Toronto Sports Today

Toronto Sports News Continuously Updated

Instant Reaction: George Springer hit three two-out RBI singles in Blue Jays’ 6-2 victory over the Red Sox

by

Did the Toronto Blue Jays ever need that win?

On Monday evening, the Jays started a four-game series against the Boston Red Sox, defeating their American League divisional foes 6-2, snapping a three-game losing streak and moving to a 6-5 record this season.

 

After the Blue Jays failed to capitalize on a bases-loaded opportunity in the top of the first inning, they scored the opening run in the top of the third. Andrés Giménez hit a sacrifice fly to give the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead, followed by an RBI single by George Springer with two outs.

The Red Sox cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third, but the Blue Jays got that run back in the top of the fifth thanks to Springer, who hit an RBI single with two outs for a 3-1 Blue Jays lead.

In the top of the seventh inning, Springer hit another two-out RBI single to give the Jays a 4-1 lead. Will Wagner followed that up with an RBI single of his own for the 5-1 lead. The Red Sox scored a run of their own in the bottom of the eighth, but the Jays answered that thanks to an RBI single from Nathan Lukes, giving the Jays a 6-2 victory.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Takeaways…

Before we get into the good, let’s look at the bad, namely, the Blue Jays’ base running. The Blue Jays started the top of the sixth with runners on first and third with no outs. However, Alan Roden grounded into a double play because Nathan Lukes reached out and tapped the Red Sox infielder’s leg. Incredibly unneeded.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

 

In the top of the ninth, Will Wagner attempted to advance to third on a Lukes hit, but was thrown out before the second runner crossed home plate. This was necessarily bad base running, but it should’ve been 7-2.

Also going into the “bad” category was the weather. It’s April 7, why is the weather this bad?

However, José Berríos powered through the mist and the cold, throwing seven innings with one earned run allowed, four hits, three walks, and two strikeouts. It was easily his best start of the season, and the Blue Jays’ starters have a 2.41 ERA when you look past the first game of the season.

There was only one extra-base hit by the Blue Jays, as Bo Bichette hit a double. The lack of home runs remains a concern, but George Springer’s play isn’t. On Monday, he was 4-4, with three RBIs, all coming on RBI singles with two outs. He’s been their best hitter this season, who saw that coming?

Alan Roden had a solid game, even with the Lukes-impacted double play. He picked up his first career outfield assist in the big leagues. Alejandro Kirk, Nathan Lukes, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. all had two-single games.

The Blue Jays have a chance to at worst, split the series with a win on Tuesday. Easton Lucas gets the start for them, but their hitters will be in tough against Garrett Crochet. The game starts at 6:45 PM ET.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.