Red Sox Wrap: Alex Verdugo Emerges As Hero In Extra-Innings Victory

The Boston Red Sox held on to secure a 6-5, extra-innings, nail-biting win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night at Rogers Centre.

The Red Sox improved to 43-33 on the year, while the Blue Jays fell to 42-33.

Check out the full box score here.

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
It was a night of heroics across the board for the Red Sox.

Alex Verdugo and Franchy Cordero got it done on the offensive end, with all six of Boston’s runs coming as a direct result of their play. Cordero had the hot bat all night, going 4-for-5 in the victory, while Verdugo secured four runs batted in, off the back of a sixth-inning home run and extra-innings double that would eventually put the game away.

Nick Pivetta and John Schreiber were brilliant once again for the Red Sox. Pivetta went his customary six-plus innings, giving up just two runs. That brought his earned run average down to 1.94 over his last 11 starts. When he walked a batter to start the seventh, Schreiber strolled in and continued to shut down opposing offenses with a 13-pitch inning.

Matt Strahm bookended the Red Sox’s rally in extra innings, getting the final six outs of the ball game for Boston.

In a night where the big-three of Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts went 1-for-13 with four strikeouts, Boston got the best out of some players that are brimming with confidence.

STARS OF THE GAME
— Verdugo launched a two-run, go-ahead home run in the sixth inning as well as a two-run double in extras to secure the Red Sox victory as he continued his recent hot streak.

— Cordero was magnificent with the bat and glove in this one. He finished the night 4-for-5 from the plate, adding a web-gem that saved a run late in the game.

— John Schreiber hasn’t given up a run on the road since joining the Red Sox. His scoreless effort in the seventh inning dropped his ERA down to 0.73.

WAGER WATCH
Franchy Cordero had +375 odds to end the game with two or more hits, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. A $100 bet on the Red Sox first baseman to record a couple of knocks would have paid out $475 total.

ON DECK AT NESN
The Red Sox will have an off-day in Chicago Thursday, before opening up a three-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday. First pitch is set for 2:20 p.m. ET, with full coverage of the game on NESN following an hour of pregame coverage.