Bradley leads to 8-run rally, Blue Jays beat Red Sox 9-3
BOSTON (AP) – Jackie Bradley Jr. doubled and scored to score an eight-run inning against his former team and the Toronto Blue Jays rolled to a 9-3 win over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday-evening.
George Springer had two basehits and batted in three runs in his return to the lineup with designated batter. The Blue Jays (66-55) recorded their fifth win in six games to keep pace with the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL wildcard standings.
Ross Stripling (6-3) continued his flirtation with a perfect game last week with another efficient night, which resulted in a run on six hits and six strikeouts in six innings. He said he likes to be someone who counts the team late in the year.
“I’ve had some good years, but I don’t think I’ve ever been a guy the team really relied on and expected big things from in a playoff push,” Stripling said. “So this is nice to be on the shovel every fifth day when every win really matters.”
Interim manager John Schneider said the team is now on the wave of its starting pitching.
“They’ve had to deal with, that’s where it starts,” he said. “I think it allows the offense to do what it can do.”
The Red Sox (60-63) have lost four of their last five.
Boston starter Josh Winckowski (5-7) lasted only 2 2/3 innings, giving up six runs, six hits and two walks. He gave up 12 runs in 7 2/3 innings in his last two starts.
It rained all afternoon in Boston and ongoing storms in the area delayed the game’s start time by an hour.
It didn’t calm the bats of the Blue Jays, who started the day in the lead of the AL with a .262 batting average for the team.
Kiké Hernández’s RBI single gave the Red Sox an 1-0 lead in the second inning
After that, things quickly fell apart for Boston.
Bradley made his first appearance at Fenway Park as a visiting player and doubled hard from the left field wall to open up the third. Boston fielder Tommy Pham was injured in the game after his jumping attempt to make a flyout resulted in him crashing into the wall and coming out with back spasms.
Winckowski got back-to-back ground outs, but Lourdes Gurriel Jr. tied the game with an RBI double.
Alejandro Kirk walked and Teoscar Hernández doubled to make it 2-1. Bo Bichette singled to load the bases and Winckowski walked Matt Chapman before being pulled in favor of reliever Austin Davis.
Cavan Biggio kept the rally going with an RBI single. Bradley Jr. then came back on board via a walk. Davis looked like he was going to get out of the inning when Springer lifted a short flyout into right field. But Rob Refsnyder yearned for his attempt at a sliding tackle and the bases were empty on Springer’s triple to make it 8-1.
TRAINERS ROOM
Blue Jays: Left-handed Tim Mayza (right shoulder dislocation) recovered from a 15-day IL.
Red Sox: SS Xander Bogaerts was relieved in the seventh inning after experiencing spasms in the center of the back. … After Pham’s injury, Refsnyder entered the game on right field and Alex Verdugo moved to the left. Pham is day to day. … RHP Nathan Eovaldi was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder inflammation. Manager Alex Cora said he expects to return before the end of the season. …. 1B Eric Hosmer was placed on the 10-day IL with low back inflammation. … Cora said second baseman Trevor’s story would begin Wednesday with a rehabilitation assignment with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs.
WELCOME BACK JBJ
Bradley received a warm welcome during a video tribute highlighting the outfielder’s time in Boston, spanning more than eight seasons over two stints.
Bradley was the MVP of the 2018 AL Championship Series and helped the Red Sox to a World Series victory that season. He tipped his cap to the crowd during his first appearance at Fenway Park as a visiting player.
Bradley agreed to a $24 million two-year contract with Milwaukee in March 2021 and played one season for the Brewers. He was traded to Boston in December and played a second stint with the Red Sox. But due to problems early in the season, he was released from Boston earlier this month. The Blue Jays signed him on August 9.
NEXT ONE:
Blue Jays: RHP José Berrios (9-5, 5.39 ERA) faced Boston twice this season and gave up only three earned runs in 13 innings with two walks and 10 strikeouts.
Red Sox: RHP Brayan Bello (0-3, 8.47) makes his fourth start of the season.
____
