Rays at Blue Jays

Dustin Pedroia homered leading off the sixth and has a 28-game hitting streak against the Blue Jays. Ortiz would make Benoit pay again, this time for a 3 run homer to put the Sox up 10-8.

But that’s exactly where the Blue Jays manager was Saturday morning, kicking back in his office while his charges took it upon themselves to organize a no-coaches-allowed gathering ahead of the second game of a pivotal series against the Boston Red Sox. Estrada entered the game ranked No. 3 in Major League Baseball and first in the AL in opponent’s batting average (.205), but the Red Sox ripped six hits off of him and he registered only seven outs.

While Holt had wasted that particular opportunity, Jackie Bradley Jr. diminished the sting a bit by striking out to start the sixth. Dickey will be available from the bullpen before he makes his next start during the four-game series Thursday-Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim.

Sanchez yielded two homers in a no-decision against the New York Yankees on Tuesday to match the sum total of his previous 10 outings. I just have to go a little deeper than 3 2/3 (innings).

Toronto led 6-4 after a five-run third capped by Tulowitzki’s 23rd homer of the season and his third career grand slam.

Boston shook off the disastrous third and produced more two-out magic to tie the game and bounce Sanchez from the pivotal contest.

The Blue Jays are slashing an unheard of.228/.322/.320 with only six home runs and 85 strikeouts this month already.

Both Toronto and Boston removed their starting pitchers in the fourth inning, with Brett Cecil getting the last out of the top of the fourth for the Jays, and Hembree taking over for Buchholz to start the bottom of the fourth. Christian Yelich had two hits and drove in a run for the Marlins, who have won three of four.

“We had better energy than we’ve had in a while today”, said Happ, who got three innings of scoreless relief from Joaquin Benoit, Jason Grilli and Roberto Osuna. Mookie Betts belted a game-tying homer and Ryan Hanigan scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. They have only stolen 44 bases and have been thrown out 20 times on steal attempts in 2016.

Toronto stopped a four-game losing streak and avoided matching its longest skid this season. Rick Porcello, Drew Pomeranz and David Price are Boston’s big-game pitchers, but even Price and Pomeranz have struggled at times this season. The home run was Ortiz’ 535th of his career, moving him past Jimmie Foxx into 18th place on the all-time HR list. In exchange for the actual home run ball, Ortiz signed one ball for Rory and another for Ella.

“He’s battling. I think what it is maybe, he’s missing his pitches he normally hits, which is usually what happens”.

The Cubs’ magic number to win the NL Central is down to five after Addison Russell went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and three runs scored in a 9-5 rout of Houston. Ramirez got one out, but when he gave up a single, Farrell went to get him in favor of Robbie Ross Jr. Donaldson is 0-for-23 with eight walks during the slump and his batting average has tumbled to.283. It looked like Kimbrel gave up a double to Martin, but then the umpires changed the call to a foul ball. “Only advice I can give to the Blue Jays fans is keep on going; you guys are doing great”. Martin took a called third strike and Tulowitzki lined out to right to end the game.

The Mariners are 3 1/2 games back in the AL wild-card race.

The Red Sox’s lead over the Blue Jays is back to two games in the division after taking two out of three in the weekend series and Toronto is tied with Baltimore in the wild-card standings. Of course I was going to accept the ticket and represent Red Sox Nation that night. The latest episode is below and check us out on ITUNES as well!