BOSTON — The Red Sox earned a 4-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night at Fenway Park thanks to an excellent outing from starting pitcher Rick Porcello and another home run by Hanley Ramirez.
The victory improves Boston’s record to 12-10. They will have a chance to gain ground on the first place-Yankees when New York comes to Fenway for a three-game series this weekend.
Here’s a closer look at Red Sox-Blue Jays.
GAME IN A WORD
Shutdown.
Porcello pitched a 1-2-3 shutdown inning on just nine pitches in the top of the fourth after the Red Sox had given him a two-run lead in the bottom of the third. It prevented Boston from losing any momentum from Mookie Betts’ amazing catch and Ramirez’s home run, both of which happened in the third inning.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
The Red Sox added an insurance run in the seventh inning to extend their lead to 4-1. That was more than enough for Boston’s pitchers.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Ramirez hit his 10th home run of the season, tied for the most in the major leagues. He blasted an 0-2 pitch from R.A. Dickey over the Green Monster.
— Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia went 2-for-4.
— Boston designated hitter David Ortiz was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. He also had two hits Tuesday night.
— Red Sox center fielder Mookie Betts went 1-for-4 with an RBI single. He has a three-game hitting streak.
— Third baseman Pablo Sandoval and first baseman Mike Napoli were the only Red Sox starters without a hit.
— First baseman Edwin Encarnacion, center fielder Kevin Pillar and shortstop Ryan Goins had the only Toronto hits.
ON THE BUMP
— Sox starter Rick Porcello ran into some trouble with the bases loaded in the second inning, but he escaped the jam with just one earned run allowed. After that, he was phenomenal. Porcello finished with one earned run and two hits allowed in seven innings. He walked two and struck out six.
— Boston relief pitcher Junichi Tazawa pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
— Red Sox closer Koji Uehara pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his fourth save of the season. He struck out the side.
— Blue Jays starter R.A. Dickey pitched seven innings and gave up nine hits and four earned runs. He walked no one and struck out four.
— Toronto reliever Jeff Francis pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
TWEET OF THE GAME
So much power.
[tweet https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/593561706552492033 align=”center”]
UP NEXT
The Red Sox will have a day off Thursday before hosting the New York Yankees in a three-game series beginning Friday.
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
