Euro 2024 Last 16: Why Every Remaining Team (including England) Will, Won't Win It All
BOSTON -- — Vladimir Guerrero hit pair of two-run doubles, George Springer added a two-run homer and the Toronto Blue Jays snapped a seven-game skid with a 9-4 win over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night.
The Blue Jays tagged Boston starter Brayan Bello for seven runs in the third inning, including Guerrero’s drive to the triangle in center that scored two runs before Springer homered into Boston’s bullpen.
Toronto had its highest scoring game since a 14-11 loss at Detroit on May 26. The Blue Jays hadn’t won since beating Cleveland 7-6 on June 15, the day before the Red Sox began a three-game sweep at Toronto that started the Jays’ longest losing streak since September 2019.
“Our offense just kind of came out there and willed their way to winning that game. That definitely made it a lot easier for me out there,” said Kevin Gausman, who pitched six solid innings.
The Jays finally stopped their skid, one night after taking a 6-2 lead into the eighth, only to lose 7-6.
Rafael Devers and Tyler O'Neill homered for the Red Sox, who had won three straight and eight of nine. Jarren Duran, who had hit in 14 straight games before Tuesday, did not reach base. Duran was 0 for 4 and had one more chance in the ninth, but struck out swinging to end the game.
“Obviously the last week has been tough. It was a very happy group of guys in there,” Gausman said outside Toronto's locker room.
Toronto didn’t have a hit before the third. Then, Danny Jansen led off with a double to left and Boston's defense started to unravel. Isiah Kiner-Falefa reached on a bunt single that Devers couldn’t field with his bare hand, and two runs scored on a single by Kiermaier that was compounded by right-fielder Wilyer Abreu's throwing error that sailed over third and out of play.
“It was a weird play," Boston manager Alex Cora said. “It wasn’t a great game for us. It wasn’t a great inning for us.”
Boston’s struggles continued when Bello (7-5) issued consecutive walks to Bichette and Spencer Horwitz, then Guerrero doubled to center to put Toronto up 5-2. Springer followed with his sixth homer of the season, driving a 1-0 slider from Bello into the Red Sox bullpen. That was it for Bello, who was replaced by Greg Weissert. The inning finally ended when Jansen, who led off with a double to left, lined out to right.
Bello pitched 2 ⅓ innings, allowing seven runs — all earned — on five hits and three walks. He also hit a batter and struck out two. Gausman (6-6) pitched six innings and held Boston to four runs on five hits and a walk, striking out five.
NICE D
Dominic Smith ended the top of the second with a spectacular catch and an unassisted double play at first base. Smith made a diving stop to snag Addison Barger’s line drive that was headed down the line toward the tricky corner in right and tapped the bag before Justin Turner could get back. Fans let out a collective “Ooooooh!” and applauded the play as the Red Sox made their way to the dugout.
Kiermaier also made a diving grab for the Jays in the third, robbing Duran of a hit as he tried to extend his hitting streak to 15 games.
BIG START
Devers led off the bottom of the second with a towering homer to right-center. According to the Red Sox, the estimated 467-foot drive was the longest of Devers’ career. O’Neill followed with a pop-up to shallow right, where the ball bounced off Guerrero’s glove and gave O’Neill enough time to reach third. O’Neill was initially credited with a triple before a scoring change later in the game gave Guerrero an error.
Springer, who was playing right field, said it should have been his play.
“I kind of let Vladdy down there. That’s on me — I told him that,” Springer said. “I should know better. The ball tends to drift here towards right field. That’s completely on me.”
THE STREAK
Toronto’s Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a bunt single that Devers couldn’t quite field with his bare hand and extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Duran, who had hit in 14 straight games before Tuesday, did not reach base.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: SS Bo Bichette returned to the lineup after missing nine games with a strained right calf. He struck out on the first three pitches of the game and finished 0 for 4 with a walk and run scored.
UP NEXT
Toronto’s Yariel Rodriguez (0-2, 5.94 ERA) faces Kutter Crawford (3-7, 3.59) Wednesday night in a battle of right-handed pitchers in the three-game series finale.
------
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
AMLnZu9iPrDQ5FmzR ESOAGRkzsBNYv6KW78Quuu257J=s900 C K C0x00ffffff No RjItty Bitty Kitchen 3 Itty Bitty Kitchen Hqdefault 798380 Itty Bitty Titty Fun 9296 F77fdf824c424ed16c9664cea96b286b Inbound6862075837720973797 5e1fcf2d9959d11037010a26a10ec2f2 Maxresdefault F083203fbeb801bc651a2d3ab2409cd59ff0a3138d72b8b620f829d24830857a.webpMother The Itty Bitty Ringer T Shirt 19522802 44668997 2048 Itty Bitty Tiff 5 Itty Bitty Gaming News Podcast Thumbnail V2 Vnz7mg 1200x628 ?s=79b87dd51f258327356b390e51daab80&e=jpgKS Itty Bitty Comp ?w=620Nm 4496043 100704 M51WiuRF 1PL. SL500 KS Itty Bitty Op ?strip=all&quality=100&w=1920&h=1080&crop=1IttyBittyTittyCommittee Cover Itty Bitty Titty Committee 9bd35abf1990c616d83292d0cfc8e94b IttyBittyKitchen2New WIQHPBYDTNHQDHWCGZ62UQ7R5I 7a5f5a4df9052d56d61652c6248ae08c Fe6xGgKVIAEiW03 Itty BItty Bowlers.FrontCover.800pixw 600x913 AGkitchen The Itty Bitty Princess Kitty Collection 3 Boxed Set 9781665933667.in01 Fxx8QMnX0AEZj5L Retro Itty Bitty Chiefs Fan SVG Il 1080xN.5522723540 Ch52 Maxresdefault 4abc2bb6eeb8a6c854f948d3f5a24aaa7bc20e6246ac39a7f3c81ddf0d9f9bd7 Rimg W742 H960 Gmir ?v=1703971986Il 1140xN.4121780654 Mo95 IttyCover 01 07f0972d 9426 421b A935 272120bbf3dc ?v=1707175616