Springer's 7th HR (out of 18 this season) adds to G1 oddities

BOSTON -- It took a little over two months to complete, but it was worth the wait.

The Blue Jays rode a solo home run from George Springer to a 4-1 victory on Monday afternoon in the completion of a rain-suspended game from June 26 at Fenway Park. That homer went down as Springer's seventh of the season. He is now at 18 on the year.

This was a wacky one from the start.

“There’s a guy on the team that you’re playing that was on your team [before], there’s no anthem, there’s no anything, completely different starter,” said Springer. “It’s a little weird.”

The game resumed in the top of the second inning with just one out, but while the talk of the day revolved around Red Sox catcher Danny Jansen becoming the first MLB player to play for both teams in the same game, much of the day belonged to the pitchers.

Including Yariel Rodríguez, who was the original starter for Toronto back in June, the club used seven pitchers who combined for 11 strikeouts while allowing only four hits and three walks. Ryan Yarbrough did most of the heavy lifting on Monday, striking out four with two hits, one walk and no runs over 3 1/3 innings in relief.

“They all did a really great job,” manager John Schneider said. “We dodged a couple of bullets … but they all were really good. Kind of exactly what we had hoped for.”

Without the pomp and circumstance of a regular pregame, the first few innings also played out without much fanfare. Then it got weird again.

In the sixth inning, with one out and two runners on, Rafael Devers hit a slow roller in front of the plate and was hit by the throw down to first base, which allowed both runners to score. But it was determined that Devers interfered on catcher Brian Serven's throw to first. Both Red Sox runners returned to their respective bases, and Zach Pop came out of the bullpen to induce an inning-ending groundout and keep the game scoreless.

“That was a big play,” said Schneider. “We got caught with no one covering home there. That kind of turned the game a little bit, gave us a bit of a break. Then Zach came in and got the ground ball and George hit the homer. You get down in this building and it’s tough to stop the momentum, sometimes. It was a big play.”

The big hit of the day came with one out in the top of the seventh inning. Springer stepped to the plate, took the first pitch he saw for a ball and then sent his second offering soaring over the Green Monster and out of the ballpark.

Per Statcast, that ball traveled 416 feet with an exit velocity of 108.2 mph. It marked the continuation of an incredible turnaround for Springer this season.

“It’s been a weird year for George,” said Schneider. “He’s been so consistent in the clubhouse, and he’s done such an amazing job to keep these young kids under wraps. It goes without saying, we need George to be George, and he’s been that for a good while now.”

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. provided insurance with an opposite-field two-run double in the top of the eighth, which was followed by Addison Barger's RBI ground-rule double to cap the scoring.

Pop was credited with the win, his first of the season, and Chad Green struck out three in the ninth to record the save.