All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 8-7 win over the Blue Jays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Hernandez plays the hero: When Alex Cora sent Marco Hernandez to the plate in the ninth inning, with the bases empty and one out in a tie game, it seemed an act of desperation. In having Hernandez hit for catcher Sandy Leon, the Sox were forfeiting their DH spot, since Christian Vazquez, who served as the DH, would have to switch to behind the plate in the bottom of the ninth -- and beyond if the game went extra innings. But a few pitches later, the move looked like a stroke of genius when Hernandez swung at a fastball low and away from Toronto closer Ken Giles and drove it just over the fence in left, giving the Red Sox a one-run lead that went on to protect. For Hernandez, it was his third pinch-hit appearance this season -- in those three at-bats, he has two doubles and a homer. And Thursday night marked his second ninth-inning homer in a big spot for the Sox. Last month, he hit a game-tying homer in the top of the ninth to tie a game in Baltimore and force extra innings. The Sox went on to win that one, too. "I'm not playing very much right now,'' said Hernandez, "but I try to stay positive and try to stay ready the whole game.''
https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1146980041818902528
Spot starter problems continue: Hector Velazquez failed again filling a spot in the rotation, lasting just 2.1 innings while allowing three runs on five hits and two walks. In eight starts this season, Velazquez has a bloated 6.95 ERA and has pitched into the fourth inning only twice in those eight outings. No one is expecting Velazquez to contend for the Cy Young as a depth starter, but far more often than not, he's not giving the Red Sox a chance to win the games he starts. That the Sox are somehow 5-3 in those eight outings would seem impossible and is a testament to their offense -- which managed eight runs Thursday night. It remains an open question as to whether Velazquez should be on the big league staff at all; what seems not up for debate is the fact that he should certainly not be given any more chance to start.
Sox have come through in a pinch: The pinch-hit homer by Hernandez continued a season that has seen the Sox get big contributions off the bench in such situations. The pinch-hit was the 20th for the Sox this season in 46 at-bats, good for a .435 average. Nine of those 20 pinch-hits have gone for extra bases. Meanwhile, Sox pinch-hitters have been adept at putting the ball in play, striking out in only five of those 54 plate appearances. Some of it can be attributed to a relatively small sample size; some can, frankly, be considered somewhat lucky. But Cora deserved some credit there in picking the right spot and sending up the right hitter to come through. And credit to Hernandez, who isn't some veteran player accustomed to coming off the bench in a big spot.
TURNING POINT
Given the back-and-forth nature of this one, you could focus on the last out -- a chopper off the bat of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., to the left of the mound, which was fielded expertly by Rafael Devers, who made a strong, quick throw to first to nab Guerrero by a step and finish off the ballgame.
https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1146981657360027653
TWO UP
J.D. Martinez: Shifted to left field for the night, Martinez smacked singles in each of his first three plate appearances before finally being retired on his fourth trip.
Rafael Devers: The third baseman continued to wield the hottest bat on the team, homering in the first, singling in the sixth and walking two other times.
ONE DOWN
Sandy Leon: Leon, returning to the starting lineup for the first time since last Wednesday, showed some rust and went 0-for-3 at the plate.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"It's just luck. Tim (Hyers) and Andy (Barkett) do an outstanding job keeping those guys ready, looking for matchups. At the end, (the hitters) are the ones that produce.'' Alex Cora on the team's success pinch-hitting.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The pinch-hit homer from Hernandez was the fourth for the team this season.
- Devers extended his hitting streak to eight games.
- Michael Chavis needed 66 games to hit his first 15 homers, the quickest pace for a Red Sox player since Sam Horn did it in 60 games.
- The Sox improved to 19-6 at Rogers Centre since the start of 2017.