(Getty Images)
Final: Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 4 - Garrett Whitlock leaves after one inning with right elbow tightness, Jarren Duran with 4 doubles
The Red Sox waltzed into Toronto and swept the Blue Jays. Boston is now three games back from the final Wild Card spot. Sunday afternoon's game started out with some concern after Garrett Whitlock was removed after just one inning. The team announced he is dealing with right elbow tightness. Despite losing Whitlock, the Sox fought all afternoon, Alex Cora pieced his pitching staff together with a bullpen game while Jarren Duran, Rafael Devers and Alex Verdugo led the offense. Duran had five hits (5-for-5) with four doubles, tying a team record. Devers collected two hits (2-for-3) and had two RBI in the win. Verdugo hit a huge ninth inning home run, his first since May 1, when he walked it off against these Jays at Fenway Park.
WHO: Red Sox (43-42) at Blue Jays (45-40)
WHEN: 1:37 p.m.
WHERE: Rogers Centre, Toronto.
SERIES TO DATE: Red Sox lead series, 6-0.
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Garrett Whitlock (4-3, 5.15 ERA) vs. RHP Kevin Gausman (7-4, 3.01 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
LINEUP
RED SOX
1. Jarren Duran CF
2. Justin Turner DH
3. Alex Verdugo RF
4. Rafael Devers 3B
5. Rob Refsnyder LF
6. Triston Casas 1B
7. Kiké Hernández 2B
8. David Hamilton SS
9. Connor Wong C
SP Garrett Whitlock
BLUE JAYS
1. George Springer RF
2. Bo Bichette SS
3. Brandon Belt DH
4. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B
5. Matt Chapman 3B
6. Daulton Varsho LF
7. Whit Merrifield 2B
8. Alejandro Kirk C
9. Kevin Kiermaier CF
SP Kevin Gausman
WHAT'S UP:
The Red Sox held on to win 7-6 on Saturday afternoon after Alex Verdugo threw out Bo Bichette at the plate to end the game. Verdugo recorded his sixth assist from the outfield on the season.
“He’s one of the best, if not the best, defensive right fielders in the American League,” Alex Cora said postgame. “That was a great throw. We did enough today. It’s not exactly the way we drew it. At the end, we ended up winning the game. I think last year that game, probably we’d be having a beer and talking about how we blew that game. And this year, we won that one.”
The Sox will look for the three-game sweep and make it seven in a row against the Blue Jays this year. Boston has completely flipped the scrip this season against the Jays. Last season, the Sox lost 16 of 19 games versus their division rivals. Boston can crawl within 2.5 games behind Toronto with a win on Sunday afternoon.
Garrett Whitlock gets the start after taking the loss against the Marlins last Tuesday, allowing six run in 4 2/3 innings. The right-hander gave up 11 hits while surrendering two homers and striking out seven.
Whitlock’s start on Sunday afternoon will be the second of his career versus the Jays. He has made 10 career appearances and owns a 0.61 ERA in 14 2/3 innings, his best ERA against any team with a minimum of 10 innings pitched.
Masataka Yoshida is out of the lineup after getting hit in the leg by a 101.8 mph four-seam fastball by Nate Pearson. Yoshida was hit by the pitch in the seventh inning and was removed from the game with a right leg contusion.
Following the game, Yoshida had X-rays on his right knee and they came back negative. Cora told the media Sunday morning that his left fielder is still sore.
“Sore, sore, very sore. So hopefully we don’t have to use him,” said Cora to reporters.
The 29-year-old finished the game 2-for-3 and his red hot against the Blue Jays in six games this season. He is 14-for-24 with seven runs scored, two doubles, three homers, 10 RBI and owns a 1.042 slugging percentage against Toronto.
Adam Duvall is under the weather and Cora is going to try and avoid using him on Sunday. "(Adam) Duvall is a little bit under the weather, too. So we'll stay away from him. A little bit short bench-wise. But I think we've got the right guys to face a tough pitcher. Hopefully, we can get on and put pressure on him they way we did earlier in the season and end up with a happy flight (home)."
The Sox faced Blue Jays ace Kevin Gausman on May 4, he allowed eight runs on 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings.
PRE-GAME NOTES:
There is still no clear timeline for Trevor Story returning to the club in the second half. Story will face rehabbing righty John Schreiber in a live batting practice on Tuesday from Fenway Park.
Joely Rodriguez made a rehab appearance with the Portland Sea Dogs on Saturday. The left-hander recorded two groundouts and a flyout. The Sox are likely to activate Rodriguez from the 15-day IL at some point during the three-game series against the Rangers from Fenway Park.
“There’s a good chance,” said Cora on Saturday. “Let’s see how he rebounds today and how he feels today. And then we’ll see where we’re at during the week and we’ll make a decision.” The southpaw has been on the IL since June 4 with left shoulder inflammation. He has made five relief appearances, including three straight scoreless outings on his rehab.