The Red Sox season hasn’t necessarily been turned around, but for now, the panic has subsided.
Building on their 19-inning victory from the night before, the Red Sox took their second straight from the Toronto Blue Jays, netting a commanding 6-1 victory. With the Yankees rained out in Baltimore, the win lifted the Sox back to four games in front in the East.
With the teams tied 1-1 in the fourth, the Red Sox erupted for four runs. Xander Bogaerts tripled home Mitch Moreland (walk) and a single from Rafael Devers delivered Bogaerts from third. After Devers was erased by a fielder’s choice at second, Jackie Bradley Jr. cranked a two-run homer to right, putting the Sox up 5-1.
The Sox added another run in the sixth when Devers singled, took third on a double by Leon and rode home an error by Toronto shortstop Richard Urena.
Doug Fister won for the third time in his last four starts, nicked for his customary run in the first before shutting the Jays down the rest of the way.
GAME NO.: 140
WHO: Red Sox (78-61) vs Toronto Blue Jays (64-75)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
TV: NESN
RADIO: WEEI (93.7 FM)
PITCHERS: Doug Fister (4-7, 4.19) vs. Joe Biagini (3-9, 5.01)
BOX SCORE: MLB Gameday
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
- It was more of the same for Doug Fister on the mound: rough first inning, and cruise control thereafter. Fister allowed one run on two hits and two walks in the first inning, then tossed six shutout innings. In his last four starts, he's allowed five runs in the first and zero runs from the second inning on. His batting average against, as a matter of fact, is .072 (6-for-83). Whatever adjustments he needs to make from the first inning, Fister successfully makes them.
- The Sox got plenty of offensive contributions from the bottom of the order: three RBI from Jackie Bradley (two on a home run); two hits and an RBI from Rafael Devers and a triple, run scored and RBI from Xander Bogaerts.
- Fister got pushed to 113 pitches tonight, one shy of his season high, in part because the Sox went through 11 relievers in Tuesday's marathon and were without Brandon Workman and Austin Maddox tonight.
- The Sox seem to be doing the right thing by Dustin Pedroia as he comes back from knee inflammation. He was used as the DH tonight, out of fear for the conditions, which indeed got sloppy from the rain. And with the Sox leading 6-1 in the sixth, they pinch-hit for him to get him some extra rest and off his feet.