BSJ Game Report: Red Sox 7, Blue Jays 6 - Boston escapes with second straight win thanks to late heroics

All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' win over the Blue Jays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Sox escape with second straight win: The Red Sox held on despite some struggles for the bullpen to win their second in a row via a 7-6 final over the Blue Jays in Toronto, spoiling the Canada Day festivities. Boston can sweep tomorrow. They’re back up to .500 with the win, thanks to Alex Verdugo’s heroics to cut down Bo Bichette at the plate to end the game and prevent the game-tying run.

Bullpen nearly blows it: Josh Winckowski was shaky in two innings of work, letting Toronto back into the game. Kenley Jansen (3 H, 1 ER, 3 K) came on in the eighth inning for the first time all season. He escaped a pair of jams and got some help from a barely foul ball as well as Verdugo to get the save. 

Turner, Devers have big days: Rafael Devers (3-for-5, 3 RBI, 2 R 1 HR) and Justin Turner (3-for-5, 2 RBI, 3 R, 1 HR) each had massive days at the plate. Devers was a triple away from the cycle.  

TURNING POINTS

Top of the fifth: The Red Sox cracked the game open with a three-run top half of the inning, and Turner (RBI double) and Devers (RBI single) were at the center of it. Masataka Yoshida capped it off with an RBI single to make it 5-2. That run support was pretty crucial in the end. 

Ninth inning: Between Turner’s homer and Verdugo gunning down Bichette at the plate, the Red Sox had a pair of clutch plays carry them to the win. Had it all the way. 

THREE UP

Rafael Devers: Bounced back from an 0-for-4 night on Friday to hit for the cycle, staying decently hot at the plate. Picked up his 20th homer off the year on an absolute tank to center – 418 feet, 108.3 mph exit velocity.

Justin Turner: Massive home run in the top of the ninth to give the Red Sox much-needed insurance. A clutch cherry on top of a strong day. 

Kutter Crawford: Was good enough for Boston, going 5.2 innings and giving up the two homers with five strikeouts. Settled in after letting up the leadoff shot to George Springer. 33 percent of his fastballs were called strikes or whiffs. Had four whiffs in the eight sweepers he threw as well, per Baseball Savant

TWO DOWN

Josh Winckowski: Nearly blew the game and got knocked around, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks in just two innings of work. Made an unforced error in a two-strike count with two outs in the seventh, shanking a needless pickoff attempt to second and allowing Matt Chapman to score after the wild error. 

Adam Duvall: Duvall is out of sorts, hitting just .154 (10-for-65) with one home run since returning from injury. Went 0-for-5 today with four strikeouts (up to 22 Ks since returning). 

NOTABLE 

Yoshida exited the game with a lower right leg contusion after getting hit with a 102 mph fastball, the fastest ball thrown today. Alex Cora said the X-rays were negative. 

QUOTE OF NOTE

"It's not exactly the way we drew it but in the end we ended up winning the game," Cora said. "I think last year with that game, we’d probably be having a beer and talking about how we blew that game. But this year, we won that one.”

UP NEXT

Third of the three-game set will be Sunday at 1:37 in Toronto. RHP Garrett Whitlock (4-3, 5.15 ERA) will face RHP Kevin Gausman (7-4, 3.01 ERA). Boston has the chance to sweep the Jays for the second time this season.