Smoak to ground out to third to begin. Bautista grounded out but Morales singled. Pillar flied out to right to end the inning. Chris Rowley came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning and got Davis to pop up to first to start. JBJ grounded out to second but Bogaerts singled. Pedroia grounded out to end the inning.
Brock Holt took over at second with Brandon Workman now on the mound in the top of the ninth. Martin was rung up for strike three but Goins doubled. Michael Saunders pinch hit for Barney and grounded out, but Hernandez gave one final kick in the pants to Boston with a 2 run home run. Donaldson lined out to first to end the game. The Sox had held on to win the slugfest 10-7.
Hero of the Night is Xander Bogaerts. He finally broke out of his season long slump to go 3 for 5 with 2 total runs, 5 total rbis and a 3 run blast.
The Good:
Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 5 with an rbi.
Hanley Ramirez was 2 for 4 with a solo home run.
Mitch Moreland was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored including a home run.
Christian Vazquez was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Rajai Davis was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored, an rbi and a stolen base.
David Price retired all four men he faced.
Addison Reed pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
The Bad:
Brandon Workman gave up a 2 run bomb in the ninth inning.
The Ugly:
Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Rafael Devers was 0 for 4 but scored a run.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 4 but drove in a run.
Rick Porcello sucked, giving up 5 runs on 8 hits and 2 home runs in 5 2/3 innings....but he struck out 8 to earn the win
Honorable Mention:
Brock Holt played second in the top of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
The Blue Jays have been pretty dormant offensively against the Red Sox all year but all of a sudden they turned back the clock to 2016 for this series? They averaged 7 runs a game in all 3 games and they beat up the Sox' 3 best pitchers in the process. Still, the Sox needed to win a game and this was it. The offense played to their potential for the first time in weeks and they just may hold off the New York Yankees once and for all. Bogaerts looks healthy for the first time in months and Ramirez HAS to stay hot if they have any chance of October baseball. The win propelled the Sox to 92-66, 3 games ahead of the Yankees with just 4 to play. The Sox now play a four game set at home against their possible ALDS opponents the Houston Astros. Eduardo Rodriguez (6-6) goes for the Sox against Brad Peacock at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
Magic Number: 2
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