Well that was interesting. In a battle of journeyman bums starting for the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, it was the Sox that got the start they wanted. Ryan Weber (1-0, 1.29 ERA) came off the scrap heap to give the Sox one of the best starts of the season to help beat the Jays. The Sox offense pounded Toronto pitching for 15 hits and 8 runs to take 3 games out of 4 in this series including this one 8-2 at the Skydome.
Jays starter Clayton Richard shut down the Sox in the top of the first inning as Michael Chavis whiffed to start. Mr. Mookie Betts walked and took second on a failed pickoff throw but Xander Bogaerts flied out to right. Rafael Devers lined out to right to end the inning. Weber took the ball in the bottom of the first and Eric Sogard looked at strike three to start. Vladimir Guerrero Jr grounded out to third before Justin Smoak grounded out to second to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the second inning as Steve Pearce whiffed to start. Andrew Benintendi walked before Christian Vazquez banged into a double play to end the inning. The Jays struck first in the bottom of the second as Rowdy "Roddy" Tellez doubled to begin. Brandon Drury singled but Tellez held fast and Freddy Galvis doubled home Tellez. Weber then saved the game by getting McKinney to fly out to right and Danny Jansen to pop up to second. Jonathan Davis grounded out to third to end the inning and Weber avoided a huge inning to only be down 1-0.
Boston wasted no time tying the game in the top of the third as Eduardo Nunez singled to left before advancing to second on a balk. Nunez moved to third on the Jackie Bradley Jr ground out and scored on the Michael Chavis groundout. Mr. Mookie lined out to right to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
Weber cruised in the bottom of the third as Sogard grounded out to third to begin. Guerrero Jr flied out to center and Smoak looked at strike three to end the inning.
The Sox blew a chance to take the lead in the top of the fourth as Bogaerts flied out to center to start. Devers grounded out to third but Pearce singled to center. Benintendi was plunked but Vazquez hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning. Tellez got plunked to start the bottom of the fourth and moved to second when Pearce robbed Drury of a home run. Galvis looked at strike three before McKinney grounded out to first to end the inning.
Sam Gaviglio replaced Richard for the top of the fifth and Nunez grounded out to short to begin. JBJ singled to third but Chavis popped up to second. Mr. Mookie grounded out to short to end the inning. Weber's sinker was working in the bottom of the fifth as Jansen grounded out to short to start. Davis grounded back to the mound and Sogard hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning.
The Sox took the lead in the top of the sixth as Bogaerts singled to start and Devers doubled him home. Pearce singled home Devers to increase the lead but Benintendi flied out to center. Pearce moved to third but Vazquez whiffed and Nunez lined out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-1.
Could Weber pitch with the lead for one final inning in the bottom of the sixth? YES! Guerrero Jr grounded out to third, Smoak whiffed and Tellez lined out to end the inning. Weber was outstanding, tossing 6 innings of 1 run ball allowing just 3 hits.
Moved by Weber's effort, the Sox iced the game in the top of the seventh against Elvis Luciano. JBJ hit a ground rule double and Chavis singled him to third. Mr. Mookie doubled home JBJ to increase the lead. Bogaerts and Devers both whiffed before Pearce flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-1.
Today's call up Travis Lakins got the call to pitch the bottom of the seventh inning and Drury greeted him with a double. Galvis grounded out to second to move Drury over but McKinney whiffed. Jansen grounded out to third to end the inning.
The Sox got another run in the top of the eighth when Benintendi singled to right and took second on a wild pitch. Vazquez flied out to left but Benintendi stole third. Nunez singled home Benintendi to increase the lead and chase Luciano. Ryan Feirabend whiffed JBJ and Chavis to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-1.
Ryan Brasier came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and got Davis to ground out to short to start. Sogard lined out to center and Guerrero Jr whiffed to end the inning.
The Sox kept attacking in the top of the ninth although Mr. Mookie flied out to right to start. Bogaerts doubled and Devers singled him in before Pearce crushed his first home run of the season to light up the Sox fans in attendance. Benintendi flied out to left but Vazquez singled. Nunez grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-1.
Hector "The Insurance Policy" Velazquez had mop up duty in the bottom of the ninth. Smoak smashed a 35,000 foot home run to start before Tellez popped up to first. Drury popped up to second before Richard Urena pinch hit for Galvis. Urena grounded out to short to end the game. The Sox had won it 8-2.
Hero of the Night is Ryan Weber. His 6 innings of 1 run ball was very unlikely but very much needed to win the game.
The Good:
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored.
Rafael Devers was 2 for 5 with 2 rbis and 2 runs scored.
Steve Pearce was 3 for 5 with 3 total rbis including a home run.
Andrew Benintendi was 1 for 3 with a walk, stolen base and a run scored.
Eduardo Nunez was 2 for 5 with an rbi and a run scored.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Travis Lakins pitched a scoreless 7th inning.
Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
The Bad:
Hector Velazquez allowed a run in the ninth inning.
The Ugly:
Michael Chavis was just 1 for 5 but drove in a run.
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4 with a walk and an rbi.
Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 5.
Final Thoughts:
The Sox did what they had to do and that's take the series against Toronto, too bad the New York Yankees got to feast on the Baltimore Orioles the past four days. Still the Sox need to beat bad teams in order to get back into the race and beating Toronto 3 out of 4 is what the doctor ordered. Having an emergency starter dominate a game is a welcome sight and it reminds us of Brian Johnson's complete game once upon a time. Steve Pearce looked like himself for the first time all season and the entire offense in general stepped up. Wish the Sox could do that moving forward. The win improved the Sox to 27-23, 5.5 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. As if it was bad enough the Yankees swept the Orioles 4 straight, now they get to go to Kansas City to feast on the Royals. Meanwhile the Sox go on the road back to the place they clinched the American League Pennant last year against a pissed off Houston Astros team. Old pal Wade Miley gets the start tomorrow night but the Sox counter with Chris Sale (1-5, 4.31 ERA) at 8:00 PM at Minute Maid Park.
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