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TORONTO – The Boston Red Sox kept their slim playoff hopes alive Monday by beating the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 in the opening game of a three-game series.
Red Sox starter Tanner Houck threw five shutout innings, allowing just one hit, to go 9-10 on the season. The Red Sox improved to 79-78.
Blue Jays starting pitcher Chris Bassitt struggled, allowing three runs, two of which were earned, and a season-high seven hits, bringing the score to 11-14 on the season.
“It was a strange night for him,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said of his starter’s performance.
“He couldn’t really find the zone with anything, especially off-speed stuff — cutter, sweeper, curveball. So, weird night. You look up and that game could have easily been a different outcome than 4-1.”
After striking out Jarren Duran early in the game, Bassitt struck out three hits on the next five batters in the first two innings.
The Red Sox opened the scoring in the second inning when second baseman Vaughn Grissom scored catcher Connor Wong from third on a sacrifice fly. It was Grissom’s fourth RBI of the season and his first since being recalled to the Red Sox from Triple-A Worcester on September 20.
The Red Sox doubled their lead in the third inning thanks to an RBI single from outfielder Wilyer Abreu. The run gave Abreu 58 RBIs on the season and continued a strong campaign for the 25-year-old, who entered the game leading all American League rookies in slugging percentage, doubles and extra-base hits.
Third baseman Nick Sogard led off the fourth inning with a hard-hit double, then went to third after Bassitt was charged with a balk. Center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela would then give the Red Sox a 3-0 lead on a swinging bunt to bring in Sogard, giving the 24-year-old utilityman his 71st RBI of the season and a league-leading 57 as the ninth batter in a team’s lineup.
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Bassitt was replaced by right-hander Zach Pop after Abreu’s fifth-inning single pushed runners to first and third with just one out. It was the second consecutive game in which Bassitt ended with fewer than five innings pitched and allowed three or more walks.
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Bassitt attributed his poor performance to mechanical problems.
“We don’t throw bullpens. So just go out there and get better,” the 35-year-old offered on how he could avoid future appearances like this. “Of course, there’s some dry work you can do. But no.”
Pop then walked Wong to load the bases for Sogard, who hit an inning-ending double play and breathed life into the Blue Jays, as Houck played a perfect game through the fifth inning.
“He was really good,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora praised his starter. “Efficient, threw strikes. We played good defense behind him. That was good enough.”
“Houck’s good,” Schneider added after the game. “Tough fastball. He lives for these types of outings, hitting balls in the ground. We weren’t hitting a lot of them in the air. … You’ve got to do more with the pitches you’re swinging at.”
Addison Barger ended Houck’s perfect-game bid with a walk two batters later, followed shortly thereafter by shortstop Ernie Clement who singled to left field for Toronto’s first hit of the game. Boston’s lead remained secure on the next play, however, when center fielder Jonatan Clase drove the ball to left field to end the inning.
“We’ve had some tough pitching the last couple of days,” Schneider said of the Blue Jays’ offensive struggles.
“If you look at the early swings, the number of pitches he (Houck) threw was so low.”
Right-hander Tommy Nance took over for Pop to start the next frame. Despite allowing a triple from Duran, Nance pitched a scoreless sixth, punctuated by the retirement of Trevor Story to exit the frame unscathed.
Right-handed pitcher Greg Weissert took over for Houck in the sixth inning and continued Boston’s strong night on the mound by getting left fielder Nathan Lukes to turn a double play in the next at bat, before star forward Vladimir Guerrero Jr. finally ended the inning with a ground ball.
Left-hander Brendon Little took over for Nance early in the seventh inning and kept the Red Sox off the bases with a hitless inning.
Left-hander Zach Penrod came in for Houck in the seventh inning, allowing a single to catcher Alejandro Kirk before being replaced by right-hander Luis Guerrero out of the bullpen. Two pitches into his first at bat, Guerrero had Clement pop out to second base to end the inning.
The Blue Jays then sent right-hander Dillon Tate out to face the Red Sox in the eighth inning. Tate walked Wong to start the frame, then watched as the Red Sox catcher stole second base a few pitches later. Shortly thereafter, Tate walked Sogard, giving the Blue Jays’ pitching team a total of 10 walks on the night. A double play by Grissom gave Blue Jays fans a brief moment of hope, but an RBI single by Rafaela extended Boston’s lead to four.
Erik Swanson took over for Toronto in the ninth inning and pitched a scoreless inning, opening the way for the Blue Jays’ final attempt at a comeback.
Lukes started the rally with a leadoff single off Chris Martin, who entered the game with only two walks in 41 and 1/3 innings pitched. Any hopes of a miracle were dashed shortly thereafter, however, when Martin closed the door and sealed the victory for the visiting team.
“Just win tomorrow and see where we are,” Cora said of his team’s slim playoff chances. “And finish strong, that’s the goal.”
The Blue Jays fell to a season-record 11 games below .500, 73-84. They’ll get a chance at redemption Tuesday night in Game 2 of the series.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2024.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
