Red Sox outlast Blue Jays in 19 innings
The Sports Xchange
Sep 6, 2017
BOSTON -- Hanley Ramirez hit a walk-off bloop single to center field in the 19th inning to send the Boston Red Sox past the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2, ending a six-hour affair early Wednesday morning at Fenway Park.
Mookie Betts led off the bottom of the 19th with a double off the Green Monster in left field against Blue Jays reliever Chris Rowley (1-2), setting the stage for Ramirez.
The Red Sox used 12 pitchers in the game, tying a American League record set by the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night in an 11-inning game against the Oakland A's.
It was the second-longest game in Fenway Park history following an 8-7 loss to Seattle in 20 innings in 1981.
Hector Velazquez (3-1) earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief. Boston relief pitchers set a franchise record with 13 scoreless innings.
Rowley gave up one run on three hits with two strikeouts in three innings of relief.
Ramirez finished the night with two RBIs, and Mitch Moreland also had an RBI for the Red Sox.
Boston (78-61) snapped a three-game losing streak and increased its lead atop the American League East to 3 1/2 games over the Yankees after New York's 7-6 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.
Toronto (64-75) fell for the third time in four games after hitting four home runs en route to a 10-4 victory Monday in the series opener.
Kendrys Morales hit a solo home run, his 27th of the year, and Teoscar Hernandez drove in the other run for Toronto.
The Red Sox moved to 32-31 against AL East opponents this season, including 11-4 against the Blue Jays.
Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez tossed six innings of two-run ball, allowing six hits and a walk with eight strikeouts.
Rodriguez is winless in his past 11 starts, with the young southpaw's last victory coming May 26 against Seattle.
Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada also received a no-decision after pitching seven scoreless innings, giving up three hits and three walks while striking out three.
Boston tied the game 2-2 against Toronto closer Roberto Osuna in the ninth on back-to-back RBI groundouts from Ramirez and Moreland after an Andrew Benintendi walk and a Mookie Betts double put runners on second and third with nobody out.
It marked Osuna's 10th blown save of the season.
Justin Smoak nearly put the Blue Jays ahead with one out in the 11th, sending a fly ball to center field with runners on first and third.
Jackie Bradley Jr. made the catch and fired a rocket to catcher Christian Vazquez to complete the double play and preserve the tie.
Plate umpire Marvin Hudson ejected Toronto's Josh Donaldson for arguing balls and strikes with nobody out in the Blue Jays' half of the 18th.
Hernandez plated the game's first run with a one-out sacrifice fly in the second inning.
Morales doubled the Blue Jays' lead in the sixth, sending an 0-2 Rodriguez pitch into the Green Monster seats for a solo shot.
NOTES: The New York Times reported Tuesday that Boston used an Apple Watch to steal signs against the New York Yankees and other teams. Red Sox manager John Farrell and president of baseball ops Dave Dombrowski were aware of the situation. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, in town for a regularly scheduled visit, confirmed the investigation and said he "take(s) any issue that affects play on the field extremely seriously." ... Toronto 1B Justin Smoak (bruised calf) was not in the lineup, but he entered as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning. He fouled a ball off his calf Monday. ... Blue Jays manager John Gibbons missed his fourth consecutive game because of a personal matter. Bench coach DeMarlo Hale again served as the team's acting manager. ... Red Sox RHP Carson Smith was activated from the 60-day disabled list and made his season debut in the 18th inning. Smith, sidelined while recovering from Tommy John surgery, had not pitched in the majors since May 14, 2016. RHP Kyle Martin was designated for assignment.
Sep 6, 2017
BOSTON -- Hanley Ramirez hit a walk-off bloop single to center field in the 19th inning to send the Boston Red Sox past the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2, ending a six-hour affair early Wednesday morning at Fenway Park.
Mookie Betts led off the bottom of the 19th with a double off the Green Monster in left field against Blue Jays reliever Chris Rowley (1-2), setting the stage for Ramirez.
The Red Sox used 12 pitchers in the game, tying a American League record set by the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night in an 11-inning game against the Oakland A's.
It was the second-longest game in Fenway Park history following an 8-7 loss to Seattle in 20 innings in 1981.
Hector Velazquez (3-1) earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief. Boston relief pitchers set a franchise record with 13 scoreless innings.
Rowley gave up one run on three hits with two strikeouts in three innings of relief.
Ramirez finished the night with two RBIs, and Mitch Moreland also had an RBI for the Red Sox.
Boston (78-61) snapped a three-game losing streak and increased its lead atop the American League East to 3 1/2 games over the Yankees after New York's 7-6 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.
Toronto (64-75) fell for the third time in four games after hitting four home runs en route to a 10-4 victory Monday in the series opener.
Kendrys Morales hit a solo home run, his 27th of the year, and Teoscar Hernandez drove in the other run for Toronto.
The Red Sox moved to 32-31 against AL East opponents this season, including 11-4 against the Blue Jays.
Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez tossed six innings of two-run ball, allowing six hits and a walk with eight strikeouts.
Rodriguez is winless in his past 11 starts, with the young southpaw's last victory coming May 26 against Seattle.
Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada also received a no-decision after pitching seven scoreless innings, giving up three hits and three walks while striking out three.
Boston tied the game 2-2 against Toronto closer Roberto Osuna in the ninth on back-to-back RBI groundouts from Ramirez and Moreland after an Andrew Benintendi walk and a Mookie Betts double put runners on second and third with nobody out.
It marked Osuna's 10th blown save of the season.
Justin Smoak nearly put the Blue Jays ahead with one out in the 11th, sending a fly ball to center field with runners on first and third.
Jackie Bradley Jr. made the catch and fired a rocket to catcher Christian Vazquez to complete the double play and preserve the tie.
Plate umpire Marvin Hudson ejected Toronto's Josh Donaldson for arguing balls and strikes with nobody out in the Blue Jays' half of the 18th.
Hernandez plated the game's first run with a one-out sacrifice fly in the second inning.
Morales doubled the Blue Jays' lead in the sixth, sending an 0-2 Rodriguez pitch into the Green Monster seats for a solo shot.
NOTES: The New York Times reported Tuesday that Boston used an Apple Watch to steal signs against the New York Yankees and other teams. Red Sox manager John Farrell and president of baseball ops Dave Dombrowski were aware of the situation. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, in town for a regularly scheduled visit, confirmed the investigation and said he "take(s) any issue that affects play on the field extremely seriously." ... Toronto 1B Justin Smoak (bruised calf) was not in the lineup, but he entered as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning. He fouled a ball off his calf Monday. ... Blue Jays manager John Gibbons missed his fourth consecutive game because of a personal matter. Bench coach DeMarlo Hale again served as the team's acting manager. ... Red Sox RHP Carson Smith was activated from the 60-day disabled list and made his season debut in the 18th inning. Smith, sidelined while recovering from Tommy John surgery, had not pitched in the majors since May 14, 2016. RHP Kyle Martin was designated for assignment.
