On Sunday afternoon the Blue Jays tried to sweep the Red Sox and extend their win streak to 11 games. The Blue Jays sent out Marco Estrada to the mound. Marco has had success of late coming off two straight wins. The Red Sox trying to stop their losing streak sent out Eduardo Rodríguez. Eduardo is looking like a future ace and so far this season has been dynamite.
The Blue Jays got on base in the 1st with a Josh Donaldson 4 pitch walk but Jose Bautista quickly hit into a double play to make it a quick inning.
Dustin Pedroia lead off the game with a single to center field. After a pop up out Hanley Ramirez and David Ortiz were issued back to back walks to load up the bases. Xander Bogaerts hit a line drive straight to Josh Donaldson who was able to turn a much needed double play to end the inning.
Pablo Sandoval led off the bottom of the 2nd with a single on a really tough change up by Estrada. Marco has his change up on point picking up back to back strike outs of Alejandro De Aza and Rusney Castillo. The Red Sox stranded the lead off single after Blake Swihart flew out to left field.
In the top of the 3rd inning Kevin Pillar picked up the first hit of the game with a one out single. After a short delay on a replay Kevin Pillar was ruled safe on a steal of 2nd base. That put a runner in scoring position with two outs. Jose Reyes couldn`t capitalize and grounded out to 2nd base.
Josh Donaldson dropped a seeing eye bloop into no mans land shallow right for a lead off base hit in the top of the 4th. Jose Bautista followed that up with a single of his own advancing Donaldson to 3rd base. Edwin Encarnacion hit the Blue Jays 3rd straight single to score Donaldson. Chris Colabello reached on a fielders choice, Edwin Encarnacion broke up the double play with an aggressive slide into 2nd base. Russell Martin hit the 4th single of the inning to right field and scored Bautista. Danny Valencia walked to load up the bases with only one out. Kevin Pillar also reached on a fielders choice and Pedroia lost the ball into the sun. Valencia was forced out at 2nd base after being forced to hold at first base. Another run score on the play. Ryan Goins smashed his 2nd home run of the season over the right field wall to score 3 more runs. Jose Reyes struck out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the 4th Pablo Sandoval hit a triple off the wall in left field. Kevin Pillar and Danny Valanecia both hit the wall trying to make a play on it. Sandoval was stranded there after a pop up in foul ground by Alejandro De Aza to end the inning.
Edwin Encarnacion drew a two out walk. Chris Colabello skied a shot to shallow right field that again got lost in the sun. Encarnacion running hard with two outs scored from 1st base. Russell Martin hit a double to left field scoring Colabello from 1st base. That spelled the end of the afternoon for Eduardo Rodriguez. The Red Sox brought in knuckle baller Steven Wright. Danny Valencia smashed a two run home run over the green monster in left field. Kevin Pillar hit a single to center field to continue the parade of two out hits. Ryan Goins struck out to end the inning.
Rusney Castillo led off the bottom of the 5th with a walk. Blake Swihart followed that up with a single to right field. Dustin Pedroia hit a fly ball to right field and Jose Bautista lost the ball in the sun. The runner on 3rd scored on the play. Hanley Ramirez hit a single to center field scoring another run for the Red Sox. David Ortiz hit a 3 run home run to right field to cut the lead in half. Xander Bogaerts flied out to right field for the 2nd out of the inning. Josh Donaldson made a nice play snaring a ground ball to make the final out of the inning.
Jose Reyes led off the top of the 6th inning with a single to center field. Nothing came of the hit after the next three batters were retired in order.
Ryan Tepera came in to pitch for the Blue Jays in the bottom of the 6th and got a quick 1-2-3 inning.
Chris Colabello started out the 7th inning with a soft single to right field. Russell Martin drew a walk. Both runners were able to advance on a pass ball. Danny Valencia hit a hard ground ball to 3rd base, neither runner could advance on the out. Kevin Pillar popped up to 2nd base for the 2nd out. Tommy Layne came into the game to pitch to Ryan Goins. Goins hit a triple to center field clearing the bases. Jose Reyes hit a double to score Goins.
Brock Holt picked up a one out single in the bottom of the 7th inning. David Ortiz was issued a two out walk to put 2 runners on base. Xander Bogaerts struck out to end the inning.
Phil Coke came into the 8th inning making his Blue Jays debut. He picked up a clean 1-2-3 inning with two strike outs.
Russell Martin hit a lead off single in the top of the 9th. Danny Valencia followed that up with a single of his own. Kevin Pillar popped out and Ryan Goins hit into a double play to end the inning.
In the bottom of the 9th Blake Swihart led off with a walk. Ezequiel Carrera made a nice catch in left field for the first out. Brock Holt drew a one out walk to put two runners on base. Hanley Ramirez flied out to right field. Sandy León ground out to 2nd base to end the game.
Game Notes:
- Kevin Pillar continued to contribute defensively but again today his bat also helped out. He picked up a couple key hits. His glove was on point with a diving catch. He also showed great hustle smashing into the wall in center trying to make another catch.
- Marco Estrada got the run support he needed to grind out 5 innings and pick up his 3rd straight win.
- Ryan Goins continued to mash the ball in Boston. He picked up two more hits in today making it 3 straight multi-hit games. In the series he hit .429 with 9 RBI and 3 R.
- The bullpen filled in for 4 solid innings of work.
- The win streak is continued with the sweep of the Red Sox in Boston.
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