Final: Blue Jays 6, Red Sox 5

The Red Sox bullpen melted down in the ninth inning at Rogers Centre, allowing four straight hits without recording an out as the Toronto Blue Jays walked-off with a 6-5 victory.

With the Sox leading by a run, Tyler Danish, who had pitched a scoreless eighth, allowed a single and walk to lead off the inning. He was replaced by Hansel Robles, who yielded a game-tying single to Bo Bichette before Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled home the winning run.

It was the seventh walkoff loss of the season for the Sox and the second loss overall in a row.

The Sox had rallied from a 4-1 deficit with a two-run homer from Rob Refsnyder in the seventh and a run-scoring single from Christian Vazquez.

But it didn't hold up.

WHO: Red Sox (42-32) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (41-32)
WHEN: 7:07 p.m.
WHERE: Rogers Centre, Toronto ON
SERIES TO DATE: TOR 1-0
SEASON SERIES TO DATE: TOR 6-2
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Michael Wacha (6-1, 2.34) vs. RHP Ross Stripling (4-2, 3.08)
TV/RADIO: NESN; WEEI-FM 93.7

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Refsnyder CF
Devers 3B
Martinez DH
Bogaerts SS
Verdugo LF
Story 2B
Vazquez C
Cordero 1B
Arroyo RF

BLUE JAYS

Springer DH
Bichette SS
Guerrero Jr. 1B
Hernandez RF
Gurriel LF
Chapman 3B
Espinal 2B
Moreno C
Tapia CF

