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Boston Red Sox vs Toronto Blue Jays Recap

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In the final leg of the road trip, the Red Sox head north to face the Blue Jays for a three game series before heading back to Fenway. Cora made the announcement that Dustin Pedroia and Tyler Thornburg will be playing on Monday and Tuesday for rehab assignment in Pawtucket. David Price is also back with the team after missing a game to get x-rays on his hand in Boston. Chris Sale, Davis Price, and Drew Pomeranz will be the starting pitchers in this series.

Sale vs Sanchez – Toronto Takes the Win

Chris Sale pitches his best game of the season. Fifteen strikeouts in nine innings. Xander Bogaerts hit a homer towards center field to bring the score 2-1 Sox leading in the second. The Sox ultimately fell to the Blue Jays 5-3 in 12 innings. Sandy Leon struck out swinging, but the ball bounced back, allowing Brock Holt to score coming from first base. Chris Sale struck out 15 of the Blue Jays and let up zero walks. He joins Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens as only the third pitcher in Sox history to do so. Jackie Bradley Jr. sat out for his third straight game to hopefully get him out of his slump. He is expected to be in the lineup the next day.

“That was impressive,” Alex Cora said. “That slider was the best of the season. He was outstanding. ”

“You’ve got to tip your cap, he had himself a heck of a night. “

Price vs Estrada – A Comeback win after Injury

David Price made his first appearance since the x-rays we’re taken on his hand to discover that he had Carpal Tunnel. The Sox took the lead 5-2 for the game win. In 93 pitches, Price let up: five hits and three walks. He struck out six Blue Jays. Hanley Ramirez hit a two run homer, after Andrew Benintendi hit a double to bring in Rafael Devers and Mookie Betts. Ramirez had himself quite a game, racking up three home runs and seven RBIs in the last four games. The Sox scored at least five runs for the 24th time this season, which is the most in the MLB. Both Hector Velazquez and Joe Kelly pitched scoreless innings before Kimbrel entered the game. Craig Kimbrel came out to get his 11th save of the season.

“I saw something different in the way he pitched today. Everything. There was a difference in speeds. Mixing up the breaking ball is very important. He induced some weak contact. They hit a few balls hard too. But I think he pitched great ” – Cora on Price’s performance

“It was good to get back out there,” Price said. “The more I threw, the better I felt. To me, that’s always a good sign.”

Pomeranz vs Biagini – Sox Return Home with a win in Toronto

All players in the MLB wore pink in honor of Mother’s Day on Sunday. Hanley Ramirez, although he wasn’t in the lineup, had on catchers gear and was ready to play. A loose Hanley leads to a fun and much looser Red Sox lineup. Drew Pomeranz let up three runs and four hits, while only making it under six innings. Toronto was up 5-3 in the fifth as Hector Velazquez came in to replace Drew Pomeranz. J. D. Martinez homered and had three RBI’s, while Mookie Betts made the unbelievable “deal catch” to prove that he really is a Gold Glove player. Joe Kelly racked up his second save of the season Sunday afternoon.

“He’s becoming a force, not only the field but in the clubhouse, in the dugout,” manager Alex Cora said. “He’s becoming a leader. It’s fun to watch. On a daily basis you’re expecting something great and he’ll do it.”

“To come out of a road trip like that is definitely something to be proud of,” said reliever Joe Kelly.

Up Next

The Red Sox will be back home at Fenway to face the Oakland Athletics Monday through Wednesday. Then the Orioles will come to town for a four game series. Dustin Pedroia will start his rehab assignment on Monday in Pawtucket with Tyler Thornburg. Pedroia hopes to return during the end of May.

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Red Sox Take Series Against Toronto

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Tuesday- Porcello vs. Happ

Porcello took the mound for his fifth start against Toronto’s J. A. Happ. Unfortunately, today’s game didn’t end in the Sox’ favor. Rick Porcello pitched another great game ending with a 1.93 ERA. Hanley Ramirez and Rafael Devers both hit singles to get on base. This allowed Eduardo Nuñez to hit and RBI single into left field. With bases loaded, Brock Holt hit to left field, which forced the game into extra innings. The Toronto Blue Jays eventually took the win as Craig Kimbrel let up his first run in the 2018 season.

