Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi cruised through seven innings against the Blue Jays on Monday night. Once Boston turned things over to the bullpen, it was a different story.
With the score tied, 2-2, in the eighth, Sox relievers Matt Strahm and Tyler Danish allowed three straight singles before Toronto slugger Bo Bichette hit an opposite field grand slam off Danish to put the Blue Jays up, 6-2. Toronto went on to take the opener of a four-game series by the same score as the Red Sox fell to 7-10.
Bichette’s blast just came moments after Boston’s sleepy offense woke up just enough to tie the game. Blue Jays starter José Berríos had allowed 12 in a row but immediately ran into trouble in the eighth when Bobby Dalbec and Christian Arroyo led off the inning with back-to-back singles and chased the starter from the game. After Kevin Plawecki bunted the runners over, Kiké Hernández cut Toronto’s lead in half with a first-pitch single off reliever Adam Cimber. The next batter, Alex Verdugo tied things up with a sacrifice fly to center.
After scoring just eight runs over three games against the Rays, Boston’s offense continued to struggle in the early goings Monday. Berríos, much like teammate Kevin Gausman on Thursday, efficiently carved up Boston’s lineup, needing just 89 pitches to get through seven innings. The Sox only advanced one baserunner into scoring position before the eighth.
Eovaldi dominated for most of the game but allowed two solo homers -- to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in the fifth and Matt Chapman in the seventh -- to allow Toronto to take a 2-0 lead. Eovaldi was as efficient as it gets against the Jays, needing only 72 pitches (56 strikes) to get through seven innings. He allowed two runs on five hits and struck out five batters.
Dalbec (2-for-3, R), had two of Boston’s seven hits in the loss.
Misplay on bunt costs Sox
With one out in the eighth and a runner on first, Bradley Zimmer dropped a drag bunt down the first base line that Strahm fielded cleanly. The lefty then barehanded the ball and flipped to Dalbec, who couldn’t squeeze it in his glove. The miscue put two runners on for Springer, who singled before Bichette’s grand slam.
Boston squanders chance in second
The Red Sox squandered a prime scoring chance in the second inning before Berríos settled in and cruised for the rest of his outing. with one out, J.D. Martinez doubled, Jackie Bradley Jr. walked and Dalbec singled to load the bases for Arroyo. Arroyo then swung at the first pitch he saw and bounced it back to Berríos, who started a 1-4-3 double play that ended the inning.
Boston did not put another runner in scoring position again until the eighth inning.
Springer makes outstanding catch
George Springer made a highlight reel catch in the fifth, robbing Plawecki of an extra-base hit. With two outs, Springer made a leaping, diving catch in the left-center gap to end the inning. You can watch it here.
Canada native Pivetta to pitch Tuesday
Canada native Nick Pivetta (0-3, 10.03 ERA) will get the start for the Red Sox on Tuesday night opposite the right-handed Gausman (1-1, 2.89 ERA). Pivetta struggled in his last outing against Toronto on Wednesday (4 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 4 K) while Gausman dominated the Red Sox in Thursday’s series finale at Fenway Park (8+ IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 8 K).
First pitch is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. ET.
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