Another day. Another Red Sox come from behind win. Alex Verdugo hit an eighth inning two-run homerun to lift Boston to a 5-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park in the opener of a four game series Monday night.
Boston (62-39) did take an early 2-0 lead in the second inning when Verdugo singled in a run, and Michael Chavis had an RBI groundout. Toronto tied it on RBI singles by Vladmir Guerrero Jr. and Marcus Semien in the top of the third, before the Sox quickly regained the lead when Rafael Devers hit a long homer to right field to leadoff the bottom half of that inning. George Springer led off the fifth with a double, and then with two outs Bo Bichette ended the night for Nick Pivetta with a two-run homerun over the monster in left to make it 4-3 Jays. The guests had a chance to increase the lead in the seventh with two on base and one out, but Semien lined out to shortstop to double up Springer at second base. After Devers started the eighth by striking out, Hunter Renfoe worked a walk and then Verdugo took a 3-1 pitch over the Red Sox bullpen in right center for the game winner. Matt Barnes worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning to pick up his 22nd save.
Pivetta in his no decision allowed four runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts in 4.2 innings. Adam Ottavino (3-3) picked up the win by pitching the eighth. Devers, Renfroe, Verdugo, and Franchy Cordero had two hits each. Reese McGuire and Guerrero Jr. had two hits a piece for Toronto (49-47), while Trevor Richards (4-1) took the loss in relief and also was charged with his third blown save. Game two Tuesday night will feature RHP Garrett Richards (6-5, 4.99 ERA) on the mound for the Red Sox, while the Jays counter with LHP Robbie Ray (8-5, 3.12).
