George Springer hit an RBI double in the 10th inning on Wednesday night, as the Toronto Blue Jays rallied past the Boston Red Sox 3-2 at Fenway Park.
Boston (60-64) had taken an early 2-0 lead on a two-run homerun by Franchy Cordero over the monster in left in the bottom of the second inning. Toronto got back even with a run each in the fourth and fifth on RBI singles by Alejandro Kirk and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. respectively. The Red Sox had chances especially in the seventh and eighth innings where they loaded the bases, but came up empty in the key situations. Springer began the 10th with a double off the wall in left to drive in Jackie Bradley Jr., who started as the runner at second base with the extra inning rule. With two outs in Bostons last at bat, the Blue Jays intentionally walked Rafael Devers to put two runners on. Jordan Romano would then end it by striking out Kike Hernandez swinging on a 2-2 pitch to pick up his 27th save.
Ryan Brasier (0-3) took the loss giving up the unearned run in the 10th. Brayan Bello pitched well in his call-up back to the big club, allowing two runs on six hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in 5.0 innings. The bullpen was very good after Bello as Matt Barnes, Garrett Whitlock, John Schreiber, and Brasier only allowed a total of four hits with that one unearned game winning run over the last 5.0 innings. Cordero and Alex Verdugo had two hits each. Boston falls to 16-34 against American League East opponents on the season, and are now just 3-12 against Toronto. Bobby Dalbec with the mounting injuries that includes Xander Bogaerts was forced into playing shortstop for the first time in the major leagues and the first time since high school, and recorded four assists without an error. Springer and Kirk had three hits each in the win for the Blue Jays (67-55), with Adam Cimber (10-5) credited with the pitching win in relief. Jose Berrios started the game and gave up two runs on five hits in a 6.0 inning no-decision. The Red Sox will try to avoid a three game sweep on Thursday night at 7:10 sending Kutter Crawford (3-5, 5.14 ERA) to the bump, against Kevin Gausman (9-9, 2.99). Boston is seven games out of an AL wildcard spot with 38 games left in the regular season.
At Hadlock Field in Portland, the Portland Sea Dogs got a two-run single and a three-run homerun from Hudson Potts to blank the Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies) 8-0 in Eastern League Double A Baseball action.
Portland got all they needed in the first inning on an RBI triple from Ceddanne Rafaela and an RBI sacrifice fly from Trevor Story. Potts added a two-run single and three-run homer later on for some insurance. Story, on a rehab assignment, was playing in a baseball game for the first time in 44 days. He started at second base and ended up with three plate appearances with the sacrifice fly and a walk, before exiting the game after four innings. Bryan Mata (5-2) took care of the rest on the mound picking up the win allowing no runs on five hits with two walks and nine strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Potts, Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu had two hits a piece. The Sea Dogs are now 27-20 in the second half of the season, 1/2 game behind the Somerset Patriots in the Northern Division. Portland needs to win the second half in order to qualify for the Eastern League Playoffs. Game three of the six game series with Hartford continues on Thursday night at 6 p.m. The Double A season has 22 regular season games remaining, with the ‘Dogs last game scheduled for September 18.
