Consider it the grand finale, if you’d like.
The Boston Red Sox didn’t bother waiting until the Fourth of July or until they were back on American soil. They instead capped a successful road trip with plenty of offensive fireworks north of the border.
The Red Sox exploded for a season-high 19 hits Thursday night en route to a 12-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Boston sliced three games off its American League East deficit by going 5-2 on its seven-game swing against the Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays.
“Happy flight, that’s all I have to say,” shortstop Xander Bogaerts said of putting together a strong performance on the heels of Wednesday’s 11-2 loss. “We did a great job. We got a lot of runs early to keep (Wade) Miley really loose out there. Although he wasn’t as strong as he wanted to be with his command, the win is the important part.”
The Red Sox wasted no time Thursday in kicking their festivities into high gear. Boston began the game with six consecutive hits against Toronto starter Matt Boyd, who was yanked before recording a single out. The 24-year-old surrendered back-to-back homers to David Ortiz and Hanley Ramirez in the opening frame. The Sox led 8-0 just like that.
But the game wasn’t a cakewalk, by any means. Miley allowed 14 baserunners — seven hits and seven walks — over five innings. He allowed four runs, all in the second inning, and needed to execute a few clutch pitches to avoid additional damage.
Chris Colabello grounded into a forceout with the bases loaded in the second inning as the Red Sox held an 8-4 edge. And Miley struck out Jose Reyes with two runners on base in the fifth inning after Mookie Betts gunned down a runner at the plate on a controversial play.
“Wade turned in what I would consider a ‘blue-collar night,’ ” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “He didn’t have much command anywhere consistent to where he’s been. But he found a way to make some big pitches.”
The Red Sox’s offense has been coming around since the beginning of June. Boston again received contributions from up and down the lineup in its series finale against Toronto.
Betts had three hits out of the leadoff spot. Brock Holt and Bogaerts each had four hits out of the No. 2 and No. 3 spots, respectively. Alejandro De Aza, who has been a pleasant surprise since being acquired last month from the Baltimore Orioles, continued to swing a hot bat with three hits (single, double, triple) and four RBIs, extending his hit streak to eight games.
The road trip — or even Thursday’s win, for that matter — wasn’t flawless. There were moments, like Rick Porcello’s Canada Day implosion, that probably made you shake your head. But the Red Sox are trending upward despite the hiccups. They’ll return to Fenway Park on Friday for the start of an eight-game homestand just six games back in the American League East after facing a double-digit deficit as recently as June 20.
“A trip that we needed to claw our way back to within six (games of the division lead),” Farrell said. “Granted, we’re not looking at the scoreboard every night. But at the same time, the way we had gone through the first two and a half months of the season in the division, to go 5-2 is certainly timely. And we go back home with a little momentum.”
The Red Sox entered their road trip with an 11-23 record against AL East opponents, signifying an Achilles’ heel that looked destined to prevent Boston from contending this season. They’re making noise during a make-or-break portion of their schedule, however.
A strong finish to the first half is of the utmost importance.
Thumbnail photo via Nick Turchiaro/USA TODAY Sports Images
