As for the game, what a massacre. The Boston Red Sox took their frustrations out on the Toronto Blue Jays after dropping two of three to the Houston Astros at Fenway. Michael Chavis, Jackie Bradley Jr, Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers all went yard as the offense pounded out 16 hits and 12 runs. David Price (2-2, 3.29 ERA) made a triumphant return from the Injured List to toss 5 solid innings in his first start in 3 weeks. He allowed just 3 hits and the bullpen tossed 4 hitless frames to defeat the Jays 12-2 at the Skydome.
The Sox wasted no time scoring against Edwin Jackson in the top of the first inning. Andrew Benintendi flied out to right to begin before Mr. Mookie Betts grounded out to short. Mitch Moreland beat out an infield single and Bogaerts plastered a single to right. Devers singled to right to send Bogaerts to third then took off for second. Jays catcher Luke Maile airmailed the throw and Bogaerts walked home for another run. Chavis whiffed to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
The rusty Price ran into trouble in the bottom of the first as Jonathan Davis singled to short to begin. Brandon Drury flied out to left but Justin Smoak singled Davis to third. Randal Grichuk was retired on a squibber in front of the mound before Freddy Galvis flied out to right to end the inning. The Jays would have one more hit the rest of the game.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the second as Steve Pearce grounded back to the mound to begin. Jackie Bradley Jr grounded out to first and Sandy Leon popped up to second to end the inning. The Jays struck back in the bottom of the second although Danny Jansen whiffed to start. Billy McKinney hit a routine grounder to Chavis who threw himself on the ball and swam on it for an error. Richard Urena grounded out to second but the light hitting Maile blasted a 450,000 foot home run to tie the game. Davis lined out to center to end the inning but the game was tied 2-2.
The Sox wasted no time getting the lead back in the top of the third inning. Benintendi walked but was forced at second by Mr. Mookie. Moreland doubled Betts to third and Bogaerts singled both men home. Devers ined out to center but Chavis smashed his 9th homer of the year to increase the lead. Pearce lined out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-2.
Price cruised in the bottom of the third as Drury grounded back to the mound to start. Smoak grounded out to second before Grichuk looked at strike three to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the fourth as JBJ looked at strike three to start. Leon singled but Benintendi whiffed. Mr. Mookie grounded into a force to end the inning. Galvis grounded out to short to begin the bottom of the fourth before Jansen lined out to right. McKinney grounded out to second to end the inning.
Moreland lined out to right to start the top of the fifth before Bogaerts whiffed. Devers flied out to center to end the inning. Price came back for one more inning in the bottom of the fifth. Urena whiffed before Maile grounded out to third. Davis looked at strike three to end the inning. Price pitched well in his first start in 18 days, allowing no earned runs in 5 innings to get the win.
Sox fans had a heart attack in the top of the sixth inning with Elvis Luciano now on the mound. Chavis lined out to center but Pearce walked. Somehow JBJ smashed his first home run of the season to left to show hell had frozen over. Leon walked but Benintendi popped up to short. Mr. Mookie grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-2.
Brandon Workman was first out of the pen in the bottom of the sixth and Drury grounded out to third to start. Smoak and Grichuk both whiffed to end the inning.
Boston poured it on in the top of the seventh as Moreland doubled to right to begin. Moreland moved to third on the Bogaerts grounder and Devers singled Mitch home. Chavis singled Devers to third as Derek Law came in to pitch. Pearce scored Devers with a sac fly before JBJ hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning with Boston ahead 10-2.
Heath Hembree came in for the bottom of the seventh and Galvis walked to start. Jansen lined out to center before McKinney flied out to left. Urena whiffed to end the inning.
Leon lined out to right to start the top of the eighth but Benintendi and Betts stroked back to back singles. Moreland banged into a double play to end the inning and Ryan Brasier came on for the bottom of the eighth. Maile grounded back to the mound, Davis popped up to first and Drury also grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Boston wrapped up the scoring in the top of the ninth inning against Ryan Tepera. Bogaerts blasted a 415 foot home run to left before Devers topped it with a 445 foot blast to right. Chavis whiffed but Pearce hit the wall in left for a double. JBJ whiffed but Leon walked. Benintendi popped up to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 12-2.
Hector "The Insurance Policy" Velazquez had mop up duty in the bottom of the ninth. Velazquez atoned for his lousy start previous by striking out the side. Smoak, Grichuk and Galvis all whiffed to end the game. The Sox beat up the Jays 12-2 to win the game in a landslide.
Hero of the Night is Xander Bogaerts. He drove in 3 runs including blasting a moonshot to outscore the Jays by himself.
The Good:
Mitch Moreland was 3 for 5 with 3 runs scored.
Rafael Devers was 4 for 5 with 3 total rbis, 2 total runs scored, a stolen base and a solo home run.
Michael Chavis was 2 for 5 with 2 total rbis including a solo home run.
Steve Pearce was 1 for 3 with a walk, rbi and a run scored.
Sandy Leon was 1 for 3 with 2 walks.
David Price earned the win with 5 innings of 2 run (neither earned) ball while allowing just 3 hits and striking out 4.
Brandon Workman pitched a scoreless 6th inning.
Heath Hembree pitched a scoreless 7th inning.
Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
Hector Velazquez pitched a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
None
The Ugly:
Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 5 but walked.
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 5 but scored a run.
Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 5 but the one hit was a 2 run home run.
Final Thoughts:
If the Sox have any hope to get back in the AL East race they're going to have to do a number on the bad teams like they did last year. For one night at least they did just that. The New York Yankees are playing the bulk of their games against the pathetic Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals early which is partially why they have the lead they do currently. The Sox are going to have to beat the same teams when its their turn but for now the Jays are their target. Price looked good in his return and they're going to need him to avoid emergency starts. The offense fired on all cylinders and they're going to be fine going forward. Its going to be up to the starters at this point to get back in the race. The win improved the Sox to 25-22, 4.5 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Sox play game 2 of this four game set with Eduardo Rodriguez (4-2, 4.89 ERA) taking on Marcus Stroman at 7:07 PM at the Skydome.
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