A doubleheader was guaranteed, but the Toronto Blue Jays didn’t want to see extras, too.
In the bottom of the seventh, Marcus Semien hit a walk-off home run off closer Matt Barnes to give the Boston Red Sox their third-straight loss, 1-0.
Hits weren’t easy to come by on either side with the Red Sox finally recording a single in the top of the fifth, but stranding two runners in a rare, golden opportunity in the sixth.
Nick Pivetta did all you could ask, going six full innings in a no decision, but Boston fell to 64-48 with the loss while Toronto improved to 59-49.
Here’s how it all went down at Rogers Centre:
GAME IN A WORD (OR TWO)
Somebody score.
Obviously, you would have preferred it to be the Red Sox, but hopefully the bats wake up in Game 2.
ON THE MOUND
— Nick Pivetta gave Boston exactly what it needed: a scoreless six innings to conserve the bullpen.
He struck out five and gave up just one hit and a walk, throwing 49 of 76 pitches for strikes.
— Barnes came in to close out the game, and instead picked up the loss. Semien took the first pitch Barnes threw, a 95-mph fastball, yard to left field.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Kevin Plawecki got the first hit of the game for either side in the top of the fifth inning.
— Bobby Dalbec reached on a walk to start the sixth and Jonathan Araúz advanced him with a single. Alex Verdugo grounded into a fielder’s choice, and appeared to miss the bag to instigate a Blue Jays challenge. After the Red Sox seemingly were given a gift when nothing was overturned, they stranded the two runners on.
— In addition to Dalbec, Kiké Hernández also recorded a walk.
TWEET OF THE GAME
Silver linings courtesy of Pivetta.
UP NEXT
No rest for the wicked. Game 2 between Toronto and Boston gets going later on Saturday at 7:07 p.m. ET, with live coverage on NESN.
