TORONTO — The Red Sox fell to the Blue Jays 9-8 Sunday, after Matt Barnes allowed a three-run homer in the eighth to give Toronto the win.
Toronto drew first blood, as Corey Dickerson gave the Blue Jays the early 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the first.
The Sox would answer back in the second though, as they piled on three runs. J.D. Martinez slapped an RBI double into left, and a pair of RBI singles from Kevin Plawecki and Kiké Hernandez made it 3-1. Plawecki made it 4-1 with an RBI double in the third.
Teoscar Hernandez knocked an RBI single in the bottom of the third in order to make it 4-2, but Martinez hit an RBI double in the following inning before Kevin Plawcki added another RBI, with a single.
With the Sox up 7-2, the Jays got two runs closer in the fifth as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. jacked a low breaking ball over the left field wall to make it 7-4. Boston starter Garrett Richards ended his day tossing five innings, allowing four runs (three earned).
Bobby Dalbec added to the lead in the sixth with an RBI single, which plated Martinez after he singled.
Josh Taylor summoned a walk and a single in the sixth, but Hirokazu Sawamura would come in to relieve the left-hander and get out of the jam for Boston. Sawamura wouldn’t have the same fortunes in the seventh though, as he walked George Springer on four pitches, and threw a pair of wild pitches before leaving the game due to an injury.
Adam Ottavino would replace the righty, as Ottavino walked Guerrero Jr. before he stole second, and a sac fly from Marcus Semien would score Springer. Hernandez would drive in Guerrero with a single to make it 8-6. Corey Dickerson would reach on a fielder’s choice before he stole second, but Ottavino would pick him off at second to retire the side.
Martinez would double in the eighth for his fourth hit of the ballgame, but Plawecki, who was looking for his fourth hit, would pop out to end the top half of the eighth.
After two outs were picked up by Ottavino in the eighth, Matt Barnes came on a little bit earlier than expected, and walked the first batter he faced, Reese McGuire.
On a 2-2 delivery, Barnes’ former UConn teammate George Springer belted a three-run homer to give the Jays the 9-8 lead.
The Sox went down 1-2-3 in the ninth, to give the Jays the win.
What’s next?
The Red Sox receive an off-day Monday before hosting the Rays for a three-game weekday series. Here is your pitching probables:
Tuesday: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (8-6, 5.33 ERA) vs. RHP Luis Patino (2-3, 4.42 ERA)
Wednesday: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (9-7, 4.07 ERA) vs. TBD
Thursday: TBD vs. TBD
Other news:
- Chris Sale is slated to start August 14th for Boston versus the Orioles.
- Kyle Schwarber had a setback in his recovery from injury today, as he reportedly injured his groin
News: Sources confirm Kyle Schwarber has suffered a minor setback with a left groin strain in the midst of his rehab from a right hamstring strain. The setback isn’t expected to significantly delay his timetable for return, but nevertheless is concerning https://t.co/P01b4ktv47
— Jen McCaffrey (@jcmccaffrey) August 8, 2021
(Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)