 held the Red Sox to five singles - three coming consecutively in the second inning when Gurriel made his throw from left field - and struck out six while walking one. It's the fifth time in his last eight starts that he's held an opponent to no more than one earned run.Rick Porcello (5-7) gave up five runs on eight hits over six innings.The Blue Jays scored single runs in the second and third before adding three more in the sixth for a 5-0 lead.Unlike the first two games of the series when each team blew a big lead late, Stroman and three relievers made this one stand.On Friday, the Red Sox trailed 5-1 in the seventh. Toronto fell behind 6-0 and trailed 6-1 in the seventh Saturday before coming back against Boston's beleaguered bullpen.With Toronto leading 2-0, Porcello balked home a run before Jansen lined his bases-loaded single to left center.Gurriel cut down Brock Holt trying to score from second easily on Jackie Bradley Jr.'s single with two on and one out.Brandon Drury's broken bat RBI single made it 1-0, and Cavan Biggio had a run-scoring double.FLYING BROKEN BATA young boy seated about 15 rows behind Toronto's on-deck circle was grazed by a piece of Drury's bat that broke on his RBI single, sending the barrel flying over the protect netting. The boy was immediately visited by an EMT, and the Red Sox said he received medical attention and stayed in his seat.LIKES SEEING THEMTellez went 2 for 3 with a double, single and intentional walk. In seven games against the Red Sox this season, he's batting .423 (11 for 26) with five homers and nine RBIs.''He's been killing us,'' Red Sox manager Alex Cora said before the game.BACK SOONBarring Boston's game being postponed Monday, knuckleballer Steven Wright is eligible to return Tuesday after serving his 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.TRAINER'S ROOMRed Sox: INF Holt came out with left hamstring tightness. He had been the club's hottest hitter since coming off the injured list May 27, batting .357 entering Sunday. . Manager Alex Cora said he expects to have 3B Rafael Devers (right hamstring tightness) back in the lineup on Monday. He hasn't started in three straight games, pinch hitting twice. . 1B Steve Pearce (lower back strain) was slated to have another rehab game with Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday, and Cora said they'd decide in the next few days when he'd return.UP NEXTBlue Jays: RHP Aaron Sanchez (3-9, 5.49 ERA) is slated to start the opener of a three-game series Monday at Yankee Stadium against LHP CC Sabathia (4-4, 4.14).Red Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (8-4, 4.71) is in line to start against White Sox RHP Lucas Giolito (10-2, 2.74) in the opener of a three-game set Monday at Fenway Park.---More MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports)
Stroman, Jays look to take series from BoSox at FenwayFLMThe Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox have split two games with comeback wins at Fenway Park this weekend, setting up the rubber match of their three-game series in Boston on Sunday afternoon.The Blue Jays scored four runs in the seventh and three in the eighth Saturday to overcome a 6-0 deficit and earn an 8-7 victory after holding off Boston's ninth-inning rally.On Friday, the Blue Jays wasted a 5-1 lead in losing 7-5 on Christian Vazquez's walk-off homer in the 10th.The win Saturday was only the Blue Jays' third in their past 15 games at Fenway Park.Despite suffering their 15th blown save of the season, the Red Sox lost for only the second time in 10 games.Rookie Boston infielder Michael Chavis will be trying to extend his hitting streak to 12 games Sunday after extending it to 11 on Saturday with an RBI single.Chavis was in a slump earlier in June but work with coaches has given him a better understanding of the strike zone, what pitchers are trying to accomplish and plate discipline."People will go upstairs and try to expand down," Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters of the way pitchers are adapting to Chavis. "As long as you stay within your strength, you're going to be fine. He's made some adjustments but it starts with that. Get ready early, see the ball and not try and do too much." "I feel like I'm swinging at better pitches," Chavis concurred.The Blue Jays will send right-hander Marcus Stroman (4-9, 3.23 ERA) out against Boston righty Rick Porcello (5-6, 4.31).Stroman has been mentioned as a possible candidate for a trade as the Blue Jays gear up for the future -- something Stroman understands."It's impossible not to be aware of it," Stroman told the media after his last start of the trade rumors. "I mean, I wake up and socials are blasted, there's talk everywhere in the clubhouse, it's kind of around 24/7 so I'm definitely aware of it. I'm in a really good place mentally where I'm really not bothered by any of it, kind of able to lock it in when I need to, and just been focusing on my mind a lot on and away from the field." Stroman allowed three runs in seven innings in a 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels in Toronto on Tuesday. He does have a win this season over Boston, however, giving up one run on five hits and six walks with four strikeouts over six innings in a 10-3 victory in Toronto on May 21.In 13 career starts against the Red Sox, Stroman is 5-3 with a 3.70 ERA. He is 1-2 with that same 3.70 ERA in four starts at Fenway Park.Porcello pitched seven scoreless innings Monday against the Minnesota Twins, matching his season best with eight strikeouts as he allowed four hits in Boston's 2-0 road win.The Red Sox are 8-3 in Porcello's past 11 starts. He has gone six or more innings in 10 of those 11 starts and owns a 3.31 ERA in that span. He last faced Toronto on May 22, picking up a no-decision after allowing one run and three hits in six innings. He left with a 3-1 lead in a game the visiting Red Sox won 6-5 in 13 innings.Porcello is 10-11 with a 5.39 ERA in 26 career games (25 starts) against the Blue Jays. At Fenway Park, he is 5-2 with a 6.22 ERA in eight starts against Toronto.--Field Level Media
Looking for More Picks?
You can browse all the individual handicapper picks below.
Toronto Blue Jays
Boston Red Sox
Pick Center
MLB
FINAL (6/23/2019)
LiveSportsTradingDude
