The weekend Red Sox sweep of the Phillies was fun, but it came against the club with the worst record in baseball.
Now the Blue Jays are in town for three last games of the season at Fenway. But, to the thrill of the Nation, the hometown team did them proud.
Boston beat Toronto in the opening game of the series, even after the Blue Jays scored in the top of the first inning. It was just the 19th time this season the Red Sox have rallied to win after an early deficit. The Sox scored in every inning but the 1st and 5th, powered by solid offense from Mookie Betts (3-for-5), David Ortiz (2-for-4), Travis Shaw (2-for-5), and another remarkable day for Jackie Bradley, Jr.
Every Red Sox starter had at least one hit Monday, eight players scored at least one run.
The final tally was 11 Boston runs on 17 hits versus just 4 Blue Jays runs on 9 hits. It was the 6th nine-inning game of 17 or more hits for the Red Sox this season. Only the Tigers have had more such games (8) in baseball.
Though fans yearned for another home run on the march to #500, Ortiz offered them two doubles instead. 577 career doubles ties Ortiz with Albert Pujols for the 21st most in baseball history. With his next double Ortiz will tie Wade Boggs at No. 20 on that list.
With his 65th walk of the season Big Papi tallied his 11th such Red Sox season. In club history only Carl Yastrzemski (17), Ted Williams (16), and Dwight Evans (12) have had more.
The Red Sox got home runs from Bradley (his 8th) and Shaw (his 8th). Boston has now logged a home run in 5 straight games and multiple home runs in 8 of their last 24.
Mookie Betts extended his hitting streak to 13 games, the longest active streak in the majors and tied for the longest of his career. He’s now hit safely against the Blue Jays in each of his last 15 games, the longest such streak against Toronto since Jacoby Ellsbury‘s 16-game streak that crossed the 2012-2013 seasons.
Once again, this time in the 4th inning, Betts drove in the baserunner on third with less than two outs. Betts is 26-for-32 in these situations (81.3%) just behind Dustin Pedroia, who is 10-for-12 (83.3%) in the same situation.
Rick Porcello, rejuvenated since his return from the DL on August 26, pitched 7.1 solid innings, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 8 hits with 2 walks and 4 strikeouts.
Boston starters are now 12-4 with a 2.90 ERA in the club’s last 19 games.
Too little, too late
With the season winding down and many in the Nation likely heading to football as a way to pass the time, the Red Sox are looking good a little too late.
Boston can now boast a +51 run differential for their last 28 games with the Sox offense slashing .311/.360/.510 over that period. Red Sox starters are 12-4 for their last 19 games with an impressive 2.90 ERA for their last 19 games.
With Monday’s win and the Orioles’ loss, the Sox moved into a tie with Baltimore for 4th place. It’s Boston first appearance out of the AL East cellar since June 8th.