Blue Jays battle but they cannot win the war

The Blue Jays battled with the Red Sox on Saturday, trading runs back and forth through the middle innings.  Unfortunately, they were on the losing end of the battle, falling 6-4 to Boston in the second game of the series.

In the fifth inning, the Blue Jays started a hopeful rally. Ryan Goins and Jose Bautista were on first and second when Red Sox catcher Ryan Hanigan was charged with his second passed ball of the night, allowing the Jays’ runners to advance to second and third.  Then, in a bizarre play, Michael Saunders struck out; however, the ball got past Hanigan once more and two runners scored with Saunders reaching first base safely.  This allowed the Jays to pull within one run of the Red Sox.

In the sixth inning, after a strong feed by Saunders from left field, Goins accurately threw to Russell Martin what seemed to be an inning-ending play at the plate.  After video review, the call was overturned and the run scored.

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The Boston Red Sox’s knuckleballer Steven Wright walked five Blue Jays which raised his pitch count and knocked him out of the game after only five innings.  He allowed three hits and recorded three strikeouts.  His knuckler was moving so well that Ryan Hanigan had trouble catching it and was charged with three passed balls.

Marcus Stroman (4.46 ERA) went five and a third innings and had a hard time commanding his pitches and hitting his spots all game long.  He walked five batters and only struck out four.  Stroman allowed six runs, all of them earned, on nine hits.

Jesse Chavez (3.44 ERA) entered the game in relief of Stroman in the sixth and went one and a third clean innings without allowing a run.  Drew Storen (6.75 ERA) also had a clean inning of relief in the eighth.

Jose Bautisa and Edwin Encarnation both walked twice in the game with a patient eye at the plate.  Michael Saunders picked up two RBI’s and Justin Smoak and Kevin Pillar picked up an RBI apiece.

Josh Donaldson did not start the game due to a bruised right hand.  Red Sox left fielder Blake Swihart came out of the game in the seventh inning with an apparent leg injury after colliding into the left field wall.  Red Sox catcher Ryan Hanigan also left the game with an injury, reportedly dealing with neck problems.

Dustin Pedroia continued his hit streak against the Jays this game advancing his streak to 25 consecutive games against the Jays.

Next up the Jays go for the series win as Marco Estrada (2.43 ERA) takes on Eduardo Rodriguez (3.00 ERA) on Sunday, June 5th at 1:35pm.