All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Blue Jays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Sox offense (mostly) sputters: The Red Sox strung together two doubles, back-to-back, in the third inning to produce their first run. They managed a single in the fourth inning, and then....almost nothing else. As was the case Monday, when they struggled (2-for-12) with runners in scoring position, the Sox punted on a number of chances throughout the night, going 1-for-11 in the same spots on Tuesday. They put the leadoff man on in the first, second and fourth, but came away empty-handed each time. In the fourth, they had runners at the corners with no out and still failed to produce a run. Had it not been for a two-base throwing error by Toronto shortstop Bo Bichette in the seventh, in fact, they would not have had a single baserunner over their final four innings. But thanks to Bichette's gift, followed by a groundout to the right side, all it took was a sacrifice fly to snap a 1-1 tie.
Defense shines: All game long, the Sox got some big plays in the field. Making his first start in right field at Fenway, Christian Arroyo ran down two balls in the gap and cut them off for catches, saving extra bases both times, and in the case of a ball in the fourth inning, likely saved two runs. Xander Bogaerts made a nice play in the hole to throw out Santiago Espinal, leading off the seventh. And in the ninth, with a one-run lead to protect, Bobby Dalbec went ranging to his right to make a diving stop of a hard shot by Raimel Tapia, firing a fastball to pitcher Garrett Whitlock covering at first.
Wong steps up: With their two regular catchers both sidelined in the last 24 hours by positive COVID test results, Connor Wong was thrown into the breach, promoted from Worcester Monday and thrown into the starting lineup to catch starter Nate Eovaldi. Wong and Eovaldi are frequent throwing partners in Houston in the offseason and familiar with one another, so that provided Wong with a degree of comfort. But after Eovaldi left in the fifth, Wong had to catch some relievers he had never caught in spring training. You wouldn't have known he had no rapport with them, as four relievers strung together a combined 4.1 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. And just for good measure, Wong contributed the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.
TURNING POINT
Without a hit since the fourth inning and having squandered a number of opportunities throughout the game, the Red Sox had their last best chance in the seventh and didn't miss it. After Bobby Dalbec led off by reaching second on a two-base error, then moved to third with one out, Connor Wong came to the plate and, with two strikes, delivered a fly ball to right field, deep enough for Dalbec to score easily with what turned out to be the go-ahead run.
TWO UP
Matt Strahm: The lefty reliever has been impressive since the start of the season and has proven effective coming into the middle of innings and stranding runners, as he did in the fifth inning Tuesday night.
Christian Arroyo: Arroyo went hitless at the plate, but turned in two fine running catches in right field, taking away potential base hits both times.
TWO DOWN
Xander Bogaerts: After a stretch of multi-hit games, Bogaerts has hit another dry patch with the bat, going 0-for-4 with three groundouts to the shortstop.
J.D. Martinez: As is his habit, Martinez is off to a slow start at the plate. He was 0-for-2 with a walk and even the walk came as something of a gift, since Toronto starter Yusei Kikuchi was assessed ball four when he went to his mouth on the rubber.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"It seemed like a playoff game and I managed it like a playoff game.'' Alex Cora on his bullpen usage.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The save was third of Garrett Whitlock's career.
* Hansel Robles has strung together 19 consecutive scoreless outings in the regular season dating back to last year.
* Trevor Story extended his hitting streak to six games.
* Rafael Devers, who had hit safely in every game this year (plus the final five of last season) saw his streak come to an end with an 0-for-4 night.
* The win was just the third in the last 11 seasons in which the Red Sox collected three hits or fewer.
UP NEXT
The series between the Red Sox and Blue Jays continues Wednesday at 7:10 with the pitching matchup of RHP Nick Pivetta (0-2, 9.39) vs. RHP Jose Berrios (0-0, 11.81).