BOSTON — The Red Sox played a little role reversal on Labor Day.
Boston’s bats — not the Toronto Blue Jays’ — erupted Monday afternoon for 11 runs on 17 hits in an 11-4 win over the Blue Jays to kick off their three-game set at Fenway Park.
Jackie Bradley Jr. stole the show, finishing the day with four hits and four RBIs, including a two-run home run. On the mound, starter Rick Porcello put together another solid outing to earn his seventh win of the season.
Here’s a recap of Monday’s win.
GAME IN A WORD
Hot.
That word applies to the game-time temperature (92 degrees) and to Boston’s offense, which kept up its torrid pace by scoring in six different innings and chasing starter Mark Buehrle after just 3 1/3 innings.
The Sox now have scored six or more runs in five consecutive games and have 25 hits over their last two contests.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Bradley Jr. ripped a two-run homer over the Green Monster in the sixth inning to give Boston a five-run lead. Xander Bogaerts ripped an RBI double later in the frame to make it 8-2 and put the game out of reach.
ON THE BUMP
— The Blue Jays’ bombers victimized Porcello early, as Josh Donaldson blasted a homer to left field on the right-hander’s seventh pitch of the game.
Porcello also allowed a solo homer to Justin Smoak in the fifth inning. He’s now surrendered 23 homers in 23 outings this season.
Yet the long ball was Porcello’s only issue in another strong appearance for the Red Sox right-hander. Porcello cruised through Toronto’s potent lineup for much of the contest before getting the hook after allowing back-to-back hits in the seventh inning.
He finished the day having allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits while striking out four and walking two. Porcello sports a 1.61 ERA in his last three outings since coming off the disabled list.
— Reliever Noe Ramirez was responsible for surrendering two of Toronto’s four runs. He relieved Porcello with one out in the second inning and allowed a line-drive single off the bat of Jose Bautista that plated Ben Revere and Donaldson.
— Alexi Ogando worked a 1-2-3 ninth to put to rest any chance of a Blue Jays comeback.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Mookie Betts and Bradley Jr. continue to give opponents nightmares.
The promising young duo was on its A-game Monday afternoon, as Betts went 3-for-5 with 1 RBI while Bradley erupted for a 4-for-4 day with 4 RBIs.
Betts currently is riding a 13-game hitting streak (tied for a career high), while Bradley owns his own eight-game streak and has racked up 10Â RBIs in his last five games.
Bradley and Betts are a devastating combination when batting ninth and leadoff, respectively. They recorded back-to-back hits in three separate innings, all of which resulted in multiple Red Sox runs scored.
— David Ortiz just missed homer No. 498 when he ripped an RBI double high off the Green Monster in the third inning.
Ortiz also laced a ground-rule double down the right field line in the second inning. He finished the game 2-for-4 with 1 RBI.
— Pablo Sandoval hit a single up the middle in his first at-bat since Sept. 2. He took a pitch off the wrist in the fourth inning but appeared to be OK.
— Travis Shaw hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning, his eighth long ball of the season. He was 2-for-5 on the day.
TWEET(S) OF THE GAME
Is that good?
UP NEXT
Boston will hope to keep the ball rolling Tuesday night in Game 2 of its series vs. Toronto at Fenway Park. Henry Owens and R.A. Dickey are the expected starting pitchers for Boston and Toronto, respectively. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m.
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
