With the Sox amassing at least seven hits in each of their first 10 games, it was startling to watch them hitless against the Blue Jays until the 5th inning Sunday.
The first Boston hit, a bloop shot to short left field, came off the bat of Marco Hernandez in his first big league game. Hernandez, who walked in the 3rd, would also pick up his first ever steal and, when Mookie Betts singled, his first ever run scored. Hernandez became the first Red Sox player in team history to record a run, a walk, a hit, and a stolen base in his MLB debut.
Travis Shaw, who hadn’t had a late inning hit all season (in part, no doubt, due to Manager Farrell’s insistence on frequently pinch hitting for him) smacked a two-run home run with no outs in the bottom of the 9th. It was his first HR of the season and first since last September 30th. Nine of Shaw’s 14 career bombs have come at Fenway.
Even so, it was a case of too little, too late. Jays starter Aaron Sanchez was nearly unflappable through 7.0 full innings and picked up a well-deserved win in a 5-3 Toronto victory.
Sox starter Steven Wright, rocky again in the first inning (his career 1st inning ERA is 7.62) but otherwise solid through 6.0 IP, put it succinctly. “Tip your hat to them,” Wright said later from the clubhouse, “they played a hell of a game today.” Wright allowed two first-inning runs, but struck out six and walked none.
In a scary moment to lead off the top of the 4th, Blue Jays first baseman Chris Colabello took a Wright fastball right in the helmet. Colabello was on the ground for a while but thankfully got to his feet and continued in the game. The incident clearly shook up Wright. “I have a relationship with Colabello, known him for a while,” Wright said later but, he added, “it didn’t matter who it was, I would never ever try to do that.” A Wright knuckleball would hit Russell Martin later in the game. It was Wright’s 3rd and 4th HBP in his career, the first time he has hit two batters in a game.
The Red Sox bullpen opened with Tommy Layne followed Noe Ramirez, Robbie Ross, and Matt Barnes. All but Ross allowed one earned run. The 14 total opponent hits allowed by Sox pitching was their most since a 6-2 loss to the Rays last September 23rd.
Red Sox pitching struck out 12 Blue Jays for a second straight game. Boston pitching has now collected a club-record total of 116 strikeouts through the first 11 games of the season.
Once again, Red Sox newcomer Chris Young, historically a strong batter facing lefty pitching, didn’t have a good day against a righty, striking out three times and grounding into a fielder’s choice. Fans on Twitter were quick the react, particularly that Farrell didn’t hit for Young in the bottom of the 9th, down by two runs with no one out and facing righty Roberto Osuna. But after the game, knowing the Sox will face lefty starters for the first time in 2016 on Monday and Tuesday, Farrell said that leaving Young in today’s game was a considered part of his plan. “To take a guy that hasn’t played for a week and just assume he’s going to give you production against left handers,” Farrell said is not good strategy. “He’s got to see right handers to get the at-bats.”
Despite Sunday’s loss, the Red Sox can secure a series win in the Patriots Day morning game Monday. Clay Buchholz will tote his mighty 10.00 ERA to the mound for the 11:05 start. On Patriots Day 2015 Justin Masterson pitched 5.0 innings and allowed just one run to secure a 7-1 win over the Orioles.
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