Blue Jays Celebrate Canada Day: Beat Red Sox 11-2

On Wednesday afternoon, to celebrate Canada Day, the Blue Jays entered the third game of a four game series with the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox picked up the first two games. Attempting to avoid yet another loss to the AL East basement dwellers the Jays sent out veteran Mark Buehrle to the mound. The Red Sox countered with their veteran Rick Porcello.

Mark Buehrle seemed to be amped up for the Canada Day game. He started out throwing some heat reaching 87 on the radar gun. Mark was able to retire the first two batters he faced but David Ortiz slapped a single up the middle of the field threw the shift. Hanley Ramirez grounded out to end the inning.

Jose Reyes led off the game for the Blue Jays with a single to right center field. Catching the defense napping Josh Donaldson dropped a bunt to 3rd base to put two runners on base with no outs. Jose Bautista struck out looking at a nasty curve ball just on the outside of the plate. Rick Porcello threw a wild pitch allowing both runners to advance into scoring position. Edwin Encarnacion smashed a ball into the 2nd deck of left center field for a three run home run. Russell Martin was plunked by an arrant curve ball by Rick Porcello. Justin Smoak smashed a 2nd deck home run to right field making the Red Sox pay for putting Martin on base for free. Kevin Pillar hit a double off the left field wall. Still only one out and Robbie Ross Jr. started to warm up in the Red Sox bullpen. Kevin Pillar made a base running blunder getting picked off at 2nd base for the 2nd out of the inning. One pitch later Ezequiel Carrera flied out to center to end the inning.

Mark Buehrle got rolling with two strike outs and a ground out for a 1-2-3 inning in the 2nd.

Rick Porcello came back out to pitch the 2nd inning. Jose Reyes picked up his 2nd hit with a one out single to center. Josh Donaldson struck out swinging for the 2nd out of the inning. Jose Bautista smashed a two run home run to center field. Edwin Encarnacion ground out to end the inning.

Robbie Ross Jr. came out to pitch the 3rd inning for the Red Sox. Justin Smoak smashed his 2nd home run of the game with one out to left field. Ezequiel Carrera was issued a two out walk. Ryan Goins lined out to center field to end the frame.

Xander Bogaerts hit a lead off double just under the glove of a diving Kevin Pillar. David Ortiz struck out for the 1st out of the inning. Hanley Ramirez grouned out for the 2nd out, advancing the runner to 3rd base. Pablo Sandoval hit a broke bat dribbler to ground out and strand the lead off double.

In the bottom of the 4th Jose Bautista hit a two out double to center field. Encarnacion struck out to end the inning.

In the top of the 5th Alejandro De Aza hit a one out triple to center field. Buerhle was able to retire the next two batters to preserve the shut out.

Russell Martin led off the 5th and reached base on a fly ball in the infield that was dropped and scored an error. The runner was quickly erased as Justin Smoak hit into a double play. Kevin Pillar reached base with a two out single to left field. Ezequiel Carrera ground out to end the inning.

Jonathan Aro came in to pitch for the Red Sox in the 6th inning. With one out Jose Reyes picked up his 3rd single of the game. Josh Donaldson followed that up with a double to right field to put two runners in scoring position. Jose Bautista hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Reyes from 3rd. Edwin Encarnacion hit a fly ball to center field to end the inning.

In the top of the 7th inning Hanley Ramirez led off with a triple to right center field. Ramirez was able to score on a Pablo Sandoval ground out. The shutout was snapped but Buehrle was able to retire the next two batters and escape giving up only the single run.

Justin Smoak picked up his 3rd hit of the game with a one out single in the bottom of the 7th. Kevin Pillar followed that up with a single to left marking his 3rd hit of the game. Mike Napli made a great leaping catch at first and then tossed the ball to 2nd base to turn a double play.

Aaron Loup entered the game to pitch the 8th inning. Mookie Betts hit a two out solo home run to center field.

Jose Reyes picked up his 4th single of the game with one out in the bottom of the 8th. Josh Donaldson hit the 5th home run of the game to score 2 more runs for the Jays.

Brett Cecil came into the game to close it out.

Game Notes:

• In the 1st inning the put up 5 runs to mark the 15th time the Jays scored 5 or more in an inning.
• The Blue Jays continued to mash the ball with 5 home runs today. They tallied 11 runs and continued to show why they have the premier offense in all of MLB.
• Justin Smoak hit a home run from each side of the plate today. That was only the 2nd time he has done that in his career.
• Mark Buehrle has been on point for awhile now. In his last 6 starts including today his ERA has been 1.67. He has 3 wins including today. Because of this stretch his ERA has sunk from a mighty 6.00 down to a respectable 3.64. I would expect that to keep dropping the way he has been pitching.
• Josh Donaldson continues to show why he is the best 3rd basemen in the majors. He picked up his 19th home run of the season and was a triple shy of the cycle.

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