The Toronto Blue Jays did two things with a 6-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night. First, the Jays snapped a five-game losing streak as they played much better baseball than what was displayed in the last few games. Secondly, with the win, the Red Sox have officially been eliminated from postseason contention, as the American League Wild Card race has now shrunk to four teams fighting for the last two spots.
Kevin Gausman (13-11, 3.91) toed the rubber for the Blue Jays as the Red Sox sent Richard Fitts (0-0, 0.00) to the mound.
Gausman tossed 6 innings, allowing one run on four hits, walking three and punching out three as he earned his 14th victory in his final start of the year. Fitts’ end to the year was less memorable. The rookie threw 5 innings, allowing four runs across six hits, walking two and striking out two as he was handed the first loss of his big league career.
The Blue Jays got on the board first, scoring in the bottom of the 4th. An RBI double from Alejandro Kirk gave the Jays a 1-0 lead. Ernie Clement would later follow up with an RBI single of his own to extend the Toronto lead to 2-0.
An inning later, Kirk would drive in two more runs with a two-RBI single to extend the Blue Jays’ lead to 4-0.
The Red Sox would break the shutout in the top of the 6th, scoring their only run on an RBI single from Tristan Casas.
Jonatan Clase reached a milestone in the 7th inning when he hit a two-run homer, the first of his major league career to extend the Toronto lead to 6-1.
The Blue Jays would hold onto the lead as they took the series finale by a score of 6-1.
The Jays get an off day on Thursday as they will start their final three-game series of the year when they host the Miami Marlins.
Jose Berrios (16-10, 3.38) will start for the Blue Jays while Adam Oller (1-4, 5.06) will get the ball for the Marlins on Friday night.
