As for the game, the Boston Red Sox will go into the all-star break one of the hottest teams in baseball after winning 13 out of 14 games. Today the bottom of the order helped the Sox defeat the Toronto Blue Jays to take 3 out of 4 from them. Brian Johnson failed to get out of the 5th inning but the bullpen locked down the rest of the win as Brock Holt, Jackie Bradley Jr and Sandy Leon led the charge as the Sox won their final game before the break 5-2 at Fenway Park.
Johnson took the ball in the top of the first and froze Randal Grichuk to start the game. Yangervis Solarte grounded out to short but Teoscar Hernandez walked. Justin Smoak whiffed to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the first against Jays starter Marcus Stroman. Mr. Mookie Betts grounded out to third but Xander Bogaerts crushed his 16th home run of the season to put the Sox on top early. JD Martinez walked and Devon Travis booted a ground ball by Mitch Moreland. Both runners advanced on the grounder by Steve Pearce and Brock "The Hitman" Holt singled home Martinez. Eduardo Nunez grounded into a force to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
Kendrys Morales walked to open the top of the second before Russell Martin popped up to third. Travis lined out to center but Dwight Smith walked. Aledmys Diaz grounded into a force to end the inning. Sandy Leon singled to open the bottom of the second but was thrown out at second trying to stretch a double. Jackie Bradley Jr flied out to right before Mr. Mookie looked at strike three to end the inning.
The Jays struck back in the top of the third as Grichuk doubled to start. Solarte hit one up the elevator shaft but Hernandez blasted a 300,000 foot home run into the Atlantic Ocean to tie the game. Smoak flied out to center and Morales lined out to a running JBJ to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.
The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the third as Bogaerts flied out to center to begin. Martinez whiffed but Moreland grounded out to second to end the inning.
Johnson cruised in the top of the fourth inning as Martin flied out to center to start. Travis and Smith both whiffed to end the inning. Stroman cruised as well in the bottom of the fourth as Pearce whiffed to start. Holt whiffed before Nunez popped up to second to end the inning.
Johnson returned for the top of the fifth as Diaz flied out to left to begin. Grichuk walked but Solarte whiffed. Sox manager Alex Cora decided enough was enough from Johnson and brought in Brandon Workman to vulture the potential win. Johnson didn't pitch bad but left with a no decision.
Workman came in and blew away Hernandez to end the inning. The Sox took command in the bottom of the fifth as Leon doubled to start. JBJ doubled home Leon to give the Sox the lead before Mr. Mookie advanced JBJ to third with a fly out to right. Bogaerts grounded out to Stroman but JBJ scored another run. Martinez flied out to right to end the inning but it was 4-2 Sox.
Tyler Thornburg sprinted to the mound out of the bullpen in the top of the sixth and got Smoak lined out to center to begin. Morales lined out to second but Martin singled to center. Travis whiffed to end the inning and Thornburg made a mad dash into the dugout after. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the sixth against Aaron Loup. Moreland walked and Pearce was plunked before Holt singled home Moreland. Jake Petricka came in and Nunez flied out to left. Leon banged into a double play to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-2.
Ryan Brasier came in to pitch the top of the seventh as Smith grounded out to third to begin. Diaz and Grichuk singled but Solarte banged into a double play to end the inning. Ryan Tepera came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and JBJ popped up to second to begin. Mr. Mookie walked but Bogaerts whiffed. Betts swiped second but was thrown out at third trying to steal another base to end the inning.
Heath Hembree got the call to pitch the top of the eighth and Hernandez whiffed to start. Smoak singled before Morales flied out to center. Martin and Travis singled to load the bases but Hembree blew away Smith to end the inning. Jaime Garcia came in for the bottom of the eighth and Martinez walked to begin. Moreland banged into a double play but Pearce walked. Holt walked but Chris Rowley came in to get Nunez to ground into a force to end the inning.
Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel came in for the save in the top of the ninth. Curtis Granderson pinch hit for Diaz but flied out to center to start. Kimbrel blew away Grichuk then froze Solarte to end the game. The Sox had won 13 out of 14 and this game 5-2 to head into the break.
Hero of the Night is Brock Holt. The slumping Hitman was 2 for 3, knocking in 2 key runs to match the Blue Jays entire output while drawing a walk as well.
The Good:
Sandy Leon was 2 for 3 with a run scored.
Jackie Bradley Jr was 1 for 3 with an rbi and a run scored.
Brandon Workman got the win by retiring just one guy.
Tyler Thornburg pitched a scoreless 6th inning.
Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless 7th inning.
Heath Hembree pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
Craig Kimbrel earned his 30th save by pitching a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
Eduardo Nunez was 0 for 4.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was 0 for 3 but walked and stole a base.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 but drove in 2 runs and scored.
JD Martinez was 0 for 2 but walked twice and scored a run.
Mitch Moreland was 0 for 3 but walked and scored.
Steve Pearce was 0 for 2 but walked and was hit by a pitch.
Brian Johnson lasted just 4 2/3 innings but allowed just 2 runs.
Final Thoughts:
The Sox are rolling heading into the all-star break. If the Sox end up winning the division in the end they can look back at winning 13 out of 14 after getting curbstomped in New York. Today's game was another example of lock down pitching and timely hitting. With Andrew Benintendi away, the bottom of the order had to step up and today they did. Holt, Leon, and Bradley got the big hits and the bullpen shut the Jays down. With the New York Yankees in an unexpected slump, the Sox managed to gain nearly 5 games on them since the first of the month. Its too bad Eduardo Rodriguez got hurt because he was the perfect fourth starter behind Chris Sale, David Price and Rick Porcello. The sooner they can get him back, the better. The win improved the Sox to 68-30, 4.5 games in front of the slumping Yankees for first place in the AL East. The season resumes this Friday in Detroit with a 3 game set with the Tigers. David Price (10-6) takes on Logan Boyd at 7:10 PM Eastern Time at Comerica Park.
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