BOSTON — The Toronto Blue Jays have one of the best lineups, if not the best lineup, in Major League Baseball, but for whatever reason, the Red Sox have their number.
Behind a great game from starter David Price, the Red Sox were able to take the Jays down 4-2 for their fourth win in five games against Canada’s team. It also guaranteed the Sox at least a series split after winning their first one in Toronto.
Here’s how Saturday’s game unfolded.
GAME IN A WORD
Showdown.
Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada blanked the Red Sox 3-0 in his last appearance, but Boston was ready for him this time. With their own ace on the mound, the Red Sox were able to stop the Blue Jays in a full team effort.
IT WAS OVER WHEN …
Craig Kimbrel recorded the final out in the ninth inning.
With the Blue Jays, you never know when they’re going to strike. Kimbrel was facing one of the toughest parts of their lineup with Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Troy Tulowitzki, so the game was far from over with Toronto down by two runs.
ON THE BUMP
— Price had a complete turnaround from his last outing, during which he allowed five runs over five innings against the Baltimore Orioles. The left-hander was faced with the tall task of going up against a potent Blue Jays lineup made up of his former teammates, and he delivered. Price started off a little shaky, giving up a run in the first inning after Josh Donaldson tripled and Jose Bautista knocked him in with a double.
Price gave up just one more run over the course of seven innings to finish the day with two earned runs on six hits with nine strikeouts and no walks.
— Koji Uehara came on in the eighth and held things down. The set-up man gave up a single to Ezequiel Carrera to start the inning, but Kevin Pillar grounded into a double play before Josh Donaldson popped out.
— Craig Kimbrel struck out the side in the ninth inning. What else is new?
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
—Â Xander Bogaerts hit his first home run of the season, putting the Red Sox ahead in the third inning with a three-run blast onto the Green Monster. The shortstop went 1-for-4 with a run and three RBIs.
— Travis Shaw had a good day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with an RBI single in the third.
— Dustin Pedroia and Jackie Bradley Jr. both went 1-for-3 with a run, and Pedroia added a walk. Brock Holt and Christian Vazquez also went 1-for-3, and Hanley Ramirez went 1-for-4 with a run.
— David Ortiz went 1-for-3 and added a walk to the box score.
— Mookie Betts went 0-for-4.
TWEET OF THE NIGHT
Here’s Bogaerts’ home run in all its glory.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox play the third game their series against the Blue Jays with a 1:35 p.m. ET game. Knuckleballer Steven Wright will take the mound against Toronto right-hander Aaron Sanchez.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
