All you need to know about the Red Sox' win over the Blue Jays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Rodriguez triumphant in Fenway return: It may have been 569 days since Eduardo Rodriguez started a game at Fenway after missing last season due to complications from Covid-19, but it was hard to tell. The Sox' top lefty was dazzling throughout this game as he scattered three hits (two solo home runs) over six innings to notch his longest start of the season (90 pitches, 62 strikes) and improve to 3-0. There may have been some concerns about dead arm coming out of spring training, but Rodriguez looked alive on the home mound as he touched the mid-90s cruising through the first three innings. "It feels amazing to be back here," Rodriguez said. "To step on the bound and compete ... that was something special for me." Alex Cora was impressed with what he saw out of his left-hander against an impressive Jays lineup. “He’s evolving into one of the best lefties in the league,” Cora said. “He attacks the zone with good stuff. The tempo is magnificent.”
Bogaerts gets on the board: Xander Bogaerts' lack of a home run to this point even had the shortstop poking fun at himself when, before the fourth inning, Cora predicted Christian Arroyo and J.D. Martinez would get on base, and Bogaerts would homer for the first time. “I was like, ‘You’re talking about me hitting a home run? I don’t have a home run at all,’” Bogaerts joked after the game. Bogaerts turned a 1-2 91 mph fastball from Blue Jays ace Hyun Jin Ryu into his first homer of the season to give the Sox a 3-1 lead it would not relinquish with Rodriguez on the mound. “It’s good to get the first one out of the way,” Bogaerts said. “I wasn’t trying to get anything."
That's deep, Bogie. pic.twitter.com/y9Op2NQpyz
— Red Sox (@RedSox) April 21, 2021
Bobby Dalbec has his first career triple on an ABSOLUTE MISSLE (101 MPH) over Randal Grichuk’s head! He gives the #RedSox a 4-1 lead.
It’s easy to see Dalbec’s confidence returning at the plate. What a beautiful swing on the ball.#DirtyWater| #MLB pic.twitter.com/CPeuwM9D79
— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) April 21, 2021
- Red Sox are 12-0 when holding a lead at any point in the game.
- Rodriguez has thrown at least 5.0 innings in each of his last 31 starts (beginning 5/4/19), the 3rd-longest active streak in the majors behind only Shane Bieber (36) and Justin Verlander (33)... The Red Sox are 25-6 (.806) in those 31 games.
- Matt Andriese tossed a scoreless 7th inning, retiring all 3 batters faced... Has not allowed an ER in his last 5 appearances (6.2 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO).
- Blue Jays have lost 8 games this season by 2 runs or fewer.
