The Red Sox pounced on the Blue Jays in the first inning Wednesday, scoring five runs as nine batters came to the plate in the inning. That gave Garrett Richards the early cushion, which helped him pick up the win in the Red Sox’ 7-3 victory Wednesday.

“It’s always nice when the boys score runs in the first inning,” Richards said. “Kind of allows you to just go out and pitch.”

After a rough start to the season, the righty has bounced back with several great outings. But Garrett Richards wasn’t even that satisfied with his solid outing, where he gave up two runs off seven hits and four walks, across 6.2 innings of work.

“Today wasn’t great,” Richards later stated. “In my eyes, I’d still like to limit the walks and throw more strikes, and go a little bit deeper in the game. It was a good battle day. I didn’t necessarily feel like I had my best stuff, but I was able to make it work.”

Garrett Richards got out of the first inning allowing just a run, but it could’ve been more if it wasn’t for Marcus Semien’s base running mistake. Semien rounded third base after Bo Bichette doubled, but was lazy getting back to the bag, and they were able to pick him off.

“Anytime they’re gonna give you free outs like that, it’s huge,” Richards added. “That’s on them, but we’ll gladly take it.”

The righty would hold the Jays scoreless from innings 2-6; Richards would pitch into the seventh inning. Garrett Whitlock would surrender a two-run shot to Marcus Semien that barely made it over the right field wall, after Richards was taken out of the ballgame. Richards would be held responsible for one of the two runners that scored.

The Red Sox look to be victorious in the rubber match of the series tonight.