FINAL: Red Sox 4, Toronto Blue Jays 3 - Red Sox Come Back Win Fueled By Tyler O'Neill Solo Shot

The Red Sox (39-35) have won their fourth game in a row, with tonight's being a come from behind victory, beating the Toronto Blue Jays (35-38) 4-3.

Although tonight they would only score four runs, Boston keeps on rolling offensively. They got 12 hits, with Tyler O'Neill, Rafael Devers, and Dominic Smith getting two each. The only home run of tonight's game was O'Neill's game tying blast to dead center field in the top of the eighth inning. Ceddanne Rafalea would then follow that with an RBI single to bring David Hamilton in to score, and that would be the game winning run.

Tanner Houck started this one, and it wasn't his usual great outing. He would give up three runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out five. He still got the job done as always, but one of his poorer starts nonetheless. Zack Kelly would pick up the win, throwing one and a third innings and striking out one. Kenley Jansen picked up his 13th save of the season with a hitless bottom of the ninth, where he struck out Danny Jansen looking to take the win. The Blue Jays were held to one hit after Houck exited the game.

My Player of the Game: Ceddanne Rafaela - Ceddanne had another efficient game, going 3-4, all singles, and driving home the game winning run in the top of the eighth inning. He should be a dark horse Rookie of the Year candidate if you ask me.

The Sox will look for the sweep tomorrow at 7:07. Probable starters are Brayan Bello (6-4, 5 ERA) and Kevin Gausman (5-5, 4.08 ERA).
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              _____________________________________

WHO: Red Sox (38-35) at Toronto Blue Jays (35-37)
WHEN: 7:07
WHERE: Rogers Centre
SERIES TO DATE: 1-0
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Tanner Houck (7-5, 2.08 ERA) vs. RHP Chris Bassitt (6-6, 3.56 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7

LIVE BOX

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Jarren Duran CF
Enmanuel Valdez 2B
Rob Refsnyder LF
Rafael Devers 3B
Tyler O'Neill RF
Masataka Yoshida DH
Reese McGuire C
Dominic Smith 1B
Ceddanne Rafaela SS

SP Tanner Houck

OPPONENT

Spencer Horwitz 2B
Davis Schneider LF
Vladimir Guerrero Jr 1B
Daulton Varsho CF
Justin Turner DH
Addison Barger RF
Alejandro Kirk C
Isaiah Kiner-Falefa SS
Ernie Clement 3B

SP Chris Bassitt

WHAT'S UP

The Red Sox took the series opener over the Blue Jays last night, 7-3. The Sox recorded double-digit hits and scored 7+ runs for the 5th time in their last 6 games. Tyler O'Neill hit two solo HR for his 7th career multi HR game, and his 2nd this season (also 4/5 at LAA). Rafael Devers and Ceddanne Rafaela also hit solo HR...Was the Sox' 4th game this year with 4+ HR, all on the road (previous: 4/19 at PIT; also 4). 

During June, the Sox lead MLB in hits (152), AVG (.295), OBP (.374) and OPS (.849)...They also lead the AL in SB (22), and rank 2nd in SLG (.475) and 3rd in runs scored (88).

Tonight's starter, Tanner Houck, leads MLB pitchers in fWAR (3.2) and ranks 4th in ERA (2.08). He is tied for the league lead in quality starts (12) with SEA's Logan Gilbert and BAL's Corbin Burnes.

The Sox set a franchise record Sunday night vs. NYY with 9 stolen bases...It was their first time since 1940 they recorded more than 6 in a game. They became just the 9th team since 1920 to record at least 9 steals, joining CIN on 6/16/23 at MIL as the only teams to do since the beginning of 2011. David Hamilton stole 4 bases, becoming just the 3rd Red Sox all-time to do so, joining Jacoby Ellsbury (2x: 2013 & 2010) and Jerry Remy (1980).

The Sox lead MLB lead in triples (21)...They rank T-3rd in XBH (230) and 5th in doubles (131) and OPS (.740). Boston ranks 2nd in the AL in AVG (.253) and OBP (.324), 3rd in OPS (.740), and 4th in SLG (.416). The Sox have scored more than 5 runs in 8 of their last 12 games and in 10 of their last 16, since 5/31, after doing so in just 5 of their previous 26 games from 5/2-30.

Wilyer Abreu is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment tonight for Triple-A Worcester...He will start as the DH vs. the Columbus Clippers. Bryan Mata started Sunday night for Double-A Portland at Reading, tossing 2 scoreless innings (2.0 IP, H, 2 SO).