WHATS UP: The Red Sox are 11-3 in their last 14 games...They’re 32-13 in their last 45 games, since 5/10, trailing only NYY (34-12) for MLB’s best record in that span. The Sox snapped a 7-game winning streak last night, tied for their longest streak of the season (also 6/1-8). They are 10 games above .500 (42-32, .568) and own the 3rd-best record in the AL behind NYY (55-20, .730) and HOU (45-27, .625). ....The Sox are 19-5 (.792) in June, their most wins during the month since 1990 (20-9)...They’re tied with ATL for the 2nd-best record in MLB this month (NYY, 20-5, .800). The Red Sox have won as many as 20 games in June just 6 times: 1990 (20-9), 1979 (20-8), 1961 (21-13), 1955 (20-9), 1912 (21-8), and 1901 (20-5). The Sox’ best record in June was set by the 1901 team, who went 20-5 (.800)...They’ve already secured their best June record in the Expansion Era (1961-present), surpassing the 1978 team that went 18-7 (.720). ...The Red Sox’ +44 run differential this month (118-74) is the 2nd-best in the AL and 3rd-best in MLB: NYY (+69) and ATL (+60). They rank 3rd in the AL with a +60 run differential this year, trailing NYY (+148) and HOU (+62). ...The Sox have lost consecutive games only once since 5/10: 5/30 vs. BAL & 5/31 vs. CIN. In their last 12 games following a team loss, Red Sox starters are 7-1 with a 1.95 ERA (16 ER/73.2 IP). Sox pitchers own a 2.99 ERA (92 ER/276.2 IP) following a team loss this season, the 5th-best mark in the majors. ...The Red Sox currently own sole possession of the AL’s 1st Wild Card position and 2nd place in the AL East. They entered play on 5/10 at 10-19 and 6.5 games out of the final Wild Card Position (32-13 since). The Sox have won at least 42 of their first 74 games 4 times in the last 10 seasons...They advanced to the Postseason in each of the previous 3 occurrences, winning the World Series in 2013 and ‘18, and advancing to the ALCS in 2021. ....This is the Sox’ 2nd series of their 9-game road trip at CLE (3-0), TOR (0-1), and CHC (3 G). At 22-16 (.579), the Sox own the AL’s 3rd-best road record behind NYY (.667, 22-11) and HOU (.610, 25-16). The Sox are 16-6 (.728) in their last 22 road games. Sox pitchers lead the AL and rank 2nd in MLB in road ERA (3.28, 122 ER/334.1 IP), trailing only LAD (2.70). ...The Red Sox are in a stretch during which 36 of their 42 games from 6/17-8/3 are against teams who entered today with a winning record (8-2 so far). The Sox are 8-4 in their last 12 games against teams who currently have a winning record: ATL (1-1), HOU (2-1), STL (2-1), CLE (3-0), and TOR (0-1)...They began the year 6-11. The Sox are nearing the end of a stretch during which they play 25 games in 27 days from 6/3-29 (18-5 so far). ....The Red Sox have won each of their last 7 series...They are 11-1-2 in their last 14 series after going 1-7-1 in their first 9 this year. The Sox completed a 3-game sweep Sunday at CLE, their 4th sweep of the season: also vs. SEA (4-0, 5/19- 22), at OAK (3-0, 6/3-5), and vs. DET (3-0, 6/20-22). ...Yesterday began a stretch during which 6 of the Sox’ 7 series through 7/24 will be vs. AL East opponents (20 of their 23 games)...That includes each of their last 14 games leading into the All-Star break and first 3 in the 2nd half. During this stretch, the Red Sox will play 7 games against NYY, 7 against TB, and 6 against TOR. Just 5 of the Sox’ previous 50 games from 5/3-6/26 were against AL East opponents (33-17 over the span). ....Red Sox starting pitchers rank 4th in the AL and 5th in the majors with a 3.51 ERA (148 ER/379.2 IP). They lead the majors with a 2.64 ERA beginning 5/31 (25 G, 42 ER/143.0 IP, 32 BB, 129 SO). The Sox are 19-5 (.792) when their starting pitcher throws at least 6.0 innings, winning each of the last 13 such games and 18 of the last 19. ...The Red Sox rank 2nd in the majors this month in ERA (2.85) and fewest HR allowed (19). The Red Sox feature 5 pitchers with at least 45.0 IP and a sub-3.60 ERA this year, tied with NYY for the most such pitchers in MLB: Wacha (2.34), Eovaldi (3.16), Pivetta (3.25), Houck (3.42), and Whitlock (3.51). The Sox also feature 7 pitchers who have posted a sub-4.00 ERA over 20+ appearances, 1 shy of DET for most in the majors: Schreiber (0.79), Davis (2.45), Sawamura (2.84), Diekman (3.12), Houck (3.42), Strahm (3.74), and Danish (3.81)...The Red Sox lead the majors in AVG (.261), hits (667), and doubles (176)...They lead the AL in OBP (.325) and XBH (252), rank 2nd in runs (353) and total bases (1,065), and rank 3rd in OPS (.742). Since 5/10, the Sox lead the majors in runs (258), AVG (.282), OBP (.353), OPS (.816), hits (445), XBH (174), doubles (117), total bases (732), and wRC+ (129). ....The Red Sox feature an MLB-best 3 qualifying hitters batting at least .300 with an .850 OPS: Rafael Devers (.333, .995), Xander Bogaerts (.330 AVG, .873 OPS), and J.D. Martinez (.324, .910). The Sox feature 9 players with 20+ RBI, tied for most in the majors with SD and TOR... Beginning 5/10, the Sox lead the majors with RISP in hits (133) and OBP (.367), and lead the AL in AVG (.289) and OPS (.854; 133-for-460, 26 2B, 1 3B, 21 HR). The Sox have hit 15 HR with at least 2 runners on base, 2nd-most in the AL (NYY-17)...Trevor Story has hit 5 of those, 2nd-most in the majors (Pete Alonso-7). The Sox have hit 4 grand slams...The only other teams with 4+ grand slams are CLE (5), LAA (4), and MIN (4). ...The Red Sox are 24-for-26 (.923) in stolen base attempts since 5/14...Over that span, they own the 2nd-best rate in the majors (CWS, 18-for-19, .947)...They rank T-5th in the AL in steals during the span. They’re 28-for-35 (.800) in stolen base attempts this season, the 8th-best rate in the majors.

NOTES: 

* The Red Sox optioned Monday's starter, Connor Seabold, and purchased the contract of RHP Silvino Bracho. Bracho had a 3.18 ERA in 18 appearances for Worcester this season. He has prior major league experience with Arizona, having appeared in 92 games between 2015-2020.

* It's likely you haven't seen the last of Seabold, who remains with the team in Toronto as part of the taxi squad. In fact, there's a good chance he starts for the Sox Sunday in Chicago against the Cubs.

* Garrett Whitlock threw a bullpen in Toronto and will likely need a rehab appearance before rejoining the rotation.