FORT MYERS, Fla. – The second-most essential sporting occasion between america and Canada on Sunday ended with no medal ceremony, however with one other victory for the house staff.
Of their first residence recreation of the Grapefruit League schedule, the Boston Pink Sox overcame an instantaneous four-run deficit, and held on by the information of their fingers to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 11-10.
The defending American League pennant winners tore into Brayan Bello within the high of the primary, however Boston, with a lineup that supervisor Alex Cora stated pregame could be the Opening Day crew, tied issues up instantly within the backside of the inning.
“I believe that’s what we’re going to do, that first inning,” Pink Sox supervisor Alex Cora stated postgame. “We’re going to maneuver the ball round, we’re going to place the ball in play, we’re going to hit the ball laborious.”
Cavalcades of bullpen arms maintained the tie for the subsequent 4 innings earlier than the Blue Jays struck once more within the sixth. A pair of residence runs by Eloy Jiménez and Josh Kasevich (two-run) put the Jays on high 7-4.
Toronto’s second lead vanished as rapidly as the primary. Starting with Nate Eaton’s leadoff double, 11 Boston batters got here to the plate and strung collectively within the backside of the sixth.
The sport crossed the three-hour threshold because the Blue Jays tagged right-hander Patrick Halligan for 3 runs within the high of the ninth. With two outs and a runner on second, Cora made his ultimate pitching change of the afternoon. Nick Goodwin’s pinch-hit double put one other man in scoring place earlier than Jay Allmer struck out Sean Keys trying to convey the AL East rivals’ first battle of the 12 months to a detailed.
The Pink Sox are 2-0 in Grapefruit League play (3-0 together with Friday’s exhibition recreation blowout of the Northeastern College Huskies).
Whitlock dominates
Garrett Whitlock made fast work of the Blue Jays in his first spring coaching recreation. Eloy Jimenez challenged a referred to as third strike unsuccessfully for the primary out, and the right-hander turned an RJ Schreck single into an inning-ending double play on the very subsequent pitch.
Whitlock, who will pitch for Workforce USA in subsequent month’s World Baseball Basic, threw 10 pitches, seven for strikes. Greg Weissert and Jovani Moran additionally posted scoreless innings of reduction.
Duran, Eaton stand out
Jarren Duran and Nate Eaton every had banner days on the plate for the Pink Sox. Duran went 2 for 3 with two doubles and a run scored, and Eaton went 3 for 3 with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored to assist tempo the offense.
“I do know it’s early however (Duran) looks like a unique hitter,” Cora stated. “Hitting the ball actually laborious to the pull aspect, attending to some pitches that final 12 months he didn’t get, and I’m anticipating lots of large issues from him.”
Ceddanne Rafaela (1 for two) additionally had a double and two RBI, Roman Anthony went 1 for 4 with an RBI and two runs, and Braiden Ward got here on for Duran and picked up the place he left off, going 2 for two with two RBI and two stolen bases.
Upcoming arms
Connelly Early will get the beginning for the Pink Sox on Monday in opposition to the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte, and he’ll be adopted out of the bullpen by Zack Kelly, Kyle Keller, Wyatt Olds, Noah Tune, T.J. Sikkema and Jeremy Wu-Yelland.
Drew Rasmussen is the scheduled starter for the Rays, and former St. John’s of Shrewsbury star Ian Seymour is amongst these anticipated to pitch in reduction for Tampa Bay.
Greenwell honored
The Pink Sox honored membership legend Mike Greenwell previous to Sunday’s recreation. The longtime Pink Sox outfielder died at 62 final October after a battle with thyroid most cancers. Fellow Pink Sox greats Dwight Evans and Jim Rice participated within the pregame ceremony together with members of Greenwell’s household.
