BOSTON –The bullpen, seemingly as hot as the Red Sox themselves of late, had a tough time of it on Friday night, allowing a 4-0 lead through six innings to slip away. But Boston is on one of those runs where one area of the team picks up the other when it falters.
And that’s what happened in a 6-4 victory over the Jays, as the Sox got back on track one game after a franchise-record-tying winning streak ended at 15. Anthony Seigler had a career night, going 4-for-5 and falling a triple shy of the cycle.
Jarren Duran and Romy Gonzalez had the backs of relievers Greg Weissert and Garrett Whitlock. In the bottom of the eighth inning, just after the Jays had tied the game, Duran started a rally with an opposite-field single to left. With one out, Gonzalez came up as a pinch-hitter and ripped a double down the line in left as Duran roared all the way around from first for the go-ahead run.
Interim manager Chad Tracy’s team has a record of 20-3 since June 25. Here is what mattered most on Friday.
1. Seigler does it all
Seigler has provided a spark in numerous ways for the Red Sox since a barrage of injuries to the middle infield afforded him the chance to become the primary second baseman a month ago. He took it to another level in this one, belting his first career leadoff homer.
It was Seigler’s second Fenway long ball, and just the fourth home run of his career. Seigler belted this one to right field at a Statcast-projected distance of 390 feet, and he showed his usual joy for the moment, smiling, pointing and clapping his hands as he rounded the bases. The switch-hitter later added an infield hit and two doubles, the latter of which drove in an insurance run in the eighth.
2. Sandoval wins showdown with Springer
The Jays threatened to ruin lefty Patrick Sandoval’s third start since returning from Tommy John surgery when they rallied in the fifth, putting runners on second and third with one out. George Springer, a Connecticut native who loves hitting at Fenway, came up as the potential tying run. Sandoval reached back for something extra, throwing three pitches in that at-bat at 96 mph or higher.
He wound up getting Springer on a popup to catcher Connor Wong on a 96.6 mph sinker. Sandoval wanted to finish the inning, but Tracy pulled him at 84 pitches and one out shy of being able to qualify for the win. The move worked, as Tyron Guerrero induced Alejandro Kirk into a flyout to right to end the threat.
3. Rafaela has been steady … Ceddy?
With his first two seasons marked by going hot and cold at the plate, Ceddanne Rafaela has set himself apart with his consistency in year three. The All-Star center fielder belted a laser that just cleared the Monster for a two-run shot off Trey Yesavage that gave the Red Sox a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third. It was No. 10 on the season for Rafaela. In the top of the sixth, Rafaela made his latest brilliant catch in center, racing to the gap in right-center to rob Daulton Varsho of extra bases.