Wednesday- Rodriguez vs. Sanchez

It was another night of the Mookie Show for the Sox. The Toronto Blue Jays lost 4-3 against the Red Sox Wednesday night. Hitting two homers, one in his first at bat of the game, Mookie smashed the losing streak. In an interview later that night, Alex Cora compared them to the likes of Altuve and Trout. Brock Holt had three hits, to raise his batting average to .327. Eduardo Rodriguez pitched nearly seven innings and only let up six hits. He extended the Red Sox lead to 18-5. It also happened that the Bruins were playing the same day, and there is a large support system coming from the Sox. Both teams are seen often cheering for the others. Tomorrow is Sale day and with the losing streak gone can he add a win under his belt.

“Two good swings. The one to the opposite side of the field, that was great.” – Alex Cora on Mookie Betts

“Good win for us. Good win for the Bruins. Everybody is pulling for them over here. Mookie did his thing… again” -Hanley Ramirez on the win

Thursday – Sale vs. Estrada

J.D. hit the ball to right center to allow three runs with only two outs in the fifth inning. Chris Sale let up a run in the first inning causing Toronto to give Sanchez the run support Sale wanted. With Joe Kelly serving his suspension, Matt Barnes was brought in. With the Sox only leading Toronto by one run in the seventh inning, Barnes struck out Maile, avoiding a run to tie the game. I’m the eighth inning, Toronto was ready to rally and the Sox had to make a great play. Brock Holt had to throw the ball to Moreland at first, to get Grichuk out. Toronto challenged the call, but luckily there was not enough evidence in their favor. Tomorrow Xander Bogaerts with return from the disabled list and Drew Pomeranz will pitch at Fenway for the first time this season.

You know, even when he’s struggling, you think he’s one adjustment away to do damage.” -Alex Cora on J. D. Martinez

“That’s the kind of guy he is. He does some pretty incredible things with that bat, and I’m appreciative of it tonight. ” – Chris Sale on J. D.

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Nazem Kadri Gets a Well-Earned Three Game Suspension

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You just can’t do what Nazem Kadri did on Thursday night.  Call it charging, boarding, hitting to the head- it doesn’t matter. You just can’t do that.  Hockey has an honest and blue collared identity, but that’s gutless.

AN EFFECTIVE AGITATOR

Kadri is always ready to mix things up.  He’s like Brad Marchand in the sense that he’s most effective while playing with an edge, but this is too much.   Viciously boarding somebody on their knees directly from behind?  There’s just no respect there.  You could argue that Wingels gets his elbow up on Marner just before the hit, but it seems clean.

 

He’s an energy guy and the spark-plug of the Maple Leafs. It makes sense that he’d want to get physical and set the tone for a comeback, but that’s not the way to do it.  Being an agitator is a huge part of Kadri’s game, so he should know this better than anyone.

NO EXCUSES

It almost seems like he just gets too amped up and forgets where his boundaries are.  Games are more physical during the playoffs but this is inexcusable.  The hit is exactly what the Department of Player Safety is trying to eradicate.  It’s ultimately up to the players to prevent these hits, and hopefully most are more respectful than Kadri.

We’re learning more about concussions every day.  Direct hits to the head have the potential to effect somebody’s whole life.  We’ve seen it right here in Boston with Marc Savard.  Kadri knows this, but it doesn’t stop him from making a bee-line for Wingels’ head.  The hit reads “charging” in the box score, but it could be labeled as a few things.

A SPOT IN THE PRESS BOX

This is embarrassing for Nazem Kadri.  He severely crosses the line and now the Leafs are going to pay for his mistake. George Parros needed to make a statement.  The Department of Player Safety won’t tolerate hits like this just because it’s the postseason, and he gets what he deserves with a three game suspension.

Toronto Will Be No Easy Task

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We’re finally here. The season began with plenty of doubt, but the Bruins are second in the Atlantic and have started their first round match up against Toronto. They shattered expectations throughout the regular season, but right now is all that matters. The Maple Leafs are the task at hand, and the Bruins need to defeat them before they look any further. The Bruins easily took Game 1, blowing out Toronto 5-1. But last night’s showing should not teeter your expectations of this series.

