By Kate Joseph
Staff Writer
After two consecutive losses to the New York Yankees, the Red Sox took two victories, as well as another loss, when they faced the Toronoto Blue Jays in Boston this weekend.
On Friday, both teams started off strong. The Blue Jays managed two runs in the top of the first, but Boston fought back by scoring one run in each of the first, second, and third innings with Brock Holt, Mookie Betts, and Dustin Pedroia crossing the plate.
By the start of the ninth inning the score was tied at 6-6.
In overtime, Toronto scored two runs in the top of the tenth, but it wasn’t enough to keep Boston down.
After singles from Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Christian Vasquez, Will Middlebrooks, David Ortiz, and Toenis Cespedes, the team scored three more runs to take the game.
“A lot of contributions up and down the lineup,” Bogaerts told MLB.com. “Everyone did something in a different way, and that’s how you win ballgames.”
The team kept their strength the following day by defeating Toronto 4-3.
Boston scored one run in each of the first four innings, while Toronto took one in the first and two in the seventh.
Clay Buchholz was on the mound Saturday night.
“At some point in the game, I’m using each and every one of my pitches in an effective way,” Buchholz told MLB.com. “Regardless of it being two pitches in one inning to get outs, I’m using them and I have confidence in them.”
Boston’s two-game streak ended on Sunday afternoon after their loss to the Blue Jays in the third and final game of the series.
The Red Sox managed one run in the sixth inning, while Toronto showed their strength in the fifth by scoring three runs to secure their lead.
Toronoto’s near shutout can mainly be attributed to pitcher R.A. Dickey, whose knuckleballs proved to be fast and strong.
“I thought a couple of [them] were going to hit me and they ended up being right down the middle and then he has that 85-mph fastball to go with it,” Betts told MLB.com. “That combination is tough to hit.”
The Red Sox return to the field in Kansas city where they will face the Royals for four games starting Thursday, Sept. 11 at 8:10 p.m.
