Before the game the Boston Red Sox called up Connor Wong to be the extra in today's doubleheader. Yippie.
This could be the end of Garrett Richards (6-6, 5.15 ERA) in the Boston Red Sox rotation and its not a moment too soon. Needing to win a doubleheader to gain ground on the Tampa Bay Rays, the Sox and Richards laid an egg in Game 1 against the Toronto Blue Jays. Richards got knocked out in the fifth inning after allowing 4 runs and 2 big home runs. The Sox were held to just 5 measly hits by Robbie Ray and Jordan Romano and the Jays took Game 1 by a score of 4-1 in 7 innings at Fenway Park.
Richards got the ball in the top of the first inning and George Springer greeted him with a double to right. Springer looked to have beat a tag to third on a fly ball to center by Vladimir Guerrero Jr but Spx manager Alex Cora challenged the call. Replays showed Springer was out and Marcus Semien flied out to left to end the inning. The Sox struck first against Ray in the bottom of the first as Kike Hernandez walked to start. Rafael Devers got a base hit to center to move Hernandez to third. Devers took second on the throw and Hernandez scored on the grounder to short by JD Martinez. Hunter Renfroe flied out to left and Christian Vazquez popped up to second to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.
The Jays tied it in the top of the second as Bo Bichette walked to start. Teoscar Hernandez struck out swinging but Bichette swiped second and moved to third on the Lourdes Gurriel Jr fly ball to center. Bichette scored on an infield single off of Richards by Randal Grichuk and Cavan Biggio singled to center. Alejandro Kirk lined out to center to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
The Sox blew the game in the bottom of the second as Alex Verdugo singled in the hole at second to start. Kevin Plawecki hit a ground rule double down the left field line and Bobby Dalbec walked to load the bases with nobody out. The rally ended as Michael Chavis struck out swinging, Hernandez struck out swinging and Devers flied out to center to end the inning. They had the bases loaded & nobody out and did not score.
Somehow the Jays failed to capitalize in the top of the third as Springer lined out to right to start. Guerrero Jr popped up to second but Semien beat out a roller to third. Bichette flied out to right to end the inning. Ray cruised in the bottom of the third as Martinez flied out to right to start. Renfroe grounded out to third and Vazquez lined out to center to end the inning.
The Jays took command in the top of the fourth inning although Hernandez flied out to right to begin. Gurriel Jr doubled to left and Grichuk smashed a home run all the way to Wisconsin to pur the Jays up for good. Biggio struck out swinging and Kirk grounded out to second to end the inning with the Jays ahead 3-1.
The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the fourth as Verdugo grounded out to second to start. Plawecki walked but Dalbec struck out swinging. Chavis struck out swinging to end the inning,.
The Jays knocked out Richards in the top of the fifth as Springer hit a home run to Pluto to start. Guerrero Jr singled to center to chase Richards. Garrett stunk again, allowing 4 runs in just 4 plus innings. Yacksel Rios cane in and Semien flied out to left, but Guerrero took second on a wild pitch. Bichette grounded out to short and Hernandez struck out swinging to end the inning with the Jays up 4-1.
The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the fifth as Hernandez took strike three to start. Devers doubled off the glove of Springer and took third on the base hit to left by Martinez. Renfroe struck out swinging and Vazquez flied out to right to end the inning, another waste.
Rios struck out Gurriel swinging to start the top of the sixth and Grichuk flied out to left. Biggio took strike three to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the sixth as Verdugo lined out to left to start. Plawecki and Dalbec both struck out swinging to end the inning.
Brandon Workman came in for the top of the seventh as Kirk lined out to left to start. Springer struck out swinging and Guerrero Jr flied out to center to end the inning. Reese McGuire took over behind the plate with Jordan Romano in to close out the bottom of the seventh. Jarren Duran pinch hit for Chavis and struck out swinging before Hernandez popped up to short. Devers flied out to center to end the game. The Jays had won it 4-1.
Jackass of the Night is Garrett Richards. He got lit up for 4 runs in 4 plus innings to take the loss and jack his ERA to over 5.
The Good:
Rafael Devers was 2 for 4.
JD Martinez was 1 for 3 with an rbi.
Alex Verdugo was 1 for 3.
Kevin Plawecki was 1 for 2 with a walk.
Yacksel Rios pitched 2 scoreless innings.
Brandon Workman tossed a scoreless seventh inning.
The Bad:
Hunter Renfroe was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Michael Chavis was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts.
Jarren Duran struck out as a pinch hitter.
The Ugly:
Kike Hernandez was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts but walked and scored a run.
Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts but walked.
Final Thoughts:
Think its time to get Richards out of the rotation. If Tanner Houck can prove he can be the pitcher from last year, that makes Richards the odd man out if and when Chris Sale returns. He just isn't giving them a chance to win with an ERA over 5 although once again, its hard to win when the offense only gets 5 hits as a team. Robbie Ray shut them down big time and the Sox either score 10 runs or 1, there is no in between it seems. Hopefully the Sox can get it together in the nightcap because the Sox really can't afford to lose this series with the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees playing each other the next few days. The Sox should be able to come back in the nightcap but damn, what a disaster. Tonight Tanner Houck (0-2, 2.50 ERA) looks to salvage Game 2 of this series when he takes on Steven Matz of the Jays at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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