Big inning propels Blue Jays to season-best fifth straight win
BOSTON -- It took the Blue Jays until the fifth inning in Monday night’s game to collect their first hit, but once that came, they kicked the door down with a monster frame, helping them finish the day with a 7-3 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
This was just a few hours after the Blue Jays picked up a 4-1 win in their suspended game from June 26.
Needing a spark to get things going offensively in the nightcap, Leo Jiménez took the second pitch he saw from Brad Keller in the top of the fifth the other way, lacing a double down the right-field line.
“That’s a huge at-bat right there for us by Leo,” said George Springer, who had a big at-bat himself later in the frame.
Steward Berroa followed Jiménez with a walk, and on the second pitch of his at-bat, Springer went the opposite way down the right-field line, only his poke never touched ground until it was in the stands. It was Springer’s second long ball of the day and his 19th of the season.
With the bases clear, Joey Loperfido lifted a harmless fly to left field, but Rob Refsnyder dropped the ball, one of four errors the Red Sox made in the nightcap. A Vladimir Guerrero Jr. single put two runners on before the second out could be recorded.
“It was a total team effort -- big swing from George again,” said manager John Schneider.
Addison Barger would single in Loperfido, and an Ernie Clement double brought Guerrero around, allowing the Blue Jays to cruise to their fifth straight victory.
“We’re swinging the bats fairly well,” Schneider said. “It’s great to watch the young guys embrace being a little more comfortable and for guys like George and Vlad to continue to lead the way. It starts on the mound, we’ve had good pitching.”
“I’m just happy to help us there,” Springer added. “That’s a big situation, they were up one at the time. The at-bat by Leo, the at-bat by [Berroa], is the whole inning.”
After the team needed seven pitchers to get through the earlier win, starter José Berríos stepped up big, providing the club with a very strong 7 2/3 innings, striking out six in the process.
“Understand, I’m human,” Berríos was telling himself while watching the first game of the day unfold. “I’m not a superhero. I just go out and do my thing.”
“That’s the performance that everybody needed there,” Springer said of Berríos. “He was himself again tonight. He’s been a horse for us.”
It was the right-hander’s fourth straight win, and fourth straight start of at least seven innings with two or fewer earned runs allowed.
“Going back to the first game with everyone chipping in, pitching-wise, and then José knowing we’re kind of short and stepping up and doing what he did,” said Schneider.
“There’s nothing better than to win,” concluded Berríos. “We had two games today, won both. It was a great opportunity.”