Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios likely would accept a repeat performance of his previous outing against the Boston Red Sox when the clubs meet in the rubber match of a three-game series in Toronto on Thursday night.
Berrios allowed one run and four hits over seven innings on April 7 at Fenway Park in a 6-2 victory over the Red Sox.
Toronto will be riding a high after overcoming a six-run deficit on Tuesday night to win 7-6 in 10 innings and even the series. The Blue Jays won three of four games from the Red Sox in Boston on April 7-10.
Berrios (1-1, 4.24 ERA) is 5-6 with a 3.66 ERA in 16 career games (all starts) against the Red Sox, who are scheduled to start right-hander Tanner Houck (0-2, 7.58) on Thursday.
Houck allowed one run and five hits in 6 2/3 innings and did not factor in the decision on April 9 in a game the Blue Jays won 2-1 in 11 innings. In nine career games (eight) starts against Toronto, he is 1-1 with a 3.09 ERA.
The Blue Jays hope their comeback win is something to build on. They had lost eight of their previous nine games and had been unable to produce much power.
This time their first six runs were a result of three home runs, all on changeups.
“This is what we’ve been missing, and it feels great,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “I’m so impressed and proud of the way that they came back.”
Daulton Varsho and Alejandro Kirk each homered in the sixth against Boston’s Lucas Giolito, who was pitching in the majors for the first time since 2023. Anthony Santander tied the game with a three-run homer in the seventh off Garrett Whitlock. Santander has struggled, as he usually does early in the season, and Whitlock did him a favor with a hanger.
“Is tomorrow May?” Schneider asked on Wednesday. “Yeah? So he’s ready to go off.”
“It means a lot,” Santander said. “This is good momentum. Hopefully, we can carry that for all of May.”
Kirk singled in the 10th to score the winning run after the Blue Jays caught a big break. Automatic runner Vladimir Guerrero Jr. tagged up at second on Santander’s lineout to center. Ceddanne Rafaela’s throw to third was in plenty of time, but it bounced off Guerrero, who dove in safely.
“It happens,” Boston manager Alex Cora said.
With one out, the Red Sox loaded the bases with intentional walks to set up Kirk’s heroics.
He thought it was more significant that Boston stopped hitting after a strong start.
“I think it was one baserunner from the (seventh) inning on,” Cora said. “We did not put too much pressure on them. We have to finish games.”
The Red Sox did take some positives from the game. Giolito, who was returning from elbow surgery and a hamstring injury to make his Red Sox debut, was impressive. He did not allow a run until the sixth, using a fastball and changeup effectively. Giolito wound up surrendering three runs and five hits over six innings, walking two and striking out seven.
“Outstanding job,” Cora said. “If we get this version of Lucas, we are going to be in good shape.”
“I’m happy with how I competed,” Giolito said. “I can definitely finish stronger than that.”
Toronto promoted left-hander Eric Lauer from Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, and he allowed two runs in four innings in relief. Right-hander Casey Lawrence was designated for assignment.
Boston’s Alex Bregman homered for the second consecutive game to extend his hit streak to 10 games (16-for-40, .400 average).
–Field Level Media
