Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a roster move. Josh Winckowski was sent down to Worcester and Brayan Bello was activated from the Injured List. Bello showed no reason to be given another chance this year but at this point the Sox have no choice.
As for the game, the Sox are jinxed when it comes to the Toronto Blue Jays. They simply can't beat these guys when it counts this season. Even when they finally get good pitching, they can't score when it matters. Brayan Bello held the Jays to just two runs in five innings and then the Boston bullpen tossed four shutout innings. Unfortunately Jose Berrios held the Sox to two runs in six innings and the Jays bullpen didn't allow a run as well. Ryan Brasier (0-3, 5.75 ERA) allowed a run in the top of the tenth and the Sox failed to score in the bottom of the frame. The Jays had won the game 3-2 in 10 innings at Fenway Park.
Bello got the ball in the top of the first inning and George Springer struck out swinging to start. Vladimir Guerrero Jr went down hacking and Lourdes Gurriel Jr grounded out to short to end the inning. Berrios got the ball in the bottom of the first inning and Rob Refsnyder struck out swinging to begin. Alex Verdugo got a base hit to center but JD Martinez struck out swinging. Rafael Devers popped up to third to end the inning.
Alejandro Kirk beat out a roller to second to begin the top of the second but Teoscar Hernandez struck out looking. Bo Bichette grounded into a double play to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the second as Kike Hernandez walked to start. Somehow Franchy Cordero belted his sixth home run of the season off the Monster Seats to put the Sox on top. Bobby Dalbec struck out swinging on a pitch over his head and Reese McGuire grounded out to second, but Jarren Duran doubled off the Monster. Once again with a man on second Refsnyder flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
Last night the Jays ended the game in the top of the third and tonight Matt Chapman flied out to right to start. Whit Merrifield grounded out to short and Jackie Bradley Jr also grounded out to short to end the inning. Verdugo flied out to right to start the bottom of the third but Martinez lined a base hit up the middle. Devers banged into a double play to end the inning on a great play by Chapman.
The Jays were inspired by Chapman in the top of the fourth as Springer effortlessly singled to center to start. Guerrero Jr walked on five pitches not even close and Lourdes Gurriel Jr put runners at the corners by beating out a double play ball. Kirk easily singled to left to score Guerrero but somehow Hernandez struck out swinging. Bichette also struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox still ahead 2-1.
The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the fourth as Hernandez grounded back to the mound to start. Cordero singled to the side of Berrios but naturally Dalbec hit into a double play to end the inning.
Chapman struck out swinging to start the top of the fifth but Merrifield singled in the hole at second. JBJ struck out swinging but Springer effortlessly singled to right. Guerrero Jr laughed at Bello as he easily singled to right to score Merrifield with the tying run. Gurriel Jr flied out to center to end the inning as Bello left the game after allowing 2 runs in 5 innings. The Sox absolutely cannot make the clutch pitch when it counts against the AL East as the Jays tied it 2-2.
Berrios cruised in the bottom of the fifth as McGuire grounded out to short to start. Duran grounded out to second and Refsnyder struck out swinging to end the inning. Having 5 of your 9 hitters batting under .248 isn't exactly going to be successful.
Matt Barnes came in to pitch the top of the sixth and once again Kirk got on with an infield single to third. Somehow Hernandez struck out swinging but Bichette effortlessly singled to right. Somehow Chapman popped up to second on the first pitch and Merrifield forced Kirk at third to end the inning. Berrios dominated the bottom of the sixth as Verdugo struck out swinging to start. Martinez went down hacking and Devers flied out to right to end the inning.
Garrett "The Lock" Whitlock came in to pitch the top of the seventh and JBJ grounded out to first to start. Springer grounded out to short and Guerrero Jr flied out to right to end the inning. Yimi Garcia came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Hernandez struck out swinging to begin. Cordero grounded out to third and somehow Dalbec drew a walk. McGuire got a lucky single to left and Guerrero Jr booted a grounder by Duran to load the bases for Refsnyder. Just like Sox players have done all season with the bases loaded, Refsnyder failed by popping up weakly to center to end the inning.
The Lock returnred for the top of the eighth as Gurriel Jr easily ripped a base hit to right to begin. Somehow Kirk flied out to right and Hernandez earned the golden sombrero by striking out swinging. A wild pitch moved Gurriel to second but Bichette took strike three to end the inning. Tim Mayza came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and somehow Verdugo lined a base hit up the middle to begin. Martinez hit a 400 foot out to dead center but Devers ripped a base hit to left. Verdugo hustled to third and Devers took second on the throw to chase Mayza. Anthony Bass came in and naturally with the gams on the line, Hernandez struck out swinging. The Jays intentionally walked Cordero to load the bases to get to Dalbec and Cora had nobody to pinch hit due to the injuries. As usual Dalbec took 2 straight fastballs down the middle then swung and missed on a pitch in the dirt to end the inning.
John Schreiber came in for the top of the ninth and Chapman struck out swinging to start. Merrifield grounded out to short and JBJ grounded out to third to end the inning. Adam Cimber came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth and somehow McGuire singled to center. The entire world knew what was coming next and sure enough, Duran banged into a double play. Refsnyder grounded out to short to end the inning as thunderous boos rained down on the Sox.
The Jays didn't wait around in the top of the tenth to take the lead as Springer launched a Ryan Brasier fastball down the middle off the top of the Monster to score JBJ. Guerrero Jr grounded out to third but Springer moved to third on the Gurriel Jr grounder to second. Kirk popped up to second to end the inning but the Jays were up for good 3-2.
Jordan Romano came in to close out the bottom of the tenth with Refsnyder at second to start. Naturally Verdugo flied out to center and Martinez grounded out to third. Devers was intentionally walked and Hernandez struck out swinging to end the game. The Jays had won it 3-2 in 10 innings.
Jackass of the Night is Rob Refsnyder. He was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts and left the bases loaded
The Good:
Alex Verdugo was 2 for 5.
Franchy Cordero was 2 for 3 with a walk and a 2 run home run.
Reese McGuire was 2 for 4.
Brayan Bello held the Jays to just 2 runs in 5 innings allowing 6 hits and a walk while striking out seven.
Matt Barnes pitched a scoreless sixth inning.
Garrett Whitlock tossed 2 scoreless innings.
John Schreiber pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Ryan Brasier took the loss by allowing the go-ahead run in the 10th inning.
The Ugly:
JD Martinez was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout.
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 4 with a walk.
Kike Hernandez was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but walked and scored a run.
Bobby Dalbec was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts but walked.
Jarren Duran was just 1 for 4.
Final Thoughts:
This season can't end fast enough as the Red Sox are completely incompetent against the AL East and are stuck with this team the rest of the season. Not trading Martinez and Bogaerts at the deadline mirred them in mediocrity and the Vazquez trade is working out great for Houston, not for the Red Sox...at least not yet. They couldn't get a clutch hit the entire night with Refsnyder leaving the bases loaded, Duran hitting into a double play with the winning run on and having first and second in the tenth....and not scoring. The Sox as a unit just look cooked and the body language of the team is awful. Its like once they didn't blow the team up yet failed to add anything at the deadline, they just stopped caring. The Sox still have a month to go on a run but it just seems unlikely at this point. The loss dropped the Sox to 60-64, 8.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the wild card. The Sox look to avoid the series sweep tomorrow night when Kutter Crawford goes for the Sox up against Kevin Gausmann. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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