All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Blue Jays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Strange bullpen usage backfires for Red Sox: In the top of the eighth inning, the Red Sox erased a 2-0 deficit with two runs of their own, tying the game and giving them some rare late-inning momentum. But in the bottom of the inning, after Matt Strahm put two runners on with two hits, acting manager Will Venable went to journeyman Tyler Danish with the game tied. After allowing a single to George Springer to fill the bases, Danish yielded a grand slam to Toronto shortstop Bo Bichette, blowing the game wide open. It was a deflating shot, and the choice of Danish was particularly odd in that spot, given that Venable had other options, each with much more experience.
Misplay at first costly: Leading up to the grand slam, Bradley Zimmer attempted a drag bunt with a baserunner on first and one out. Strahm did a nice job fielding the ball, and from an awkward position, flipped the ball to first, just beating Zimmer for what would have been the second out. But Dalbec had the ball clang off the heel of his glove, enabling Zimmer to reach, giving the Jays two on and one out. It was the kind of misplay that Dalbec made in the middle of last season when he seemed to be fighting himself in the field, and it marked the second time in the last three games that Dalbec failed to make a key play at first, leading to losses both times.
Hitting woes continue: The Sox had seven hits, and some changes, but in a familiar scenario, couldn't come through when it was most needed. They were 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position. They ended four innings with runners in scoring position. They also extended the recent problem of going inning after inning without scoring at all. Having scored two in the first inning Sunday and then not again the rest of the way, they didn't manage to get a run across the plate until the eighth inning Monday, meaning they went 15 innings in-between scoring. They've scored two runs or fewer in six of their last seven games, hardly a recipe for success.
TURNING POINT
In the second inning, the Red Sox seemed to have Toronto starter Jose Berrios on the ropes, loading the bases with one out on a double from J.D. Martinez, a walk by Jackie Bradley Jr. and a single from Bobby Dalbec. But Christian Arroyo was too aggressive and swung at the first pitch he saw, hitting a chopper back to the mound that resulted in an inning-ending double play. And just like, another scoring threat was quickly snuffed out.
TWO UP
Nathan Eovaldi: Eovaldi deserved a far better fate, going seven innings while allowing just two runs -- both on solo homers. He worked quickly and like Rich Hill on Sunday, seemed to sync up quickly with Pitch Com, which he used for the first time.
Bobby Dalbec: There were signs of life at the plate for Dalbec, who produced two hits -- both singles -- in four trips. On the first, he went the other way, usually a good sign for him.
ONE DOWN
Kike Hernandez: Back in the leadoff spot, Hernandez delivered the first Red Sox run of the night when he singled home Bobby Dalbec in the eighth. But he was 0-for-3 otherwise, and twice struck out, appearing overmatched against Jose Berrios.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"We weren't going to Robles without the lead. We're looking to get a ground ball in that spot and Danish has a great sinker. He just left it over the plate. We're looking to get a ground ball there and Danish was the guy for that.'' Will Venable on why he went to Tyler Danish in a tie game in the eighth inning.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The Sox have gone seven straight games without a homer.
* The Red Sox dropped to 3-7 within their division.
* The Red Sox have failed to score a run in 31 of their last 34 innings.
* The two homers off Nate Eovaldi brought his total to seven allowed this season in just four starts.
* The double by Rafael Devers to lead off the ninth was the 150th of his career.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Blue Jays play the second game of their four-game set Tuesday at 7:07 with RHP Nick Pivetta (0-3, 10.03) vs. RHP Kevin Gausman (1-1, 2.89).