The Boston Red Sox scored five runs in the first nine innings Tuesday night. In a game that went to extra innings, Boston got a three run homer from Mitch Moreland, and a two run homer from Jackie Bradley Jr., for a five run top of the 10th inning to pick up a 10-7 win over the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre.
Toronto had been up 3-1 into the eighth inning behind a two run homerun from Devon Travis, and a strong pitching performance from Marcus Stroman. Stroman though had to leave with a blister on his finger after seven innings. In the top of the eighth off Jays reliever Ryan Tepera, Moreland hit a fielders choice RBI groundout to cut the lead to 3-2, and JD Martinez followed with a three run homer down the left field line to give Boston their first lead of the night at 5-3.
Torontos Luke Maile hit an RBI double off Matt Barnes in bottom of eighth to cut it to 5-4. Boston turned to closer Craig Kimbrel to save it with the one run advantage in the ninth, but Jays first baseman Justin Smoak crushed a one out solo homer to right center on a 3-0 pitch to tie the game and send it to extra innings.
Sandy Leon struck out to start the 10th against Jays reliever Ken Giles. Mookie Betts then smacked a triple past a diving Kevin Pillar in center field. Andrew Beninitendi walked. Moreland then hit the next pitch out to right field for his 14th homer to make it 8-5. After Martinez grounded out, Xander Bogaerts singled, and then scored on JBJs ninth homer that snuck over the right center field fence. Pillar hit a long two run homer to left off Bostons seventh pitcher of the night Tyler Thornburg in the bottom half to end the scoring. Martinez led the offense with three hits and four RBI. Martinez now has 34 homeruns and 97 RBI through August 7, while the Sox leader in RBI in 2017 had a season total of 103.
Kimbrel (3-1) gets credited with the Sox pitching win despite a blown save. Starter Drew Pomeranz continued to struggle going 4.2 innings, allowing two runs, four hits, with five walks. Brandon Workman worked out of trouble in the sixth with Toronto up 2-1, loading the bases with no outs and not allowing any runs. Matt Barnes had his 23rd hold of the year, allowing a run in the eighth. The Jays Stroman also got a no decision, but didn’t allow any earned runs, two hits, with four strikeouts in seven innings of work before leaving with the blister. Giles (0-3) takes the loss allowing five runs on four hits in 0.2 innings.
Boston (80-34), now with a five game winning streak, sends lefty Brian Johnson to the bump in game two of the three game series Wednesday night at 7:07.
