As for the game, what a massacre. If anyone doubted the legitimacy of the Toronto Bue Jays offense, this game showed they were for real. The Jays feasted on the incompetent Eduardo Rodriguez (7-6, 5.60 ERA) and a host of Red Sox relievers for 16 hits and 13 runs. Vladimir Guerrero Jr is one of the favorites to win AL MVP and he led the charge with a three run home run. As for the the Sox bats, they were silenced by Hyun-Jin Ryu who may win 20 games this year barring injury. Ryu held the Sox to 2 hits and no runs before yielding to the bullpen. The Sox only run came on an rbi double by Bobby Dalbec in the seventh as the Jays crushed the Sox 13-1 at Fenway Park.
Barnaby hates bad pitchingRodriguez got bushwhacked in the top of the first inning as George Springer struck out swinging to start. Vladimir Guerrero Jr singled to right, Marcus Semien doubled to left and Bo Bichette walked to load the bases. Teoscar Hernandez effortlessly doubled to right to score Guerrero and Semien to put the Jays up for good 5 batters into the game. Randal Grichuk hit a ground ball to second and Kike Hernandez came home to get Bichette but Cavan Biggio singled to right to score Hernandez to increase the lead. Santiago Espinal struck out swinging to end the inning with the Jays up 3-0.
The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the first as Hernandez singled to left and Jarren Duran beat out an infield single to short....but wait! The Jays challenged Duran was out and sure enough, replays showed he was. Xander Bogaerts struck out swinging but JD Martinez reached on a booted grounder by Bichette. Hunter Renfroe grounded into a force to end the inning.
The Jays rallied again in the top of the second as Reese McGuire doubled to left to start. Springer singled to left to score McGuire and suddenly Rodriguez got mad. Guerrero Jr, Semien and Bichette all went down hacking to end the inning with Toronto up 4-0.
The Sox blew another rally in the bottom of the second as Alex Verdugo beat out a squibber in front of the plate to start. Christian Vazquez flied out to right but Bobby Dalbec was hit in the foot. Franchy Cordero struck out swinging and Hernandez popped up to second to end the inning.
An angry Rodriguez froze Hernandez for strike three to start the top of the third before Randal Grichuk flied out to center. Biggio struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the third as Duran hit a rocket....right to Guerrero. Bogaerts hit a rocket....right to Espinal and Martinez struck out swinging to end the inning.
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The Jays struck again in the top of the fourth as Espinal singled to left to start. McGuire waived at strike three but Springer walked. Guerrero Jr walked to load the bases and Semien walked to score Espinal. That was it for the incompetent Rodriguez who'd be charged with 6 runs in just 3 1/3 innings. Phillips Valdez came in and Bichette scored Springer by forcing Semien at second. Hernandez was plunked to reload the bases but Renfroe made a jumping catch to rob Grichuk of a grand slam to end the inning with the Jays up 6-0.
"I sucked tonight!" - Rodriguez
The Sox did nothing against Ryu in the bottom of the fourth as Renfroe grounded out to third to start. Verdugo popped up to third and Vazquez flied out to center to end the inning.
Valdez took a beating in the top of the fifth as Biggio flied out to left to start. Espinal walked but McGuire lined out to left. Springer walked and Guerrero Jr hit a home run all the way to the Azores to ice the game. Semien grounded out to third to end the inning with the Jays ahead 9-0.
Guerrero Jr blasts one out
The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the fifth as Dalbec grounded out to second to start. Cordero struck out swinging and Hernandez lined out to second to end the inning.
Brandon Workman came in to take a pounding in the top of the sixth as Bichette doubled to left to start. Hernandez singled him to third and Grichuk singled Bichette home to add to the lead. Both runners moved over on the Biggio grounder to second and Hernandez scored on the Espinal base hit to left. McGuire hit a ground rule double to right to score Grichuk but Springer struck out swinging. Guerrero Jr grounded out to third to end the inning with the Jays up 12-0.
Duran grounded out to second to start the bottom of the sixth and Connor Wong pinch hit for Bogaerts to give him the night off. Wong reached on dropped fly ball by Hernandez but Martinez struck out swinging. Renfroe grounded out to third to end the inning. Ryu had shut out the Sox for six innings, good grief.
Michael Chavis took over at second for Hernandez, to begin the top of the seventh and Semien doubled to left to begin. Bichette flied out to right but Hernandez singled to left to score Semien with another run. Hernandez moved to second on a grounder to second by Grichuk but Biggio grounded out to second to end the inning with the Jays up 13-0.
Breyvic Valera came in to play second with Tayler Saucedo in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Verdugo grounded out to second to start. Vazquez doubled to center and Dalbec broke up the shutout with an rbi double to center. Cordero grounded out to short and Chavis grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox down 13-1.
Kevin Plawecki came in for Renfroe with Darwinzon Hernandez now on the mound for the top of the eighth inning. Espinal lined out to short to start but McGuire doubled to right. Springer struck out swinging and Guerrero Jr flied out to right to end the inning. Rafael Dolis came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Duran grounded out to third to start. Wong drew a walk and Bichette booted a grounder by Martinez for an error. Plawecki beat out a double play ball but Verdugo struck out swinging to end the inning.
To save his arms, Cora let Plawecki himself pitch the top of the ninth. Valera lined out to left, Bichette popped up to short and Hernandez grounded out to second to end the inning. Plawecki pitched better than Rodriguez, go figure.
Kirby Snead mopped up the bottom of the ninth as Vazquez singled in the hole at short to start. Dalbec took strike three but Cordero singled to right. Chavis took strike three but both runners moved over on a wild pitch by Snead. Duran took strike three to end the gane, the Jays had won it 13-1.
Jays win
Jackass of the Night is Eduardo Rodriguez. He lasted just 3 1/3 innings and allowed 6 runs to put the Sox in a hole they couldn't climb out of.
The Good:
Kike Hernandez was 1 for 3.
Connor Wong walked once in two plate appearances.
Christian Vazquez was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Bobby Dalbec was 1 for 3 with an rbi.
Darwinzon Hernandez pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Kevin Plawecki pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Michael Chavis was 0 for 2 with a strikeout.
Jarren Duran was 0 for 5 with a strikeout.
Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 2 with a strikeout.
JD Martinez was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Hunter Renfroe was 0 for 3.
Phillips Valdez allowed 3 runs in 1 2/3 innings.
Brandon Workman allowed 4 runs in 2 innings.
The Ugly:
Alex Verdugo was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Franchy Cordero was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Final Thoughts:
The Sox are reeling after getting smacked around by the high powered Blue Jays offense. Its sad to see Rodriguez regress this year after looking like an ace in 2019. The sad part was the Sox would be further ahead in the AL East race if Rodriguez pitched like he did then. The worst part about this game wasn't just the pitchers got shelled but the bats were silent all night. Ryu held them in check and the Sox scored one measly run against the Jays bullpen. Games like this happen where the boys have an off-night but the Sox can ill-afford to have them in the highly competitive AL East games this season. The Jays offense is for real and if they get an ace at tomorrow's deadline, they're going to be a deadly team. The Sox have work to do at the deadline and let's see if they add anyone else besides Kyle Schwarber. Schwarber should be a great addition when he heals his injury as he's struck 25 home runs already this season. As for this game, the less said of this disaster will be for the better. The loss dropped the Sox to 63-41, only 1.5 games ahead of the Rays for first place in the AL East. The Sox now travel to Tampa to take the Rays head on with the AL East lead on the line. Martin Perez (7-6) goes for the Sox against Josh Fleming of the Rays tomorrow night at 7:10 PM at Tropicana Field.
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