David Ortiz’s final season is quickly coming to a close, but the Red Sox have some nice plans in place to honor the slugger throughout his final series of the regular season. Toronto has lost seven of the last 10 games.
Advertisement
Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) celebrates his three-run homer in the 6th inning with teammate Dustin Pedroia (15) during American League baseball action against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto on Sunday, September 11, 2016.
From his first game in Toronto way back in 1998 to now, Ortiz has enjoyed his trips north of the border. “And I said to her, ‘Ella, if you really want to catch a ball, you have to sit where you can get a foul ball, because that’s most likely how you’re going to get a ball'”.
Clay Buchholz lasted just three innings in his start, allowing five runs in a awful third inning, which was capped off by a grand slam by Troy Tulowitzki. He struck out four and walked none while throwing 71 of 108 pitches for strikes. “I think it was just to reassure, to make sure that everybody is in a good mindset and focusing on what they need to focus on”.
“I still feel like I can pitch and help this team out”, Buchholz said (via MLB.com). Now, due to the blister, the Blue Jays manager will do some more shuffling around, to give the youngster extra time to recover. Brett Cecil, Joe Biagini, Aaron Loup, Bo Schultz, Joaquin Benoit, Danny Barnes, Matt Dermody and Ryan Tepera all combined for 5 1/3 innings, giving up a combined five runs. “But he’s still our guy”.
Ortiz would make Benoit pay again, this time for a 3 run homer to put the Sox up 10-8. Tulowitzki’s 23rd home run of the season gave Toronto its first lead of the game, 6-4. “It’s always a pleasure to come here”. The home run was Ortiz’ 535th of his career, moving him past Jimmie Foxx into 18th place on the all-time HR list.
“We’re fine”, Martin said.
Porcello said he had received a number of congratulatory text messages, but had one he was going to respond to right away. I got to do what so many of Red Sox Nation have been able to do under the lights of Fenway Park: watch Big Papi put the game to bed and be a hero. “We know we can do a lot better and we’re going to keep doing it the way we’re supposed to”. They have played sloppy baseball, but seemed to pick things up after a players-only meeting before the 3-2 win over Boston on Saturday. Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his 25th save of the season.
Toronto also used nine pitchers. Martin took a called third strike and Tulowitzki lined out to right to end the game. He struck out Jose Bautista with some high heat for the first out, then looked like he had given up a double into the right field corner from Martin. Edwin Encarnacion blasted two home runs with three RBIs, while reaching base four times. It’s the fourth time in Upton’s career that he’s had 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Michael Bourn smacked a two-run homer and Jonathan Schoop added a solo shot as the Birds moved two games ahead of Detroit and the Yankees in the battle for the final AL wild-card berth.
Toronto’s Josh Donaldson is hitless in seven straight games, a career-long slump. He’s now in an 0-for-23 funk.
Troy Tulowitzki’s grand slam in the third momentarily brought the crowd to its feet but the good vibes were temporary.
The Red Sox’s lead over the Blue Jays is back to two games in the division after taking two out of three in the weekend series and Toronto is tied with Baltimore in the wild-card standings.
The Blue Jays will start left-hander Francisco Liriano (7-12, 5.27 ERA), who replaces R.A. Dickey in the rotation, on Monday. Leadoff batter Devon Travis recorded his second three-hit performance of the series in Saturday’s 3-2 triumph to improve to 14-for-30 during his seven-game hitting streak.
Advertisement
Liriano will be making his first start since August 26. RHP Jake Odorizzi (9-6, 3.86 ERA) starts for the Rays.
