Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
TORONTO – The Boston Red Sox kept their playoff hopes alive on Monday by beating the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 in the first of a three-game road series.
Red Sox starter Tanner Houck pitched five shutout innings and allowed just one hit to improve to 9-10 on the season. The Red Sox improved to 79-78.
Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt struggled by allowing three runs, two of which were earned, along with a season-high seven walks to fall to 11-14 on the season.
After striking out Jarren Duran to start the game, Bassitt walked three of the next five batters over the first two innings.
The Red Sox opened the scoring in the second inning, as second baseman Vaughn Grissom scored catcher Connor Wong from third on a sacrifice fly. It was Grissom’s fourth RBI of the season and his first since being recalled to the Red Sox from the Worcester tripleheader on September 20.
The Red Sox doubled their lead in the third inning on an RBI single by outfielder Wilyer Abreu. The streak gave Abreu 58 RBIs on the season and continued a strong campaign for the 25-year-old, who entered the game leading all American League rookies in slugging percentage, doubles and extra-base hits.
Third baseman Nick Sogard led off the fourth inning with a hard-hit double and then advanced to third after Bassitt was charged with a bunt. Center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela would then give the Red Sox a 3-0 lead on a swinging bunt to bring home Sogard, giving the 24-year-old shortstop his 71st RBI of the season and 57 leading the league as ninth. hitter in team lineup.
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Bassitt was replaced by right-hander Zach Pop after Abreu’s single in the top of the fifth inning put runners on first and third with just one out. It marked the second game in a row that Bassitt finished with less than five innings pitched and allowed three or more walks. Pop would then walk Wong to load the bases for Sogard, who would then hit into a double play to end the inning and give life to the Blue Jays as Houck took a perfect game into the bottom of the fifth. .
Addison Barger ended Houck’s perfect game two batters later with a walk, and then shortstop Ernie Clement got Toronto’s first hit of the game with a single to left field. Boston stayed ahead safely on the next play, however, as center fielder Jonatan Clase flew out to left field to end the inning.
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Right-hander Tommy Nance took over for Pop to start the next frame, entering the game with a 3.60 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 20 appearances. Despite allowing a triple by Duran, Nance pitched a scoreless sixth, punctuated by striking out Trevor Story to leave the frame unscathed.
Right-hander Greg Weissert took over for Houck in the sixth and continued Boston’s strong night on the mound, getting left fielder Nathan Lukes to ground into a double play in the next at-bat before first-rounder Vladimir Guerrero Jr. he ended the inning with a base of his own.
Left-hander Brendon Little took over from Nance to start the seventh and kept the Red Sox completely off the bases with a hitless frame.
Left-hander Zach Penrod came on to relieve Houck in the bottom of the seventh inning, allowing a single to catcher Alejandro Kirk before being replaced by right-hander Luis Guerrero out of the bullpen. Two pitches into his first inning, Guerrero was able to get Clement to pop out to second base to end the inning.
The Blue Jays then sent right-hander Dillon Tate out to face the Red Sox in the eighth. Tate Wong walked to start the frame and then watched as the Red Sox catcher stole second a few pitches later. Shortly after, Tate would walk Sogard to give Blue Jays pitchers a combined 10 walks on the night. A double play by Grissom would give Blue Jays fans brief hope, only for an RBI single by Rafaela to extend Boston’s lead to four.
Erik Swanson took over on the mound for Toronto in the eighth inning and pitched a scoreless frame, giving up one last Blue Jays comeback attempt.
Lukes started the rally with a leadoff single from Chris Martin, who entered the contest with just two walks in 41 1/3 innings pitched. Any hopes of a miracle were dashed soon after, however, as Martin closed the door and sealed victory for the visiting team.
The Blue Jays fell to a season-high 11 games below .500 at 73-84. They will have a chance to be redeemed on Tuesday night in the second game of the series.
This report was first published by The Canadian Press on September 23, 2024.
& copy 2024 The Canadian Press
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
source link https://globalnews.ca/news/10771139/red-sox-keep-playoff-hopes-alive-beat-jays-4-1/
