FINAL: Red Sox 3, Blue Jays 0 - Brayan Bello Eight Scoreless Innings Powers Boston to Second-Straight Win

The Red Sox defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 Wednesday night at Fenway Park. Brayan Bello had his best start of his career so far going eight scoreless innings while striking out nine batters. Bello also only gave up two hits and one walk. This was only the second time in Bello's career where he went into the eighth inning. The last time he did that was last June versus Miami. This was also the longest start of his career. 

"That was amazing. That was fun to watch... his best outing in the big leagues," Alex Cora said on Bello after the game. 

Boston got on the board right away in the first inning on a Wilyer Abreu RBI single scoring Jarren Duran.

 It was not until the eighth inning that Tyler O'Neill hit a big two-run homer extending the lead to 3-0. 

It was David Hamilton who got the party started in the eighth inning when he reached on an error by Alejandro Kirk. Gonzalez got hit in the fingers on the play and Alex Cora was unsure if he had X-rays. 

Kenley Jansen recorded his 25th save of the season in a six-pitch ninth inning. 

Chris Bassitt had a good start of his own for the Blue Jays going 6.2 innings while only allowing one run and striking out nine. If the Atlanta Braves hold on and beat the Minnesota Twins, Boston will only be three games back of the final wild-card spot in the American League. 

The Red Sox will be back in action tomorrow night to wrap up their four-game series with Toronto as Kutter Crawford takes the mound at 7:10 p.m. 

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WHO: Toronto Blue Jays (65-69) vs. Red Sox (68-64)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston.
SERIES TO DATE: 5-3 (2-3/3-0)
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Brayan Bello (11-6, 4.95) vs. RHP Chris Bassitt (9-12, 4.41)
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
LIVE BOX
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Duran CF
Hamilton 2B
O'Neill LF
Casas 1B
Abreu RF
Yoshida DH
Wong C
Gonzalez 3B
Rafaela SS

SP Brayan Bello 

BLUE JAYS
Springer RF
Varsho CF
Guerrero Jr. 1B
Horwitz DH
Barger 3B
Kirk C
Loperfido LF
Clement SS
Wagner 2B

SP Chris Bassitt

WHAT'S UP

The Red Sox last night snapped a season-high-tying 4-game losing streak (6x, prev.: 8/7-11).            

Jarren Duran hit his 20th home run last night, becoming the 1st player in MLB history to record 40 doubles, 10 triples, 20 HR, and 30 SB in a season.                    

He's the 4th player in Red Sox history to record 75+ XBH and 30+ SB in a season, joining Mookie Betts (2018), Jacoby Ellsbury (2011), and Tris Speaker (1912). Duran ranks 3rd in MLB with 8.1 bWAR behind only Aaron Judge (9.7) and Bobby Witt Jr. (8.7)...The only Red Sox players since the start of 1996 to amass 8.0 bWAR in a season are  Betts (2016, '18),  Ellsbury (2011), and Dustin Pedroia (2011).

Devers on Monday played in his 933rd career game at 3rd base, passing Larry Gardner for 3rd most in Red Sox history.

Boston's outfielders rank 2nd inMLB with 36 defensive runs saved (TOR-40)...They rank within the top 10 in LF (T-10th, 4 DRS), CF (1st, 27), and RF (T-6th, 5)      

BOS leads MLB in errors (98) and unearned runs (85). The Sox are 57-31 (.648) when allowing 0 unearned runs. Excluding the extra-inning automatic runner, the Sox have allowed unearned runs in just 3 of their last 25 games.
Liam Hendriks is scheduled to pitch tonight for Triple-A Worcester vs. Toledo, his 4th rehab appearance.                   

He has pitched in 1 rehab game with Worcester and 2 with Double-A Portland (2.0 IP. 2 H, R, 0 ER, BB, 2 SO). 
Brayan Bello's carrer numbers versus Toronto: 7 GS, 6.96 ERA (25 ER/32.1 IP), 47 H, 12 BB, 36 SO...Is facing TOR for the 3rd time this season, is 1-1 with a 9.72 ERA (9 ER/8.1 IP).

 Since the start of July, Bello is 4-1 with a 4.21 ERA (27 ER/57.2 IP) in 10 starts... Owns a 4.21 ERA (10 ER/22.0 IP) with 19 SO over 34 starts in August.                   

 The Sox are 16-8 in his starts, including 5-1 in his last 6 and 8-2 in his last 10...Boston is 8-5 in his home starts this season, winning 5 of his last 6.                  

  Has allowed 3 or fewer ER in 7 of his last 8 starts beginning on 7/14. 

Alex Cora told reporters today that Devers should be back in the lineup either tomorrow or Friday. Cora also said that Luis Garcia's elbow inflammation is not considered season ending.