All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' doubleheader split with the Blue Jays, complete with insight and analysis:
BOX SCORE GAME 1
BOX SCORE GAME 2
HEADLINES
Munoz enjoys a six-hit day: Yairo Munoz, who was brought up from the alternate training site earlier in the week, has made a good first impression on the Red Sox. Munoz had hit safely in each of his first two games before Friday, but then he really got everyone's attention in the doubleheader. In the afternoon game, he hit a two-run homer in the second, singled and scored in the fifth and doubled home a run and scored in the sixth, He didn't let up in the nightcap, either, with two more singles and a double. He also showed his defensive versatility, playing left field in the first game before being moved to right for the second game. Munoz also can play second, short and third which makes him a nice weapon to have on the bench. Munoz could become an everyday fixture, contributing some games in left and others in left. "If he keeps swinging the bat the way he has, you'll see him a lot,'' vowed Ron Roenicke.
Leyer an interesting arm in the bullpen: The Red Sox rode out a harrowing sixth inning with the rookie reliever, who took over in the sixth, tasked with protecting a two-run lead. Leyer recorded three strikeouts in his inning of work, but it wasn't always pretty. He also allowed a double and single and two walks, leading to a run. His stuff is electric with a fastball in the mid 90s and a plus slider, but he can be all over the strike zone at times and needs to be far more efficient. It took him a staggering 38 pitches to get through the inning. "We love his stuff,'' said Roenicke. "But you have to be efficient. Throwing that many pitches means he's down tomorrow. We need him to be more efficient so he can help us two out of three. But you can't do that if you're throwing 38 pitches.''
Costly play by Verudo dooms Sox in Game 1: Alex Verdugo has been the Red Sox' most dynamic -- and perhaps most valuable - player through the first six weeks, providing energy, aggressive baserunning, offense at the top of the lineup and strong outfield defense. But in the sixth inning of Game 1, Verdugo couldn't hold onto a flyball by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., leading to three unearned runs scoring that inning for the Blue Jays. Verdugo fought the sun the entire way and the ball struck the middle of his glove before popping out and landing on the ground. A walk and three more hits that inning proved critical for the Sox. Anticipating that the sun could be an issue in the late afternoon, Ron Roenicke had specifically had Verdugo in right for the opener, with plans to DH him in the nightcap. But Verdugo couldn't hold onto the ball.
Lineup can't come up big in crunch-time in opener: On Thursday night, the Red Sox were an astounding 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position and lost 6-2. The Red Sox improved slightly in Game 1 Friday afternoon, going 4-for-11 in their loss, but still failed to come up with the timely hit in a couple of big opportunities. In the fifth, the Red Sox had runners at first and second and one out with Xander Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez due. But Bogaerts flied to right and Martinez fanned to strand two. It was more of the same in the sixth when the Sox had runners at second and third. But once more, two key hitters were retired, with Rafael Devers popping out to second and Bogaerts popping out to short. Of the five baserunners stranded, four were left in scoring position.
TURNING POINTS
Game 1: Given what happened after the flub, the missed catch by Verdugo was undeniably the biggest play (or, as the case may be: non-play) in the opener.
Game 2: With the tying run on third and the go-ahead run at second, Leyer fanned Derek Fisher for the final out in the sixth, preserving the lead.
ONE UP
Chris Mazza: Given another opportunity to start, Mazza made the best of his opportunity by giving the Sox four strong innings, allowing just one run.
ONE DOWN
Zack Godley: Once again, the veteran starter didn't provide much at all to the Sox, allowing four runs on five hits in just three innings of work in the afternoon contest. He's now 0-4 with an ERA of 8.16
QUOTE OF NOTE:
"He plays left and right, he plays all the infield positions. If he swings the bat like this, it's going to be fun watching him pretty much every day. We'll see. But to have someone just on fire is pretty cool to see.'' Ron Roenicke on Yairo Munoz.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING:
- The Game 1 loss stretched the Red Sox losing streak to five, the second-longest of the season.
- Verdugo extended his hitting streak to eight games in the first game before going hitless in the nightcap.
- Jackie Bradley Jr. extended his hitting streak to seven straight with hits in both games.
- The Sox are just 3-6 on the current homestand.
- Josh Taylor contributed his fourth straight scoreless appearance in the second game.