Blue Jays @ Red Sox Game Thread/ 24th-26th June 2024

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drives in 4 runs as Blue Jays end 7-game skid with 9-4 win over Red Sox
AP

BOSTON (AP) Vladimir Guerrero hit pair of two-run doubles, George Springer added a two-run homer and the Toronto Blue Jays snapped a seven-game skid with a 9-4 win over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night.

The Blue Jays tagged Boston starter Brayan Bello for seven runs in the third inning, including Guerrero’s drive to the triangle in center that scored two runs before Springer homered into Boston’s bullpen.

Toronto had its highest scoring game since a 14-11 loss at Detroit on May 26. The Blue Jays hadn’t won since beating Cleveland 7-6 on June 15, the day before the Red Sox began a three-game sweep at Toronto that started the Jays’ longest losing streak since September 2019.

“Our offense just kind of came out there and willed their way to winning that game. That definitely made it a lot easier for me out there,” said Kevin Gausman, who pitched six solid innings.

The Jays finally stopped their skid, one night after taking a 6-2 lead into the eighth, only to lose 7-6.

Rafael Devers and Tyler O'Neill homered for the Red Sox, who had won three straight and eight of nine. Jarren Duran, who had hit in 14 straight games before Tuesday, did not reach base. Duran was 0 for 4 and had one more chance in the ninth, but struck out swinging to end the game.

“Obviously the last week has been tough. It was a very happy group of guys in there,” Gausman said outside Toronto's locker room.

Toronto didn’t have a hit before the third. Then, Danny Jansen led off with a double to left and Boston's defense started to unravel. Isiah Kiner-Falefa reached on a bunt single that Devers couldn’t field with his bare hand, and two runs scored on a single by Kiermaier that was compounded by right-fielder Wilyer Abreu's throwing error that sailed over third and out of play.

“It was a weird play," Boston manager Alex Cora said. “It wasn’t a great game for us. It wasn’t a great inning for us.”

Boston’s struggles continued when Bello (7-5) issued consecutive walks to Bichette and Spencer Horwitz, then Guerrero doubled to center to put Toronto up 5-2. Springer followed with his sixth homer of the season, driving a 1-0 slider from Bello into the Red Sox bullpen. That was it for Bello, who was replaced by Greg Weissert. The inning finally ended when Jansen, who led off with a double to left, lined out to right.

Bello pitched 2 ⅓ innings, allowing seven runs - all earned - on five hits and three walks. He also hit a batter and struck out two. Gausman (6-6) pitched six innings and held Boston to four runs on five hits and a walk, striking out five.

NICE D

Dominic Smith ended the top of the second with a spectacular catch and an unassisted double play at first base. Smith made a diving stop to snag Addison Barger’s line drive that was headed down the line toward the tricky corner in right and tapped the bag before Justin Turner could get back. Fans let out a collective “Ooooooh!” and applauded the play as the Red Sox made their way to the dugout.

Kiermaier also made a diving grab for the Jays in the third, robbing Duran of a hit as he tried to extend his hitting streak to 15 games.

BIG START

Devers led off the bottom of the second with a towering homer to right-center. According to the Red Sox, the estimated 467-foot drive was the longest of Devers’ career. O’Neill followed with a pop-up to shallow right, where the ball bounced off Guerrero’s glove and gave O’Neill enough time to reach third. O’Neill was initially credited with a triple before a scoring change later in the game gave Guerrero an error.

Springer, who was playing right field, said it should have been his play.

“I kind of let Vladdy down there. That’s on me - I told him that,” Springer said. “I should know better. The ball tends to drift here towards right field. That’s completely on me.”

THE STREAK

Toronto’s Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a bunt single that Devers couldn’t quite field with his bare hand and extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Duran, who had hit in 14 straight games before Tuesday, did not reach base.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: SS Bo Bichette returned to the lineup after missing nine games with a strained right calf. He struck out on the first three pitches of the game and finished 0 for 4 with a walk and run scored.

