Before the game the Boston Red Sox made some roster moves. Mercifully Brad Keller and Cam Booser were sent back to Worcester as Isaiah Campbell and Josh Winckowski were brought back in return. Also new papa Connor Wong was placed on the Paternity List and Tyler Heineman was called up to take his place. Congratulations to Connor.
As for the game, don't look now but the mediocre Red Sox have won three games in a row including walking off the Toronto Blue Jays tonight. The Sox took a 2-1 lead on Toronto thanks to a two run shot off Toronto starter Chris Bassitt, but Sox starter Tanner Houck got blitzed in the seventh inning. After allowing a game tying single to Kevin Keirmaier, Isaiah Campbell came in only for David Hamilton to throw a ball away and Vladimir Guerrero Jr to hit a home run to put the Jays up 6-2. A furious rally in the eighth culminated in a Romy Gonzalez bases loaded single to tie the game. A Ceddanne Rafaela single, a balk and a Jarren Duran base hit to right was enough to win the game in the bottom of the ninth. The Sox had stunned the Jays 7-6 at Fenway Park.
Tanner Houck got the ball in the top of the first inning and Isiah Kiner-Falefa struck out swinging to start. Spencer Horowitz flied out to left and Vladimir Guerrero Jr grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Chris Bassitt got the ball in the bottom of the first and Jarren Duran lined out to right to start. David Hamilton grounded out to second and Wilyer Abreu flied out to center to end the inning.
Old friend Justin Turner took strike three to begin the top of the second and George Springer grounded out to third. Addison Barger grounded out to second to end the inning. Rafael Devers grounded out to second to start the bottom of the second and Tyler O'Neill grounded out to third. Masataka Yoshida lined out to center to end the inning.
Davis Schneider lined out to left to start the top of the third and Alejandro Kirk grounded out to short. Kevin Kiermaier struck out swinging to end the inning. Dominic Smith walked to start the bottom of the third but Reese McGuire banged into a double play. Ceddanne Rafaela was hit with a pitch but was thrown out at second trying to steal to end the inning.
The Jays struck first in the top of the fourth as Kiner singled to center to start. Horowitz took strike three but Guerrero Jr singled in the hole at short. Turner ripped a base hit to center to score Kiner to put the Jays on top. Springer grounded into a double play to end the inning but the Jays were up 1-0.
The Sox answered in the bottom of the fourth as Duran ripped a base hit to center to start. Hamilton popped up to short and Abreu took strike three, but Devers belted his 15th home run of the season to put Boston on top. O'Neill popped up to first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-1.
Duran made a great catch at the centerfield wall to rob Barger of extra bases to lead off the top of the fifth. Schneider grounded out to third and so did Kirk to end the inning. Yoshida got a base hit to right to begin the bottom of the fifth but was forced at second by Smith. McGuire popped up to third and Rafaela forced Smith at second to end the inning.
Kiermaier struck out swinging to open the top of the sixth before Kiner took strike three. Horowitz was hit with a pitch, Guerrero Jr doubled to center and Turner walked to load the bases. Springer flied out to Duran to end the inning. Jarren lined out to short to start the bottom of the sixth before Hamilton lined out to center. Abreu hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning.
The Jays struck back in the top of the seventh as McGuire ran into Barger for catcher's interference to start. Schneider took strike three but Kirk moved Barger to second with a grounder to third. Naturally Kiermaier got a base hit to center to score Barger to tie the game. That was it for Houck who once again got no run support, allowing 3 runs in 6 2/3 innings on 5 hits and a walk. Isaiah Campbell made his return to the Sox and Hamilton threw a routine grounder by Kiner away for an error to move Kiermaier to third. Naturally Horowitz lined a base hit to right to score Kiermaier and Guerrero Jr hit a home run all the way to Cuba to increase the lead. Turner took strike three to end the inning with the Sox down 6-2.
Devers got a base hit to center to start the bottom of the seventh but O'Neill flied out to right. Yoshida got a base hit to center but Smith struck out swinging. Enmanuel Valdez pinch hit for McGuire but popped up to third to end the inning.
Tyler Heineman took over behind the plate with Chase Anderson now on the mound to start the top of the eighth. Springer flied out to left to start before Barger struck out swinging. Schneider flied out to left to end the inning. Nate Pearson came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Rafaela popped up to second to start. Duran doubled down the third base line and Hamilton crushed his fifth home run of the year to cut the lead. Abreu struck out swinging but Tim Mayza came in to pitch to Devers and Rafael singled to center. Kiermaier failed to come up with a double by O'Neill and Rob Refsnyder pinch hit for Yoshida. Refsnyder was intentionally walked to load the bases and Romy Gonzalez pinch hit for Smith. Zach Pop came in to pitch to Romy and Gonzalez responded with a base hit to left to score Devers and O'Neill to tie the game. Heineman struck out swinging to end the inning but the Sox roared back to tie the game 6-6.
Gonzalez ties it up
The Co-Heroes of the Night are Romy Gonzalez for his 2 out 2 run single and Jarren Duran for his walkoff base hit.
The Good:
Rafael Devers was 3 for 4 with a 2 run home run and 2 total runs scored.
Masataka Yoshida was 2 for 3.
Rob Refsnyder walked in his only plate appearance.
Ceddanne Rafaela was 1 for 3 with a run scored and a hit by pitch.
Tanner Houck was charged with 3 runs in 6 2/3 innings but only 2 were earned. He allowed 5 hits and a walk while striking out 7.
Chase Anderson tossed a scoreless eighth inning.
Kenley Jansen got the win with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Wilyer Abreu was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Reese McGuire was 0 for 2 with an error.
Enmanuel Valdez was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.
Taylor Heineman struck out in his only plate appearance.
Isaiah Campbell allowed a 3 run home run to Guerrero Jr.
The Ugly:
David Hamilton was just 1 for 4 with an error but the one hit was a 2 run home run.
Tyler O'Neil was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Dominic Smith was 0 for 2 with a strikeout but walked.
Final Thoughts:
Don't look now but the Sox have finally began to come back to win games. Ever since that loss to the White Sox, Boston has come back again and again in the later innings. Also, ever since that loss they have gone 11-3 and took control of one of the wild card spots. They had every reason to pack it in tonight down 6-2 in the eighth inning with five outs to go. The big home run by Hamilton and the two run single by Gonzalez showed this team has balls after all. Its too bad Isaiah Campbell crapped his pants because everything else went right. Duran took another step toward an All-Star nod while Hamilton continues to fill in for Trevor Story admirably. Yoshida even got a couple of hits so this team is absolutely rolling right now. The Cleveland Guardians beat the Baltimore Orioles so the Sox picked up a half game on the idle New York Yankees and a full game on Baltimore. All of a sudden the Sox are inching their way back into contention, which is remarkable given how the season was going heading into June. The win improved the Sox to 43-36, 8.5 games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to make it two in a row against the Jays when Brayan Bello (7-4, 4.93 ERA) takes on Kevin Gausman of Toronto. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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