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| Kazuma Okamoto hit a 3-run HR, his 23rd of the season and the most HR by a rookie Japanese player, in a 6-4 loss to the Red Sox |
After salvaging a game against the Rays yesterday, the Blue Jays hit the road as they began the trip in Boston. The Blue Jays have won 5 of the first 6 games in the season series, outscoring the Red Sox 24-10. Trey Yesavage got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Davis Schneider was in LF, Daulton Varsho was in CF and Myles Straw was in RF. Could the Blue Jays make it 2 straight wins and start the road trip with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Red Sox opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Anthony Siegler led off with a solo blast to right
- The Red Sox added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 3rd as Ceddanne Rafaela whacked a 2-run blast over the green monster in left; also scoring Siegler
- Trey Yesavage pitching line: 4IP 5H 3R (all earned) 1BB 9K 93 pitches (63 for strikes)
- Patrick Sandoval pitching line: 4.2IP 5H 0R 2BB 3K 84 pitches (51 for strikes)
- The Red Sox added a run in the bottom of the 6th on a sac fly by Andruw Monasterio that scored Masataka Yoshida
- The Blue Jays got 3 back in the top of the 7th as Kazuma Okamoto hammered a 3-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Ernie Clement and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Okamoto has now hit the most HR by a Japanese born rookie
- The Blue Jays tied it in the top of the 8th on a sac fly by Andres Gimenez that scored Nathan Lukes
- The Red Sox retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Romy Gonzalez doubled scoring Jarren Duran
- Two batters later, Siegler doubled home Gonzalez
- Aroldis Chapman threw a scoreless 9th for his 24th save of the season
- Final score: Red Sox 6 Blue Jays 4
My Take:
- Trey Yesavage battled through 4 innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits while walking 1 and striking out 9. He was inefficient today, averaging nearly 25 pitches an inning. He was also taken deep twice to put the Blue Jays in a 3-0 deficit which probably felt like a 30 run deficit the way the offense has been performing. You have to wonder if Yesavage, who missed the first month of the season, is battling through an injury.
- The bullpen gave up 3 runs on 7 hits while walking 3 and striking out 4 over the last 4 innings. CJ Van Elk took the loss after the Red Sox scored twice on 4 hits in 2/3 of an inning. He could be optiioned tomorrow if the Blue Jays need a fresh arm. Mason Fluharty was the only reliever to retire every batter he faced
- Kazuma Okamoto is the Blue Jays MVP and unsung hero. Time and time again, he comes up clutch and is the only Blue Jay who has consistentlty hit for power. Tonight, he surpassed Shohei Ohtani for most HR by a Japanese born player and his 3-run bomb put the Blue Jays within striking distance of their first multi win streak since June 8-11 when they won 3 in a row. Andres Gimenez knocked in the tying run an inning later with a sac fly
- The other big milestone tonight saw Red Sox closer surpass Dennis Eckersley on the career save list, notching his 391st career save putting him in sole possession of the 9th spot in career saves. Billy Wagner is the next pitcher he'll pass. Wagner finished his career with 422 saves. The legendary Mariano Rivera has the most career saves (652)
- The Red Sox were 1-2 on ABS challenges and the Blue Jays were 2-2 on ABS challenges
- The Blue Jays were 2-8 with runners in scoring position. Pretty egregiously bad at bat by Davis Schneider with the bases loaded in the 1st as he struck out looking.
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series and avoid their 17th series loss of the season. Dylan Cease starts against Red Sox righty Sonny Gray
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