UP NEXT

Toronto’s Yariel Rodriguez (0-2, 5.94 ERA) faces Kutter Crawford (3-7, 3.59) Wednesday night in a battle of right-handed pitchers in the three-game series finale.

Injuries & Moves: Hendriks to throw bullpen; Casas to swing
June 25th, 2024

MLB.com



RHP Liam Hendriks (right UCL surgery)
Expected return: Late July/early August
Hendriks, who has been playing catch on a daily basis, is slated to throw his first bullpen session later in the week, manager Alex Cora said on June 25. After signing with the Red Sox in February, Hendriks said his goal of coming back from Tommy John surgery would be right around the July 30 Trade Deadline. Hendriks, who is also signed for next season, has been dominant in the past, racking up 114 saves with a 2.26 ERA from 2019-22.

It will be interesting to see how he is utilized in a bullpen that also includes Chris Martin and Kenley Jansen, though both of those pitchers have expiring contracts at the end of the season. (Last updated: June 25)

1B Triston Casas (torn cartilage in left rib cage)
Expected return: No earlier than July 2
Casas underwent an MRI on June 24 and is expected to start swinging shortly after, manager Alex Cora said on June 25. Casas, who suffered torn cartilage in his left rib cage fouling off a pitch on April 20, started taking dry swings on June 15. He is hopeful he can return on July 2, when the Red Sox open a series in Miami. Casas was born and raised in South Florida and still lives there in the offseason. (Last updated: June 25)

Red Sox’ Brayan Bello (5.55 ERA): ‘I don’t really know what’s going on’

Updated: Jun. 25, 2024, 11:14 p.m.|Published: Jun. 25, 2024, 11:11 p.m.


By

Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com

BOSTON — Red Sox righty Brayan Bello’s shortest career start came Tuesday when he lasted just 2 ⅓ innings against the Blue Jays.

The 25-year-old allowed seven runs, all in the third inning. The Red Sox lost 9-4 here at Fenway Park.

“I obviously didn’t want to come out of the game,” Bello said through translator Daveson Pérez. “I wanted to compete. I was kind of surprised when they took me out but a lot of runs that inning, a lot of pitches being thrown. But hopefully moving forward, I don’t have a terrible outing like the one I just had and this is the only short outing that I’ll have.”

Bello’s previous shortest start came April 17, 2023, when he allowed five runs in 2 ⅔ innings against the Angels at home.

Bello’s biggest issue continues to be strike-throwing. He walked three batters and hit another. He landed just 55.8% of his pitches for strikes (52 pitches, 29 strikes).

“We’ve gotta throw more strikes,” manager Alex Cora said. “That’s the most important thing regardless of the results. We have to be more aggressive in the zone. ... So I think that summarizes his outing. We need to throw more strikes.”

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s two-run double and George Springer’s two-run homer were the two big hits in the third inning. Guerrero’s double came on a 3-1 sinker. Springer’s homer was on a 1-0 slider.

Bello — who in March signed a $55 million contract that can max out at $75 million — can’t pinpoint anything right now that’s causing the control/command issues. He has a 5.55 ERA in 14 starts.

“My mindset is good,” he said. “My mechanics are good. I don’t really know what’s going on right now. But I do know I’m working with Bails (pitching coach Andrew Bailey) about attacking the zone and doing what I’m supposed to do. And there’s still a lot of season left for me. I know it hasn’t been great to this point. But I know what I am capable of and I know what I can do for the rest of the season.”

He knows turning around his season will start with throwing more strikes.

“That’s when I’m most effective is when I’m keeping pitches in the zone,” Bello said. “That helps me go to the fifth inning and beyond. When I don’t do that, I get behind, start walking guys and they start getting more runs on me. So just gotta keep working hard so the next outing I do a better job of that.”

Bello also knows he must do a better job of controlling his emotions.

“I’ve been working on that personally since the minors — controlling those emotions,” Bello said. “I think it’s something that year after year I’ve done a really good job at doing. But this year, it hasn’t been that way. So I think that’s a good point and something that I need to pay attention to.”