Ray pitches 6 strong innings in 1st game as Blue Jays, Red Sox split doubleheader
Toronto tops Boston 4-1 in afternoon but gets beaten by same score in evening
Robbie Ray pitched six strong innings, Randal Grichuk homered and drove in three runs, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1 Wednesday in the first game of a doubleheader.
Ray (9-5) gave up one run on five hits, striking out eight. Jordan Romano earned his eighth save with a perfect seventh inning.
Grichuk hit his 19th homer, a tiebreaking, two-run drive in the fourth off Garrett Richards (6-6). The drive landed into the first row of the bleachers in straightaway center field, and Springer led off the fifth with his ninth homer.
Grich vs. G. Rich 😮 <a href="https://twitter.com/RGrich15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RGrich15</a> wins this battle 💣 <a href="https://t.co/51KFRXDTYs">pic.twitter.com/51KFRXDTYs</a>
—@BlueJaysBoston scored in the first when a single by Rafael Devers set up an RBI grounder by J.D. Martinez.
Bo Bichette walked in the second, stole second and later scored on Grichuk's single back to the mound that Richards couldn't contain.
Richards went four innings, allowing four runs on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts. It was his first loss in five starts since June 23 at Tampa Bay.
Red Sox beat Blue Jays in the evening to split doubleheader
In the evening, however, the story was a bit different.
Boston's rookie starter Tanner Houck struck out seven over four innings as the Red Sox payed the Blue Jays back 4-1 Wednesday night to a split a doubleheader.
Houck gave up one run and two hits. Garrett Whitlock (4-1) followed with two scoreless innings and Matt Barnes closed for his 23rd save in 27 opportunities.
Rookie Jarren Duran hit his first major league triple, an RBI drive in the fourth. He also scored on the play when center fielder George Springer bobbled the ball.
"(Duran's) speed changes the game," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "That's what we're looking for. It's a weapon and it was fun to watch him run the bases."
Duran also had a sacrifice fly. Kevin Plawecki had a season-high three hits for Boston.
Steven Matz (8-6) allowed four runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. led off the Toronto fourth with a double and scored on Bo Bichette's single to left. Guerrero tied Bichette for the AL with 78 runs scored.
Fewest games to first 300 hits in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a> HISTORY: <br><br>T-1) Vladdy (281)<br>T-1) Vernon Wells (281) <a href="https://t.co/nhDbJUPAWC">pic.twitter.com/nhDbJUPAWC</a>
—@BlueJays"We haven't played great games against these guys," said Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo, whose team is 5-9 against Boston this season, losing five of the last six matchups. "Their bullpen has done a little better job than our bullpen. But our starters have done a good job, our offense has been equally good. But, their bullpen has been a little bit better in the games that they've won."
Springer also homered as the Blue Jays topped the AL East leaders in the opener, a day after a rainout at Fenway Park forced the twinbill.
Grichuk's 19th homer was a tiebreaking, two-run drive in the fourth off Garrett Richards (6-6) that landed in the first row of the bleachers in straightaway center field. Springer led off the fifth with his ninth homer.
Boston scored in the first when a single by Rafael Devers set up an RBI grounder by J.D. Martinez.
Bichette walked in the second, stole second and later scored on Grichuk's single back to the mound that Richards couldn't contain.
Richards went four innings, allowing four runs on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts. It was his first loss in five starts since June 23 at Tampa Bay.
