Red Sox best eager Blue Jays in hard-fought three-gamer

After walking all over the last-place Kansas City Royals, the Blue Jays, concrete in their ways and habits, prepared to host the big and bad Boston Red Sox in a routine three-game, mid-week series.

Despite losing the series, the Blue Jays, to their credit, held their own against one of the American League’s most frightening teams. Though the performances were somewhat shoestring and the stats rather varied, the team has a lot that they can pride themselves on after the games are all said, done, and played.

Here’s a look at the good, the bad, and the weird from this week’s BoSox-Blue Jays series:

In yet another stupendous series, Freddy Galvis (6-for-12, HR, 4 RBI, BB, 2 2B, 2 R) had several clutch hits, as did Danny Jansen (7-for-12, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 2 2B, 6 R, 21(!) TB) who is suddenly on a ridiculous tear that borders on insane. Cavan Biggio (2-for-9, 2 R, 2B, 4 BB) was also among those to join the party with some exceptional showings against lefty pitching.

Elsewhere in the lineup, Brandon Drury (5-for-11, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, BB, 2 2B) sprung to life this week, with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (1-for-7, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB) putting together a few nice ABs as well, despite his low line in the set. One also cannot forget the vital contributions of Rowdy Tellez (3-for-8, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB), especially in the series finale.

On the mound, middle relievers Daniel Hudson (1.2 IP, H, 0 R/ER, 2 SO) and David Phelps (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R/ER, SO, BB) provided solid frames in tight spots. Sean Reid-Foley (3.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R/ER, 4 SO) was solid prior to getting sent down as well.

Though Ken Giles (3.0 IP, H, R/ER, HR, BB, 4 SO, SV, L) pitched a spectacular inning in each of the first two games in the series, Charlie Montoyo’s decision to run with him for a third straight night in the finale certainly did not pay off, as Giles was drilled with just his second blown save of the season.

Relievers Joe Biagini (2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R/ER, HR, 2 BB, SO) and Derek Law (1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R/ER, 2 HR, SO) were roughed up in their appearances, while Tim Mayza (1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R/ER, HR, BB, SO) didn’t fare too well either. Thomas Pannone (4.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R/ER, BB, 4 SO) tailed off near the end of his outing, despite pitching remarkably well for the first two innings.

With the bats, Randal Grichuk (1-for-8, 3 SO, 1 TB) struggled at the plate, with Eric Sogard (1-for-8, 2B, R, SO, RBI) appearing relatively quiet until the ninth inning of Thursday’s tilt.

Aside from Charlie Montoyo’s decision to use Ken Giles three days in a row in the series, the set’s weirdest moment came in the second game of the set, in which David Phelps was chosen as the team’s “opener”. Though Phelps pitched exceptionally well in his sole inning, he was an interesting choice for an opener, to say the least.

The Blue Jays will now welcome the 25-61 Baltimore Orioles to town for a three-game series beginning Friday at Rogers Centre. Dylan Bundy (3-10, 4.91 ERA, 90 SO), Andrew Cashner (8-3, 4.03 ERA, 62 SO), and Gabriel Ynoa (0-6, 6.22 ERA, 34 SO) will go for the O’s, while Aaron Sanchez (3-11, 6.31 ERA, 72 SO), Clayton Richard (1-4, 6.51 ERA, 19 SO), and Trent Thornton (2-6, 5.18 ERA, 92 SO) take the mound for the boys in blue.