 

Toronto is a young, energetic team that has quite a bit of offensive prowess.   Even with Auston Matthews spending 20 games on the IR, the Leafs still managed to finish third league-wide in goals-for.   This speaks volumes to their depth up front. 20 year-old forward Mitch Marner leads the team in scoring with 69 points. Matthews isn’t far behind at 63, and William Nylander has also made his mark by putting up 61 of his own.   Nazem Kadri got off to a slow start, but picked it up during the second half. He’s not a huge offensive threat, but look for him and Marchand to be taking jabs at each other every chance they get. That’ll be a whole game on its own. Also, look out for Patrick Marleau. He put up mediocre numbers, but he’s a veteran presence with 120 career playoff points.

Toronto’s defense is less of a concern. They were 12th in goals-against with 230, but their defensive core is weak. They have a few solid guys like Jake Gardiner and Morgan Rielly, but the others are shaky. Luckily for the Leafs, Frederick Andersen has had a career year in net.  This has kept their semi-reliable defense from getting more exposed.  Andersen set a career high with 38 wins while posting a .918 save percentage. Curtis McElhinney has also been a reliable back-up. In 18 games played he put up a miniscule 2.15 GAA to go with a .934 save percentage.

WEARING THEM OUT

Make no mistake about it- this will not be an easy first round. This Toronto team is fast, skilled, and determined. They have an excess of young talent but they could be too young for their own good. Their three leading scorers are ages 20, 20, and 21. The team relies on these players but they may not be able to handle playoff hockey.   There’s a sharp uptake in physicality during the postseason and the Bruins can play this game better than anyone.

As long as they can limit the production from Matthews, Nylander, and Marner, the B’s should be able to take the series.

 

Cover image courtesy of NHL.com.

Toronto

Playoff Preview: Boston vs. Toronto

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How the Regular Season Ended

The Bruins’ regular season didn’t end as many would have liked. They lost four of their last five games, including their regular season finale with first place on the line. The Bruins did not show the same dominance they had earlier in the season. This has left some wondering if they should be worried about this team with the playoffs set to begin Thursday against Toronto.

Toronto

Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images

Injury Bug

As the Bruins’ season came to a close, it seemed as if everyone was battling an injury. There is a good chance the Bruins will see the return of three key players on Thursday: Rick and Riley Nash, and Sean Kuraly. With the exception of Brandon Carlo, this team will be at full strength for the first time in a while. When the Bruins acquired Rick Nash it gave them a more dangerous second and third line. With the return of these three players, the Bruins become a much deeper team. This team was a force when fully healthy. However, the second half the season saw their performance dip as many key players were injured. This forced Cassidy to juggle the lines just as everything seemed to be firing on all cylinders.

Toronto

Photo Credit: AP Photo/ Michael Dwyer

Importance of Tuukka Rask Against Toronto

In the playoffs the play of Tuukka Rask will be key. In order for the Bruins to advance, he will need to have a dominant performance. Rask hasn’t shown that dominant form lately, as in his last three starts he’s allowed eleven goals. He now has a couple of days of rest. This playoff run could define his time in Boston. He has been heavily criticized for his play in clutch moments, and is still defined by the 2013 Stanley Cup, when the Bruins collapsed in the final two minutes of Game 6. As a result, the Bruins watched the Blackhawks celebrate a championship on their home ice.

Toronto

Photo Credit: AP Photo/ Michael Dwyer

Last Playoff Series Between Toronto and Boston

The last time Toronto and Boston faced off in the playoffs was in the 2013- 2014 season. Bruins fans remember that season fondly as the Boston made history. Facing a three goal deficit, the B’s became the first NHL team to win a Game 7 after trailing by three goals in the third period. This series will be filed with many exciting moments. The Bruins will not want to find themselves in that position again.

Toronto

Photo Credit: Brian Babineau/ Getty Images

What to Expect for the Stanley Cup Playoffs

With this team fully healthy they should put on a better performance than they have as late. When healthy they have been dangerous because of their depth and style of play. These players will be motivated, as the Bruins will be looking to advance past the first round for the first time since their magical comeback against Toronto five years ago. All season this team has had a knack for coming up big with the odds against them. It all begins Thursday, and this team will be determined to end this season with a championship. 

Remembering Roy Halladay

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Roy Halladay passed away on Tuesday following a plane crash in the Gulf of Mexico. At just 40 years old the news was both stunning and heartbreaking. He touched the lives of so many, not only with his feats of greatness on the mound, but with his caring nature.

