Jays get Rowdy twice, crush Red Sox

Blue Jays: 10 Red Sox: 3

31% of BBB GameThread voters accurately predicted this game would have a run differential of 6 or greater. I bet no one voted that way thinking it would favor the Jays.

Rowdy Tellez, making the argument against being platooned, was the hero of the game. He had a terrific night against a lefty pitcher. He worked Eduardo Rodriguez for 8 pitches in his first at bat, then took him deep during his second. One inning later, he took him deep again. He ended up striking out looking with the bases loaded and two outs in the 6th, but we will give him a pass for that.

Marcus Stroman wasn’t very sharp tonight. He ended up walking 6 batters and giving up 5 hits in 6.0 innings, somehow only allowing one earned run (on a solo homer). He had a quick 1st inning, but then in the 2nd, the first two batters reached via lead off walk and single to put two on with no outs. However, Michael Chavis grounded into a double play and Christian Vasquez grounded out to end the threat. Similarly in the 3rd, the Red Sox drew two walks and a single to load the bases with one out, but Stroman struck out Moreland and Xander Bogaerts to keep the game scoreless. Truly remarkable that he stayed out of trouble after allowing 3 walks and 2 hits in two innings.

Mitch Moreland homered to start the 6th inning, noted by the broadcasters as the fourth homer Stroman has given up this year, all exclusively to left handed batters. Jonathan Davis also made a nice catch to rob Bogaerts of a hit. Stroman walked the next two batters but got a much needed double play ball (his 3rd of the game) to limit the damage.

Stroman started the 7th, but gave up a single and a walk and he was quickly replaced by Tim Mayza. Mayza walked Benintendi to load the bases with no outs, but struck out both Mookie Betts and Mitch Moreland. Joe Biagini got the last out hold the Red Sox to the one run.

Rafael Devers homered off Joe Biagini to start the 8th inning. Sam Gaviglio replaced Biagini, and one out later gave up a solo shot to Jackie Bradley Jr. Gaviglio gave up just one walk in the 9th.

Offensively, the Jays scored almost as many runs of support for Marcus Stroman in one game (8) than they did in his previous 10 starts combined (10). Every batter in the lineup reached base at least once.

The Jays started the game with a lead off bloop off the bat of Jonathan Davis that Chavis couldn’t come up with, but he was doubled off on a Vladimir Guerrero Jr line drive. The Jays had only one walk in the 2nd and 3rd innings.

The 4th inning was fun. Guerrero singled, Smoak hit one deep to center that just stayed in the park, then Tellez hit one deep to right that did not stay in the park. In fact, Tellez’s ball hit the electronic paneling and broke a square. One pitch later, Randal Grichuk hit a line drive homer to left field to put the Jays up 3-0.

The 5th was equally fun. Vlad Jr singled with two outs, a hard hit ball that slid under a glove, then Smoak walked right behind him. A wild pitch advanced both into scoring position, which proved to be unnecessary as Rowdy Tellez homered once again to put the Jays up 6-0.

The Jays got back the run they gave up in the top of the 6th, then added to their lead in the bottom of the 6th. Galvis and McKinney worked back-to-back walks off Tyler Thornburg, then Jansen singled home Galvis. Drury also singled, scoring McKinney. One out later, Smoak got hit by a pitch to load the bases but hero of the evening Rowdy Tellez struck out looking on a full count curveball.

The Jays kept on hitting in the 7th. Grichuk and Galvis both singled off new reliever Colten Brewer, then Drury drove them both home with a double. A lovey turn of events from last night’s game.

Jays of the Day: Tellez (+.270 WPA) and Stroman (.258), but it was a solid team effort all around

Suckage: None.

We had 588 comments in the GameThread. lalalaprise takes home the W.

Tomorrow Rick Porcello will take on Aaron Sanchez. Same time, same place, with hopefully the same result.