HEADLINES
Alex Verdugo was the hero for the Red Sox in back-to-back games this weekend. One day after throwing out Bo Bichette at the plate, he crushes a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning that ended up being the game winner.
Verdugo’s 415-foot solo blast off Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano broke the 4-4 tie and was his first homer since May 1 when he homered off Toronto at Fenway Park.
Alex Verdugo gives the Red Sox the lead in the 9th! pic.twitter.com/TGp3FNWhGd
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 2, 2023
The Red Sox defeated the Blue Jays 5-4 and complete the three-game series sweep. Boston has now won seven straight games against Toronto this season.
Jarren Duran went 5-for-5 with four doubles. He became the 50th player in MLB history and eight in Sox history to hit four doubles in one game. He became the first Red Sox hitter to do it since Rafael Devers on Aug. 13, 2019 at Cleveland. To go along with this five hits and four doubles, Duran also scored three times.
Duran now has 25 doubles this season in just 213 at-bats.
Garrett Whitlock was removed from the game after just one inning with right elbow tightness. He gave up one hit, one earned run, one homer to Brandon Belt while striking out one and walking no one.Earlier this season, Whitlock missed 27 games on the 15-day IL due to right elbow ulnar neuritis. He also began the season on the IL recovering from right hip arthroscopy.
Whitlock didn’t show any potential signs of injury while on the mound in his only inning of work. He allowed a solo blast to Belt and then retired Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to end the frame.
The Sox right-hander has gone 4-3 with a 5.23 ERA in 10 starts, spent 27 games on the 15-day injured list earlier this season due to right elbow ulnar neuritis.
UP
Devers collected two hits (2-for-3) and 2 RBI in the win. The 26-year-old loves hitting at the Rogers Centre was 6-for-12 this series with one homer and 5 RBI.
The Sox slugger drove in Devers in the first inning on a two-out single into right field scoring Duran. Devers delivered another RBI single that scored Duran again in the third inning to put Boston ahead 2-1.
Nick Pivetta who might become a candidate for the rotation again with the injury to Whitlock was strong out of the bullpen. Pivetta pitched 4 innings, allowing just one run, two hits and two walks while striking out six.
DOWN
Triston Casas (0-for-5) and Kiké Hernández (0-for-5) both had opportunities in the sixth and seventh innings to drive in runs. The duo went 0-for-10 with six strike outs in the game. Casas who was one of the hottest hitters in the Sox lineup in the month of June was just a meager 2-for-10 with four strike outs in the series.
David Hamilton and Connor Wong were also a combined 0-for-7 with one walk and five strikeouts. Wong struck out with the bases loaded in the sixth inning.
NOTABLE
Joe Jacques closed the door in the ninth earning his first career save. He now has one win and one save in his short big league career and owns a 4.70 ERA.
Blue Jays designated hitter Brandon Belt was a throne in the Sox side belting (no pun intended) two homers in the game.
COMING UP
Boston is off on Monday and will return to Fenway Park on Tuesday to begin a six-game home stand. The Sox will welcome Nathan Eovaldi and Rangers on Tuesday night. The starting rotation has not yet been announced with only Brayan Bello being penciled in to start on Wednesday.