All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Blue Jays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Late-inning magic continues: On their current homestand, the Red Sox have won four games in five tries, and in three of those wins, they've scored the winning runs in their final at-bat. They walked off the New York Yankees in the 10th inning Thursday night at the start of the homestand. Then, on Sunday, they rallied for five runs in the bottom of the eighth after being no-hit for the first seven innings. Finally, on Monday, they went into the bottom of the eighth trailing by a run and got a two-run homer from Alex Verdugo and surged past the Blue Jays, 5-4. Overall, it was the 33rd comeback win of the year for the Sox, though that stat can be somewhat misleading, given that teams are credited with a "comeback'' if they should win a game in which they fell behind 1-0 in the top of the first inning. Two of the five games in which the Red Sox trailed after seven innings and come back to win have come in the last two days. "Our pitchers are doing an amazing job, keeping us in the game, keeping it close until the last couple of innings,'' said Verdugo. "For us as an offense, that's really all we ask for. For us, it's just keep us within a couple of runs and we know our offense can light up or get going at any point.''
Being dropped in the order a wakeup call for Verdugo: About a week ago, Alex Cora moved the slumping Verdugo from second in the order to sixth or seventh and Verdugo has responded with one of his best stretches of the season. On the current homestand, Verdugo is 7-for-19. At the recommendation of teammate J.D. Martinez, Verdugo has begun taking batting practice on the field of late, so as to better focus on his swing and track the flight of the ball against the same backdrop he sees during the game. The change has worked wonders for Verdugo, who said he understood the reason for the demotion, but vows to reclaim his spot by improved performance. If he keeps hitting the way he has over the last five games, that shouldn't take much longer. "Obviously my goal is to move back up the second hole,'' said Verdugo. "But let's keep it one day at a time, keep showing that I'm having good at-bats and good swings.''
TURNING POINT
With the Sox trailing by one, Alex Cora made the somewhat unusual move of going to Adam Ottavino, one of his high-leverage options, in the eighth inning. Ottavino had a rough series against the Yankees over the weekend and when Teoscar Hernandez blasted a booming double to the triangle with one out, it looked like it was going to be another off night for the veteran reliever. But he got Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to fly out to left as Hernandez advanced to third, then got Randal Grichuk to pop-up to third, stranding the runner. In the bottom of the inning, with the deficit kept at a single run, the Sox mounted their comeback.
TWO UP
Phillips Valdez: Since being recalled from Worcester Friday, Valdez has made two appearances and strung together 5.1 scoreless innings. On Monday night, he gave the Sox 2.1 innings, allowing just two hits.
Rafael Devers; Devers is on a power tear with eight homers in 20 games this month. His solo shot into the right field seats temporarily gave the Sox a 3-2 lead.
ONE DOWN
Jarren Duran: The rookie outfield continues to struggle at the plate with a hitless night (0-for-4) in which he failed to get the ball out of the infield.
QUOTE OF NOTE:
"I think I've been trying to hit my 10th home run for the last month and a half now. I was going up there trying not to do too much. It's ironic that that happens.'' Alex Verdugo on his game-winner.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* This was the fifth scoreless appearance this season by Phillips Valdez of two or more innings.
* Hunter Renfroe has reached base in six of his last eight plate appearances.
* Rafael Devers has five homers in his last seven games.
* Matt Barnes has allowed one earned run over his last 14 outings, dating back to June 22.
UP NEXT: The series continues Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. with RHP Garrett Richards (6-5, 4.99) vs. LHP Robbie Ray (8-5, 3.12)