The Toronto Blue Jays will be out to clinch their four-game series with the visiting Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.
The Blue Jays have won the opening two games of the series, following up a 2-1 decision on Monday with a 5-3 victory on Tuesday.
Toronto, which leads the season series 8-3, has won nine of its last 13 games overall.
Boston has lost four in a row following a nine-game winning streak.
The Red Sox were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position Tuesday for the second straight game. They are 3-for-36 with runners in scoring position over the past four games.
“I think the approach is the same,” Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said. “I just think we’re going through it right now.”
The Red Sox received solo homers from Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu against Dylan Cease, who tossed a one-hit shutout against them on July 25. Rafaela also had a sacrifice fly against Cease but Boston could not break through versus Toronto’s bullpen over the final four innings. Spencer Miles pitched around a double in the ninth inning to earn his first career save.
“Like you’re not going to get the clutch hit for six straight weeks and keep getting it,” Tracy said. “There are going to be times you’re just going to have to grind through it. We’re in that space right now. We’ve just got to keep grinding.”
Toronto rookie Brett Bateman had two RBIs with a double and a single in his fifth major league game. The outfielder was part of the return for Kevin Gausman in the trade with the Chicago Cubs.
“It feels like I’ve been here for a few years, honestly,” Bateman said. “That’s what it feels like. The fans, the team, the org, they just have a bunch of trust in me like I’ve been here for a long time.”
“You never know when you’re going to find a dude,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “Again, it’s a handful of games, but he has the potential with both his skills and the way he thinks, the way he can adjust, to be pretty damn good. I like the zone control, I like the contact ability, and I like what’s going on between his ears.”
Right-hander Jose Soriano (9-6, 3.24 ERA) is scheduled to make his second start for the Blue Jays after his acquisition in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels.
Soriano allowed two runs (one earned) and four hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Philadelphia Phillies in his Blue Jays’ debut on Friday. He is 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA in two career games (one start) against the Red Sox.
Boston is scheduled to start left-hander Ranger Suarez (4-3, 3.32), who has not allowed an earned run against the Blue Jays in his career. He is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in four career games (three starts) against them. He is 1-0 in two starts against Toronto this season.
Catcher Adley Rutschman was activated from the injured list Tuesday and was 1-for-3 with two walks. He is scheduled to play again Wednesday before getting Thursday off. Jake Rogers was designated for assignment to clear space on the roster.
Despite their recent struggles, the Red Sox have won 27 of their past 34 games.
“You don’t just put together the wins and the streak that they put together without having an immense amount of talent and team chemistry,” Rutschman said. “It takes a lot of heart, and it says a lot about this team and their ability.”
–Field Level Media
