Blue Jays Game Recap: Dickey Makes Heads Bobble

Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

April 27 Toronto Blue Jays Game Recap:

Boston Red Sox 1 (12-14) vs. Toronto Blue Jays 7 (12-13)

W: R.A. Dickey (2-3) L: Jon Lester (2-4)

The Blue Jays came into today’s game against the Red Sox hoping to avoid the sweep on R. A. Dickey’s bobblehead day. 45 260 fans were on hand for this game.

In a game started by Dickey, I always look to see how the knuckler works early. He started the game with a week grounder from Dustin Pedroia and then struck out Grady Sizemore and Mike Napoli making them swing and miss on a mix of speeds on the knuckleball. It was moving well with lots of break. No wonder he tries to get as many of his starts at Rogers Centre as he can.

In the second, Jonny Gomes and Xander Bogaerts hit back to back singles and Jackie Bradley Jr blooped in a single that hung up long enough for Gomes to score to give the Red Sox the lead 1-0. It wouldn’t last long as Brett Lawrie took Jon Lester out for a nice date to LF with one out in the 2nd to tie the game at 1.

In the third inning, the Blue Jays continued their attempt to chip away at Lester. Josh Thole placed a single down the third base line. Jonathan Diaz bunted him to 2nd. Melky Cabrera drove in Thole with a double down the RF line. Jose Bautista came up with 2 outs and Cabrera on 2nd. Lester threw his cutter down and inside. Bautista thought it hit him. Replay shows it did. Yet, he let it go. Obviously, he wanted the chance to drive in the run. It didn’t work. The Jays would only get one that inning.

Both Dickey and Lester were dealing this afternoon. It was a treat to watch good pitching. Both pitches seemed to be matching each other frame for frame. Dickey was pulled with one out in the 7th after plunking Will Middlebrooks and a double to Xander Bogaerts. His line was a very good: 6 1/3 innings, 1 run, 5 hits, 0 walks (HBP), 6K in 95 pitches.

In the 7th, Brett Lawrie struck again off Lester. This time, he stroked a double right after Edwin Encarnacion hit one of his own. The back to back doubles brought the lead to 3-1. It gave Lawrie 20 RBI this month. Moises Sierra would bring him home with a high chopper back to Lester. That brought the score to 4-1. Jon Lester would last for a line of 7 innings, 5 hits, 4 ER, 7 K on 122 pitches. That total is just 9 shy of his career high (131).

Andrew Miller came on to pitch the bottom of the 8th. He would give up a single to Jose Reyes. Then, Melky Cabrera dropped in a single to RF. Jose Reyes was running on the hit and run. He slid in to second and had to bounce up to make it to third. Bautista came up with runners on first and third and punched one up the middle. Bogaerts had to slide to get to it but he couldn’t get a toss off, so everyone was safe, including Reyes who scored to make it 5-1. That was all for Miller. Burke Badenhop would come on and promptly surrender a 2 RBI double to Encarnacion that scored Cabrera and Bautista to bring the score to 7-1.

Steve Delabar came on in the 7th with one out and would get a pop up and a fly ball to keep the Red Sox off the board. He would come back out for the 8th and give up a leadoff single to Dustin Pedroia. That was it. He held down the fort. With the score 7-1, the Jays turned to Esmil Rogers. And, all he did was strike out the side in the 9th!

Happy R.A. Dickey Bobblehead Day!

The Blue Jays will enjoy an off day tomorrow and head to Kansas City to face the Royals for 3 games.