Series 45: Blue Jays @ Red Sox (Mon., Tues., Wed., Sept. 4 to 6, 2017)

[hockeyfan1]

                                                      @

Place:    Fenway Park  Boston, MA


Mon. Sept. 4[/u]
Starting Pitchers:    J.A. Happ              LH (Jays)      6-10  3.96  ERA
                            Rick Porcello        RH (Red Sox)  9-15  4.45  ERA
Time:                    7PM
TV/Radio:              Sportsnet,  The FAN 590


Tues. Sept. 5
Starting Pitchers:  Marco Estrada        RH (Jays)      7-8  5.23  ERA
                            Eduardo Rodgriguez LH (Red Sox)  4-5  4.40  ERA
Time:                    7PM
TV/Radio:              Sportsnet,  The FAN 590


Wed. Sept. 6
Starting Pitchers:  Joe Biagini            RH (Jays)        3-9  5.01  ERA
                            Doug Fister            RH (Red Sox)  4-7  4.19  ERA
Time:                    7PM
TV/Radio:              Sportsnet,  The FAN 590


Source:  theStar.com,  MLB.com

 

[hockeyfan1]

The Toronto Blue Jays (63-74) open a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox (77-60) at Fenway Park in Boston.

The Bosox, who lead the A.L. East, are currently 3.5 games up over their closest competitor and rivals, the New York Yankees.

The Blue Jays who sit 14 GBL Boston in the A.L., are 8.5 GB for the second and last WC spot in the A.L.  Many fans have written the Jays season off, as being next to improbable if not impossible to climb the standings in order to make the playoffs via the WC.  That is not a thought but the reality right now, as Toronto's chances for the above stand at next to nil.

The one bright star shining on the Jays is Josh Donaldson who's been nothing short of scorching with this bat -- that is, 16 homers in 34 games is by far the most in that span in the A.L. by any player of late.  It's refreshing to see J.D. back to his productive self.  Too bad that this was not the case for him in the first half of this sorry season.  Injuries and all took their toll and by the time The Bringer of Rain was ready and steady, well, you know the rest...

The Red Sox will no doubt attempt to raise their lead in their division.  It could be an easy series for Boston or the Jays might go all out.  They may have a lot to lose but it's for Boston where the stakes are higher.  Should be fun to watch.

GO JAYS GO!

 

[hockeyfan1]

Blue Jays 10  Red Sox 4

Ugly night in Boston. Not for the Blue Jays but for the Bosox.

The Jays hit and hit and hit several long balls out of Fenway Park chasing Boston starter Rick Porcello in the process.  Kendrys Morales with a three-run blast, Raffi Lopez with a two-run homer and Bautista & Smoak with solo shots each.

Jays' starter J.A.Happ allowed just three runs on 5+ innings and had good control over his pitches with the Jays still in the lead, before giving way to a combination of Leone, Loup, Tepera and finally Mayza.  Boston attempted to mount a comeback but fell short when the Jays offence padded the lead.

Story:
https://www.thestar.com/sports/bluejays/2017/09/04/jays-bats-batter-porcello-in-rare-win-over-red-sox.html

 

[herman]

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/05/sports/baseball/boston-red-sox-stealing-signs-yankees.html

Using an Apple Watch!

 

[Captain Canuck]

Watched to the bitter end early this morning, more for the historical aspect. I was at the 19 inning loss vs. Cleveland too, so a bit of a sucker for punishment. 

19 innings (Jays record and 3rd time it has happened)
Boston used 12 pitchers (ties A.L. record)
Jays struck out 23 times (new franchise record)
Osuna with 10 blown saves this season (leads MLB)

Its been fun watching some of the Sept. callups develop at the MLB level. Urena looks really good with the glove and had some nice ABs.
Santos, Dermody and Rowley all looked pretty good pitching multiple innings. Lost in all of it was the quality start from Estrada hours earlier.

I thought Marvin Hudson called a really good game behind the plate, but disagreed with him tossing Donaldson. There really wasn't a whole lot said between the two to precipitate being thrown out of the game. Jays forced to use a back-up catcher at 3rd base because of it, not the way I want to see these games decided.

Looking forward to the rubber match tonight.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Blue Jays 1  Red Sox 6

It just wasn't Joe Biagini's night.  After the rain began that is.  Before that, the Jays' starter was having a solid game with the score tied at one apiece.  Then the misty rain came and it was 'bye bye Biagini.

By the time Biagini was done in the fourth inning, the Red Sox had scored five runs off him, enough to elicit frustration with his performance, quite the opposite from his last start which was a stellar outing against Baltimore.  Not this time:

"Bad. That?s a short answer for ya,? said Biagini, when asked to evaluate his performance. ?It?s a search for consistency. Consistency of release point, aggressiveness and all that good stuff. I feel like I was battling. But I feel like the ball got up there a little bit in that fourth inning."

The bright pitching spot for the Jays belongs to young Carlos Ramirez who has allowed just one hit in the six overall total innings he has pitched in relief.  Ramirez has yet to allow a run and has been nothing short of impressive in his major league stint since being one of the call-ups added to the Jays roster. 

Game recap:
http://www.torontosun.com/2017/09/06/shorthanded-blue-jays-dropped-by-red-sox