Blue Jays ride Manoah’s arm more than their bats, beat Bosox
BOSTON (AP) — All-Star Alek Manoah threw six pointy innings as the Toronto Blue Jays relied more on his arm than their bats to maintain their dominance of the Red Sox throughout the season, beating Boston 4-1 Saturday.
A day after Toronto set a team record for most runs – and posted the most runs ever against the Red Sox – in a 28-5 game, Manoah set the tone in the fifth team’s consecutive victory.
Boston lost for the eighth time in nine games. Red Sox fans were sure to be cheered on Sunday, however, when former slugger David Ortiz was inducted into the Hall of Fame – many of them headed to Cooperstown, New York, to see Big Papi enshrined .
Manoah (11-4) allowed one run, on a Bobby Dalbec homer that cleared it all in left field in second, and seven hits. He didn’t walk one, struck out seven and lowered his ERA to 2.24.
The lively Manoah barked at the Boston bench after ending his outing with three straight outs. He whipped up fellow All-Star Xander Bogaerts to start that late bloomer.
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Jordan Romano threw a scoreless ninth for his league-leading 21st save.
Toronto had seven hits a day after beating 29, and improved to 9-3 against the Red Sox this year. The Blue Jays are 3.5 games ahead of Boston for the AL’s final wildcard spot.
After teeing off the previous night at Fenway Park, the Blue Jays had a three-point third against rookie Kutter Crawford (2-3). Santiago Espinal and George Springer hit RBI singles and Alejandro Kirk had a sacrifice fly.
DEVERS OUT
The Red Sox placed All-Star third baseman Rafael Devers on the 10-day injured list with right hamstring inflammation, making the move a day after his early fifth-inning exit.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: Yusei Kikuchi (strained neck) delivered five two-hit shutout innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Buffalo on Friday. The southpaw finished with four strikeouts and three walks while throwing 43 of 77 shots for strikes. Interim manager John Schneider said the next 72 hours will be critical before charting the next course of action for a pitcher who posted a 5.12 ERA in 16 starts before being placed on the injured list. 15 days earlier this month.
Red Sox: Back spasms kept All-Star DH JD Martinez out of the roster for the second straight game. « He’s not feeling well, » manager Alex Cora said. « Hopefully by tomorrow (Sunday) or Monday he will be back in the line-up. » … Rich Hill (sprained left knee) has a bullpen session scheduled for Sunday. The left-handed pitcher has been on the IL since July 2. … Cora says RHP Matt Barnes (shoulder inflammation) was in good spirits after Friday’s appearance in rehab with Worcester. He is scheduled to pitch an inning for the WooSox on Sunday. … INF/OF Kiké Hernández (hip flexor flexion) transferred to the 60-day IL. …. 2B Trevor Story (bruised hand) pitches but still hasn’t batted since appearing on the July 16 disabled list.
NEXT
Blue Jays: Ross Stripling (5-3, 3.03) will look to continue building on what was a strong July. The right-hander has posted a 2.70 ERA in his three previous starts this month.
Red Sox: Top pitching prospect Brayan Bello (0-1, 10.13 ERA) makes his third start on Sunday. The 23-year-old is still looking for his first MLB win and will look to get into the fifth inning, something he hasn’t done in each of his first two starts with Boston.
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