Sports

Rafael Devers Delivers Clutch Triple, Red Sox Beat Blue Jays 9-7

August 25, 2020 / 10:30 PM EDT / CBS Boston

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By MIKE HAIM, Associated Press

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Rafael Devers hit a three-run triple to highlight Boston's six-run outburst in the sixth inning as the Red Sox rallied to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 9-7 on Tuesday night.

Devers, who snapped an 0-for-10 streak with a single in the second inning, hit a full-count slider from A.J. Cole, giving Boston an 8-6 edge. Devers later scored on a sacrifice fly by J.D. Martinez as Boston recorded its sixth comeback win of the season.

Xander Bogaerts had three hits, and Mitch Moreland and Jackie Bradley Jr. each had two RBIs for Boston (10-20), which has won four of its last six.

"We keep scratching and clawing into the game," Moreland said. "Obviously (Devers) came through with the big hit with the bases loaded. It's not how we wanted to play, but I feel like we're kind of catching our stride a little bit now. I don't know if it's too late or not. It's a crazy year."

Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Danny Jansen, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. each had two-run hits for Toronto (14-14), which lost for the third time in four games. Teoscar Hernández hit his 11th homer for the Blue Jays.

Phillips Valdéz (1-0) worked 1 2/3 innings and picked up his first major league win. Matt Barnes recorded his second save despite allowing a home run to Hernández. Boston's bullpen, which entered the game with the MLB's third-worst batting average allowed (.274), held Toronto to five hits in 6 2/3 innings.

"What Valdéz did was important," Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said. "It got us deeper so we can get to (Darwinzon Hernandez and Ryan Brasier). The ups and downs of relievers are all over the league."

Blue Jays starter Chase Anderson scattered seven hits over five innings, but led off the sixth with a walk to Moreland. He was replaced by Wilmer Font (1-3), who allowed three hits and hit a batter in the loss.

"Hopefully next time I can go a little bit longer and get to the seventh or eighth inning," Anderson said. "It feels like I'm kind of at the end of spring training."

Toronto scored four runs in the first inning against Boston starter Kyle Hart on a double by Gurriel Jr. and a single by Jansen. Guerrero Jr. added a single in the fourth inning to put Toronto up 6-3.

"It's hard to figure out the offense sometimes," Roenicke said. "I thought we'd have to score a lot of runs to win games."

Gurriel Jr. continued his torrid stretch; he has 13 RBI in his last nine games.

Hart, in his first time through the Toronto order, allowed hits to five of nine batters. He escaped trouble in the second inning despite loading the bases with one out. He got Guerrero Jr. to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Randal Grichuk, who left Monday's game in Tampa Bay with back stiffness, went 2-for-5 as Toronto's designated hitter. Travis Bergen made his major league debut for Toronto, striking out three over 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

The Red Sox last played in Buffalo when they faced the minor-league Bisons in an exhibition game on July 6, 1917. Boston defeated their hosts 9-7 during a stopover en route to a series in Cleveland.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Red Sox: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (right calf), originally scheduled to pitch Wednesday, will skip that start and hopes to return Saturday against Washington. "I felt it (on Saturday) two days after my start," Eovaldi said. "We're trying to play it safe and not let it get worse."

Blue Jays: 3B Travis Shaw, who popped up in his only plate appearance and didn't handle any defensive chances, left the game in the third inning with right knee discomfort. Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo described it a day-to-day injury. ... Montoyo called Ken Giles' (strained forearm) bullpen session a "big first step." ... SS Bo Bichette (knee sprain) is expected to resume baseball activity this weekend, and RHP Nate Pearson (flexor strain) will try to start catching and throwing in the same time frame. ... RHP Trent Thornton (elbow inflammation) will be seeing noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews.

UP NEXT

Red Sox: With Eovaldi unable to start, RHP Colten Brewer (0-1, 3.50 ERA) will make his third start of the season on Wednesday in the middle game of the three-game series against Toronto. He threw four scoreless innings in his previous start last Friday at Baltimore.

Blue Jays: Montoyo said Wednesday's game against Boston will be a "bullpen day," without indicating who would take the mound to open the game. "My plan is to talk to (pitching coach) Pete (Walker) and see how we're going to work it."

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