The Beginning of a Hall of Fame Career

Roy Halladay came into the Major Leagues in 1998 surrounded by high hopes. He had been a 1st round pick of the Blue Jays in 1995 and proceeded to pitch two excellent games at the end of the ’98 season. But after a solid season in 1999, Halladay’s career appeared to be on the ropes the following year. With an ERA of 10.64 over 19 appearances, the Blue Jays shipped Halladay all the way back to A ball in 2000. This move could have destroyed the confidence of anyone and expedited their path out of the sport. Roy Halladay wasn’t just anyone though. He came back from the experience, stronger than ever and with a mission.

Halladay returned to the majors in midseason of 2001. After a rocky first game back pitching in relief, Halladay made 16 starts, posting a 2.71 ERA. He took his previous failure in stride and used it as motivation to become better.

Roy Halladay pitching in some fashionable Toronto Blue Jays uniforms.

Peak Performance

For the next decade Halladay was at the top of the sport, possibly the best pitcher in all of baseball. He averaged 17 wins with a 2.97 ERA over that decade long span. Halladay won two Cy Young Awards while also finishing runner-up in two others. From 2006-2011, he never finished worse than 5th in any Cy Young vote. In an often overlooked stat, but no less meaningful, Halladay had five seasons in which he struck out 200 batters while walking less than 40.

One thing that endeared Halladay to so many was his bulldog mentality. He wanted the ball, and he wanted to stay on the mound all game. He was there to help his team win games, and he wouldn’t be able to do that from the dugout. Halladay led the league in complete games for five consecutive seasons from 2007-2011, and seven times during his career. He also earned the respect of others with his work ethic. He didn’t just go from A ball to one of the best pitchers in the game overnight. Halladay put in the work and then maintained it throughout the rest of his career.

Philadelphia Phillies

In 2010, after years of pitching on mediocre teams in Toronto, Halladay was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. He finally got to pitch for a team good enough to head to the postseason. Given his mentality, no one should have questioned whether he’d be a playoff performer. Then again, no one could have predicted what would happen next either. In Halladay’s very first playoff start of his career, at the age of 34, he threw a no-hitter. In 1264 playoff games in Major League history there had only been one no-hitter thrown. Halladay managed to be the second to ever accomplish this feat in his very first attempt. This also happened to be his second no-hitter of the season, having thrown a perfect game in May of that year.

Roy Halladay waves to the crowd after pitching a no-hitter in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park on October 6, 2010. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

A Hall of Fame Person

Roy Halladay was a remarkable competitor and fantastic pitcher, one who will surely get strong Hall of Fame consideration when he appears on the ballot starting in 2019. However, I am not here to only talk about Roy Halladay the baseball pitcher. Pitching in front of millions he was able to touch countless lives and bring joy to many just from the way he was able to throw a baseball. Halladay used that fame and success to touch the lives of so many more  and make the world a better place.

Halladay did a lot of charitable work and had his own foundation. The Halladay Family Foundation has aided children’s charities, hunger relief and animal rescue. A lot of his work came with underprivileged children. At the Roger’s Centre, where the Blue Jays play their home games, there was a box called “Doc’s Box,” named for Roy’s nickname. Halladay would often invite children and their families to sit there and take in Blue Jays games. He also had it in his contract with the Blue Jays to donate $100,000 every year to the “Jays Care Foundation.”

The Roberto Clemente Award is given to an individual who “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team”. Roy Halladay was nominated for this award many times over the years due to his charitable work off the field and his work ethic and sportsmanship on the field.

Peer Reactions

The outpouring of comments from fans and former ballplayers on social media says it all; the baseball world is in mourning.

https://twitter.com/MikeyY626/status/928033969786032128

Leaving Behind a Legacy

Halladay left behind a wife and two children, who he had just started getting to spend more time with the last few years since his retirement. He stated he wanted to be more active with his kids and their own baseball careers when he retired, and he did just that by coaching their baseball teams.

Tuesday we not only lost a great baseball player, but a fine human being. Millions mourn the loss of Halladay, not just the baseball world, but the countless lives he touched while he was with us. Halladay did more to help his fellow man than most of us ever will. He was a shining example of what so many others should strive to be.

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