BOSTON – Rafael Devers hit a ball off the Green Monster in the bottom of the ninth inning after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a home run to tie the game at the top of the episode, and the Boston Red Sox rallied from their worst setback of the season with a 2-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday.
Matt Barnes was within two strikes of completing the combined three-hit shutout, but Guerrero returned the ball 451 feet to Lansdowne Street to tie the game at one. It was his 22nd home run of the season, the highest in the major leagues, and his fourth in as many games.
But Alex Verdugo, who had driven in Boston’s first run, and JD Martinez singled off Rafael Dolis (1-3) to open the bottom of the ninth inning. With one out, Devers sounded unstoppable against the left center field fence and stopped before reaching second to be congratulated by his teammates. A single was scored on the play.
One day after the Blue Jays hit eight home runs – a 109-year-old Fenway Park road record for a visitor – in the 18-4 blowout, Nathan Eovaldi led the shutout of a hit to the seventh inning. He limited Toronto to three hits and one walk with four strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
Josh Taylor retired four in a row, including three strikeouts, and Barnes (3-1) got two quick outs before the Guerrero Jr.
Verdugo, Devers and Marwin González each had two hits for Boston.
For the Red Sox, Rafael Devers 4-2 with an RBI. Mexican Alex Verdugo 4-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Puerto Ricans Enrique Hernández 4-0 with a run scored; Christian Vazquez 3-0. The Venezuelan Marwin González 3-2.
For the Blue Jays, the Dominicans Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 4-2 with one RBI and one scored; Teoscar Hernández from 3-1. Cuban Lourdes Gurriel Jr. 3-0.