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Bichette Grand Slam Hands Sox Third Straight Loss

April 25

Kevin Plawiecki returns from the COVID list tonight to play catcher. Berríos pitches for Toronto against Eovaldi in the first game of the series in Canada. Just as the announcers are talking about Boston's concerning lack of offense, Martinez hits a one-out double to the gap in center in the top of the second, followed by a walk to put two on and a single by Dalbec to load the bases, but a shot right back to Berríos ends in an inning-ending double play. The Sox put a runner at second with one out in the top of the fourth. He moves to third on a fly out before another one ends the inning. Springer makes a Superman-esque dive in left-center to keep Plawiecki off the bases and end the top of the fifth. The first half of this is a pitching duel. Guerriel leads off the bottom of the inning with a homer to left to provide the first run of the ballgame and make it 1-0 Toronto. This is his second of the year. Eovaldi finishes the sixth and becomes the first Red Sox starter all year to progress as far as the seventh inning.

With two out in the bottom of the seventh, Chapman extends the lead to 2-0 with a homer to left center. This is his third of the year. The first two batters reach in the top of the eighth to end Berríos’ night. A groundout moves the runners into scoring position before Dalbec scores on Hernández’s single to left as the Red Sox break the shutout there and make it 2-1. Verdugo’s sacrifice fly sends in Arroyo to tie the game at 2-2. A pop out ends the inning, and the Sox will regret that. The Jays put two on with one out in the bottom of the inning, forcing a pitching change. A single right after loads the bases for Bichette, who hits his second home run of the year, a grand slam into right and a dagger for the Sox at 6-2. It’s his first grand slam of his career. Gurriel doubles to left with two out before a strikeout ends the inning. Devers leads off the ninth with a double to left. Toronto immediately challenges, but the call stands. He moves to third on a groundout before another closes the book on a 6-2 loss for the Sox.