Another glacially slow start for the offence, but another late comeback secures the series win. The pitching was also excellent tonight, including both Jose Berrios and Mason Fluharty and Yimi Garcia in relief. The Jays are back within a game of .500 after a bad slump.
It was another strong outing for Jose Berrios. Jaren Duran singled and stole second to lead off the first, but he was stranded and no Red Sock would reach scoring position in the next three innings. They did get a couple off of him in the fifth. A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases with two out, and Alex Bregman lined a double to plate two. Jose recovered from there, though, escaping the inning and then recording five more outs. He ultimately went 6.2 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk and striking out a season high eight. It was excellent work, and he deserved better than to leave in a position to take the loss.
Unfortunately for him, the Jays really couldn’t figure out Tanner Houck. They scattered three hits over the first six innings, without drawing a walk and striking out six times. Daulton Varsho finally got them on the board in the seventh. After narrowly hooking a towering fly outside the right field foul pole, he lined the next pitch the other way, over the wall in left. That cut the deficit to 2-1. Houck then hit Addison Barger, but they couldn’t capitalize. It took him just 86 pitches to get through seven innings.
Mason Fluharty recorded the third out in the top of the seventh, then returned and retired the heart of the Sox lineup in just five pitches in the eighth.
Justin Slaten relieved Houck in the bottom of the eighth. Nathan Lukes lined a one out single, and Bo Bichette lofted a double to right to advance him to third. That teed it up for Vladimir Guerrero jr., who golfed a low curveball to left centre for a three run homer, putting the Jays in front 4-2.
With Jeff Hoffman having gone two innings last night, it came down to Yimi Garcia to attempt the two run save. He made it look easy, striking out a pair and getting a roller to first to secure the win.
Jays of the Day: Vlad (0.339), Bo (0.165)
Less so: Clement (-0.100)
The Guardians come to town tomorrow night to kick off a three game set. Chris Bassitt (2-2, 2.62) will take on Logan Allen (1-2, 4.21) in the opener. First pitch at 7:07pm ET.