All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Blue Jays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Duran electrifies Fenway: There's been so much attention paid to Jarren Duran's emerging power in the minor leagues that some seemed to have forgotten his most obvious tool: speed. For those who had done so, they were given a vivid reminder in the fourth inning. With Kevin Plawecki on first, Duran drove a line drive to the right-center gap. Toronto center fielder George Springer had been playing Duran to left, and the ball shot by him and rolled all the way to the triangle. Springer chased the ball down, but bobbled it for an instant trying to pick up the ball. In the meantime, Duran was wheeling around the bases and was waved home by third base coach Carlos Febles. The relay home was off target just a bit, as Duran slid in head-first. Initially thought to be an inside-the-park homer, it was instead scored as a triple and an error on Springer. No matter, Duran had gotten everyone's attention with his plus-plus speed and how it can impact a game. In an instant, a 2-0 Red Sox lead had been doubled and Fenway buzzed for a while.
Thesis: Jarren Duran is fast.
โ Red Sox (@RedSox) July 29, 2021
Exhibit A: pic.twitter.com/qIRdIAhGuE
Houck steps in for quality outing: Aiming to give the other starters in the lineup a breather, the Sox again inserted Tanner Houck into the rotation and were thrilled with the results. Though he went just four innings, Houck was dominant at times, racking up seven strikeouts while yielding just one run on two hits. The fact that Toronto's lineup is mostly righthanded played to Houck's strengths, but he also threw his sinker more as a third pitch -- rather than a splitter -- and used it to great effect. He began strong, fanning the side in the first inning and that helped set the tone. Over his last three appearances -- all against A.L. East rivals -- with one relief appearance and two starts, Houck has allowed a grand total of one run in 11.2 innings. In all likelihood, Houck will go back to pitching in relief through the next turn through the rotation, then be available when a double-header again pops up in Toronto on Aug. 7.
TURNING POINT
In the top of the fourth inning, with the Sox up 2-0, Houck allowed a leadoff double to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and with one out, Guerrero took third on a passed ball. A sharp single up the middle from Bo Bichette put the Jays on the board as Bichette represented the potential tying run on base. But Houck fanned Teoscar Hernandez for the second out and then got help from Bobby Dalbec, who snared a low liner from Lourdes Gurriel Jr. for the third out. In the bottom of the inning, the Sox got two more to build on their lead and pull away.
Garrett Whitlock: The rookie reliever contributed two scoreless innings, marking the 18th time he's provided a scoreless appearance of more than one inning this season.
Kike Hernandez: From the leadoff spot, Hernandez reached base three times (single, double, walk) in four plate appearances.
ONE DOWN
J.D. Martinez: It was a rare quiet night at the plate for Martinez, who went 0-for-4 and stranded five teammates on base in the process.
Bobby Dalbec: It's not getting any better for the slumping slugger, who was hitless in three at-bats with two strikeouts.
QUOTE OF NOTE:
"I was just hoping I could make it to home without falling.'' Jarren Duran.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* Kevin Plawecki had the sixth three-hit game of his career.
* Matt Barnes has allowed one earned run in his last 14 outings.
* Rafael Devers is hitting .385 with eight RBI over the seven-game homestand.
* The Red Sox are 19-19 in day games, but 44-21 in night games.
* The Sox have gone seven games in a row without committing an error.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Blue Jays wrap up their four-game series Thursday night at 7:10 with LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (7-5, 5.23) vs. LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (9-5, 3.44)