As for the game, the Sox limped out of London and went on to lay the smack down on the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto. David Price (6-2, 3.33 ERA) tossed 6 solid innings of 2 run ball while the offense that did score over 20 runs in London put 10 on the board. Rafael Devers was a one man wrecking crew as he clocked two home runs and drove in two more with a base hit. Christian Vazquez added a home run of his own and although things got hairy at the end when rookie Trevor Kelley allowed 3 runs in the ninth, the Sox came away with a hard fought 10-6 victory at the Skydome.
Heather Locklear approves of the win
Trent Thornton took the ball for Toronto in the top of the first and the Sox instantly shelled him. Mr. Mookie Betts led off with a base hit to left and Devers crushed his 13th home run of the season to put the Sox up 3 pitches into the game. Xander Bogaerts smacked a double to left but JD Martinez grounded out to short. Andrew Benintendi flied out to right to move Bogaerts to third and Xander scored on the ground rule double by Vazquez. Jackie Bradley Jr scored Vazquez with a single to right but Michael Chavis popped up to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-0 early.
Price took the mound in the bottom of the first and froze Eric Sogard for strike three to start. Vladimir Guerrero Jr walked and moved to second on the Lourdes Gurriel Jr grounder. Justin Smoak took strike three to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the top of the second as Brock "The Hitman" Holt grounded out to first to start. Mr. Mookie singled to center and stole second before moving to third on the Devers base hit to right. Bogaerts beat out a double play ball to score Betts with another run and Martinez struck a base hit to left. Benintendi flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-0.
The Jays got one back in the bottom of the second although Randal Grichuk flied out to center to begin. Cavan Biggio doubled to left before moving to third on the Freddy Galvis fly out. Brandon Drury walked but Danny Jansen hit a ground rule double to score Biggio. Sogard walked to load the bases but Guerrero Jr flied out to center to end the inning with the Jays down 5-1.
Jansen drives in a run
Boston poured it on in the top of the third as Vazquez singled to left to start. JBJ doubled him to third but Chavis went down hacking. Holt hit one up the elevator shaft but Mr. Mookie walked to load the bases. Tonight's hero Devers lashed a base hit to right to score both Vazquez and Bradley to chase Thornton from the game. Sean Reid-Foley came in and got Bogaerts to ground out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-1.
Price cruised in the bottom of the third as Gurriel Jr struck out swinging to start. Smoak flied out to center and Grichuk whiffed to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the fourth as Martinez flied out to center to start. Benintendi swung and missed at strike three and Vazquez also flied out to center to end the inning. Price got Biggio to ground out to first to begin the bottom of the fourth before Galvis took strike three. Drury grounded out to short to end the inning.
JBJ went down swinging to start the top of the fifth before Chavis grounded out to third. Holt went down hacking to end the inning. Price cruised in the bottom of the fifth as Jansen flied out to center to begin. Sogard lined out to center and Guerrero Jr watched strike three go by to end the inning.
Mr. Mookie lined out to left to start the top of the sixth before Devers struck out swinging. Bogaerts grounded out to second to end the inning. Price got tagged in the bottom of the sixth as Gurriel Jr walked to start. Smoak popped up to second but Grichuk singled to left. Both runners moved over on the Biggio grounder and Gurriel Jr scored on the infield single to short by Galvis. Price finished his outing by punching out Drury to end the frame. Price tossed 6 solid innings and allowed just the two runs to keep the Sox in the game 7-2.
The Sox got offended the Jays scored a run so they got one back against Derek Law in the top of the seventh inning. Martinez grounded out to first and Benintendi whiffed, but Vazquez plastered his 12th home run of the year to increase the lead. JBJ grounded out to second to end the inning but it was 8-2 Sox.
"Hey check out that bird over there." - Vaz
Colten Brewer was first out of the bullpen in the top of the eighth and Jansen greeted him with a 75,000 foot home run to cut the lead. Brewer recovered to punch out both Sogard and Guerrero Jr, but Gurriel Jr walked. Smoak grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-3.
The Sox kept coming in the top of the eighth as Chavis singled to left to start. Holt banged into a double play but Mr. Mookie drew a walk. Devers capped off his amazing night with another 2 run bomb to wrap up the scoring. Bogaerts beat out an infield single to third but Martinez grounded into a force to end the inning with the Sox ahead 10-3.
All smiles in this one
Josh Taylor took over in the bottom of the eighth and Grichuk flied out to right to start. Biggio singled to center but Galvis hit into a double play to end the inning.
Jays closer Ken Giles came in for the top of the ninth and froze Benintendi for strike three to start. Vazquez whiffed and JBJ flied out to left to end the inning. Trevor Kelley made his Major League debut for the Sox in the top of the ninth and crapped his pants. Drury flied out to center but Jansen singled to left. Sogard walked and Guerrero Jr doubled home both men to cut the lead. A wild pitch moved Guerrero Jr to third and Gurriel Jr hit a sac fly to score him. Smoak took strike three to end the game and the pressure. The Sox had won it 10-6.
Hero of the night is a no brainer. Rafael Devers hit three home runs and drove in six runs to carry the offense in this one.
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 2 for 3 with a stolen base, 2 walks and 3 runs scored.
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 5 with an rbi and a run scored.
Christian Vazquez was 3 for 5 with a 2 run homer and 3 total runs scored.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 2 for 5 with an rbi and a run scored.
David Price got the win with 6 innings of 2 run ball. He allowed 4 hits while striking out 7.
Josh Taylor pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
The Bad:
Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 5 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
Brock Holt was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Colten Brewer allowed a run in the seventh inning.
Trevor Kelley got lit up in his ML debut by allowing 3 runs in the ninth inning.
The Ugly:
JD Martinez was just 1 for 5.
Michael Chavis was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Final Thoughts:
After getting smacked in two straight by the New York Yankees in London, taking the first game against the Toronto Blue Jays was key to getting back on track. Devers carried the load offensively and it was good to see David Price pitch a good game. The pitching is what led the Sox down in London so hopefully it can bounce back in the week leading up to the All-Star break. Hopefully the Sox can get a nice little winning streak going but it hasn't happened all year. Kelley getting shelled in his debut isn't a good sign either. Boston is going to need the bullpen and rotation to improve back to last year's standards if they want to cut into the Yankees lead. The win improved the Sox to 45-40, 10 games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to make it two in a row against the Blue Jays when they send Chris Sale (3-7) up against David Phelps of the Jays. The game begins at 7:05 PM at the Skydome.
After getting smacked in two straight by the New York Yankees in London, taking the first game against the Toronto Blue Jays was key to getting back on track. Devers carried the load offensively and it was good to see David Price pitch a good game. The pitching is what led the Sox down in London so hopefully it can bounce back in the week leading up to the All-Star break. Hopefully the Sox can get a nice little winning streak going but it hasn't happened all year. Kelley getting shelled in his debut isn't a good sign either. Boston is going to need the bullpen and rotation to improve back to last year's standards if they want to cut into the Yankees lead. The win improved the Sox to 45-40, 10 games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to make it two in a row against the Blue Jays when they send Chris Sale (3-7) up against David Phelps of the Jays. The game begins at 7:05 PM at the Skydome.
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