Blue Jays Top Red Sox , Win Fourth Straight

WP:  Marcus Stroman  –  7.0IP, 6H, 1ER, 2BB, 8K

LP:  Rubby De La Rosa  –  6.0IP, 9H, 3ER, 2BB, 1K

S:  Casey Janssen  –  1.0IP, 1H, 1ER, 1K

The Blue Jays extended their win streak to four games on Tuesday night with a 4-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox.  Starting pitcher Marcus Stroman pitched another gem, while the offence continues to thrive on a patient, team-first approach.

Marcus Stroman delivered another elite start for the Blue Jays, looking like a dominant veteran throughout the entirety of his 115 pitches.  Following back-to-back starts in which he pitched 7.0 innings of shutout ball, Stroman again hit the 7.0IP mark while allowing just 1ER on 6H with 8K against the Red Sox.  Bubble Boy was replaced by The Sanchize to begin the eighth, as Aaron Sanchez retired the only batter he faced in Dustin Pedroia.  Brett Cecil followed Sanchez out of the bullpen to bridge the gap to Casey Janssen, who overcame a leadoff home run to Xander Bogaerts to record his 17th save of the season.

Colby Rasmus (2-4, RBI) awoke the Blue Jays offence in the top of the 2nd inning with a solo shot to dead centre field.  My favourite way to beat the exaggerated shift.  After Dustin Pedroia doubled in Brock Holt in the third, Anthony Gose (2-4, 2RBI) put the Blue Jays ahead for good in the top of the fourth inning with a two-run double.  Melky Cabrera capped off the scoring in the top of the ninth, adding an insurance run with his 58th RBI on a well-placed groundout.  Juan Francisco (2-3, 2B) and Jose Bautista (1-2, 2BB) also shone as part of another well-balanced attack from the Blue Jays at Fenway.

Danny Valencia made his Blue Jays debut as a pinch hitter for Juan Francisco in the top of the eighth inning with a loud fly ball to the track in centre field.  In a surprising move, Valencia stayed in the game at first base, where he looked sharp immediately as he snagged a one-hopper from Jose Reyes.  Manager John Gibbons could possibly be eyeing Valencia as a RH platoon option for Adam Lind, once healthy.

Tomorrow’s game presents an interesting situation for the Blue Jays.  Red Sox ace Jon Lester, who was expected to start, has been scratched amid trade rumours.  Brandon Workman will instead take the hill on Wednesday night, as the Blue Jays will push to break into the Red Sox bullpen early.  Regardless of where Jon Lester ends up, the Blue Jays can thank that team for helping them avoid facing one of the league’s best.

MVJ:  Marcus Stroman.  The Blue Jays rookie is one of the hottest pitchers in baseball right now, and has now allowed just one earned run over his past three starts (21.0IP).  Stroman attacked the zone early in every count and had his strikeout pitch working when he needed it most.  Marcus Stroman may soon take the “due to regress” torch from Mark Buehrle, but his aggressive pitching style will be the most critical piece to his continued success in 2014.

Tomorrow’s Probable Starters (7:10ET, Fenway Park)

TOR:  Mark Buehrle  (10-7, 3.19ERA)

BOS:  Brandon Workman  (1-3, 4.13ERA)