With 20 games remaining in the regular season, the Red Sox grabbed a two-game lead on the Blue Jays in the AL East standings compared to a share of first place had Toronto won this one. All fans attending the game on Sunday, October 2, will receive a commemorative David Ortiz patch.
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Joaquin Benoit, facing Ortiz for the first time since he allowed a game-tying grand slam in the 2013 American League Championship Series while pitching for the Detroit Tigers, served up a three-run long ball to Ortiz that erased a one-run Toronto Blue Jays lead and helped the Red Sox to a critical 11-8 win at the Rogers Centre.
“Wins are wins no matter what but some wins are different”, Ortiz said. “Definitely in a series like this you like to get off to a good start early in the ballgame”. Ortiz has 40 career home runs at Rogers Centre, more than any other road ballpark.
The right-hander said he struggled for most of the game with a blister on his middle finger, something that’s bothered him on and off this season. “Beautiful city. Always a pleasure to come here”.
With his 535th career home run, Ortiz moved past Jimmie Foxx into sole possession of 18th place on baseball’s career list.
The Red Sox were victorious the last time Buchholz pitched.
Neither starter, Clay Buchholz for Boston, nor Aaron Sanchez for Toronto, distinguished himself.
– Speaking of tight wild-card races, the Giants and Cardinals took control of the two National League wild card spots with wins.
While no player would go into any particular detail about who put it together or what was said during the private session – it’s players-only for a reason, after all – in a pre-game interview with Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae, Jose Bautista said the gathering was used as a chance to “refocus”. “There’s a lot of time left”. There’s plenty more to be desired when it comes to Boston’s record in one-run games. Whether that carries beyond, well, we might have to wait till next week to find out. “I think we had a general good feeling about it so it was a fun game”. Leon was hit by a pitch.
Robbie Ross Jr. (3-2) got two outs for the win.
Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his 25th save of the season, overcoming a leadoff walk to Encarnacion. He bounced a pitch off the left-field foul pole for his 13th home run of the season and cut Toronto’s lead to 3-1.
Sep 2, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons (5) looks on in the dugout during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. He was called safe and the ruling was upheld after a Tampa challenge. Martin later struck out.
The Red Sox tied the score 6-6 in the fourth on three straight two-out hits – a single by Bradley, a double by Dustin Pedroia and a two-run single by Xander Bogaerts. It was his fourth multihomer game of the season and the 31st of his career. Josh Donaldson sits atop the heap with 147 hits, 111 runs, 34 homers and 92 RBI. Edwin Encarnacion blasted two home runs with three RBIs, while reaching base four times.
Encarnacion crushed his second homer of the day to the second deck of the stadium, a two-run shot for an 8-6 Toronto lead. Aaron Loup replaced Biagini and caught Holt trying to steal home for the third out.Loup struck out Bradley to open the sixth.
Red Sox: Holt appeared to injure his right shoulder diving back to first base on a pickoff attempt in the fifth. He was checked by a trainer and stayed in.
The Red Sox returned to Fenway Park on Monday night to face the Baltimore Orioles, also two games back, with 20 games left on the schedule. Boston LHP David Price (15-8, 3.87 ERA) will start Monday at Fenway Park against Baltimore Orioles LHP Wade Miley (8-12, 5.49 ERA).
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The Blue Jays won the last game 3-2, and the series is now tied 1-1. Liriano last started August 26 against Minnesota and has made two relief appearances since.
