BOSTON — If you enjoy offense, Tuesday night’s game at Fenway Park between the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays was an exciting one to attend.
These teams combined for 19 runs and 30 hits in an 11-8 win for the Blue Jays, which snaps their four-game losing skid. Boston and Toronto have totaled 30 runs and 36 hits through the first two matchups of this three-game series.
Here’s a closer look at Red Sox-Blue Jays.
GAME IN A WORD
RISP.
The Blue Jays batted 7-for-16 with runners in scoring position. At one point, Toronto had a stretch where 21 of 28 batters came to the plate with a runner on base.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
It’s never too early to count out the Red Sox because their offense is so powerful. The bottom of the fifth inning was a golden chance for Boston to trim Toronto’s lead with the bases loaded. A walk by Mookie Betts drove in a run, but that’s all the Sox would score that inning. The Jays took a 9-6 lead into the sixth inning.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— After a 2-for-2 night Monday, Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval hit a double off the Green Monster in his first at-bat. Sandoval finished 4-for-5 with two runs scored.
— Sox center fielder Mookie Betts went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.
— Boston left fielder Hanley Ramirez hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning. It’s his ninth of the season and 200th of his MLB career.
— First baseman Daniel Nava and right fielder Brock Holt were the only Boston starters without a hit.
— Jays first baseman Edwin Encarnacion, center fielder Kevin Pillar, third baseman Josh Donaldson, designated hitter Jose Bautista, right fielder Michael Saunders and shortstop Ryan Goins all collected two or more hits. Bautista and Donaldson both hit solo homers.
— The first four spots in the Toronto lineup totaled eight hits, eight runs scored and eight RBIs.
ON THE BUMP
— Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz lasted just 2 2/3 innings. He gave up five runs (four earned), six hits, walked one and struck out four. All four of his earned runs came in the third inning when the Blue Jays took a 5-4 lead.
— Sox reliever Edward Mujica didn’t fare well, either. He relieved Buchholz and gave up three earned runs, three hits, walked four and had two balks in 1 1/3 innings.
— Anthony Varvaro gave up one earned run, three hits and struck out three in 1 1/3 innings of relief. Robbie Ross Jr. pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Craig Breslow pitched 1 1/3 innings and gave up one earned run (the solo homer to Bautista). Junichi Tazawa pitched the ninth inning and allowed one earned run (the solo homer to Donaldson).
— Toronto starter Drew Hutchison only made it through four innings and allowed six earned runs on nine hits. He also walked five and struck out none.
— Blue Jays reliever Marco Estrada pitched three innings of scoreless relief with two strikeouts.
— Toronto relievers Liam Hendriks (zero earned runs), Aaron Loup (two earned runs) and Brett Cecil (zero earned runs) pitched the final two innings.
TWEET OF THEÂ NIGHT
Impressive.
[tweet https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/593214017658814464 align=”center”]
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Blue Jays complete their three-game series Wednesday night. Rick Porcello (Boston) and R.A. Dickey (Toronto) are the probable starting pitchers.
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
