FanPost

Sox Waste Opportunities, Are Doomed by Five-Run Second

April 20

Before the game, there is a ceremony honoring late player/commentator Jerry Remy. Pivetta pitches for the Sox against Berríos. With one out in the bottom of the first, Devers doubles to center. He is driven in by a Martinez single to right to make it 1-0 Red Sox. A single to right puts runners at the corners with two out, but a strikeout ends the inning. A runner is at first with nobody out in the top of the second for Tapia, who homers to right to make it 2-1 Blue Jays on his first homer of the year. He came over from Colorado. Toronto loads the bases with nobody out later in the frame so that Springer’s sacrifice fly can bring in Espinal and make it 3-1. Then Bichette pulls a single to left that scores two and opens things up at 5-1 early. A walk puts two on as the Boston bullpen gets active. Devers tags Bichette as the Sox finally get the second out for the price of another infield single. Now the Blue Jays have batted around as we get back to Chapman. As if things weren’t bad enough, now the fire alarm is going off at Fenway! When it’s 5-1 this early and then the fire alarm goes off, you know you’re in for a long night! A pop out finally ends the inning, but this one feels all but over already.

The Sox try to counter by putting runners at the corners with one out in the bottom of the frame but waste a tremendous opportunity to get back in the game, popping out twice in succession instead. A runner is at second with one out in the bottom of the fourth but Boston strands him. Runners are at the corners with one out in the top of the seventh before Gurriel scores on a sacrifice fly to make it 6-1. A stolen base puts a runner at second with two out before a groundout ends the inning. The Sox hit back-to-back singles to put two on with one out in the bottom of the seventh and move both into scoring position on a groundout while forcing a pitching change, but a strikeout renders the threat harmless. Jays win, 6-1, but this one is all on the Sox. The one good thing about tonight is that Vázquez was pulled off the COVID list before the game started.