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Blue Jays series recap: Jays took two of three from the Red Sox
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Photo credit: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
May 2, 2025, 17:30 EDTUpdated: May 2, 2025, 17:34 EDT
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It looks as if the Toronto Blue Jays’ bats have started to get going.
This past week, they played a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox. The first game was a disaster, as Bowden Francis gave up five home runs in what ended up being a 10-2 loss. This was their eighth loss in nine games, a very concerning early-season development. The one positive from this game was that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his third home run in this game.
After the top of the sixth inning of the second game, it’d be fair to think “here we go again”, as the Jays trailed 6-0. However, Daulton Varsho and Alejandro Kirk each hit a home run in the bottom of the sixth to cut the Red Sox’s lead in half, before Anthony Santander hit a clutch, game-tying home run the next inning. The Jays won in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the 10th.
In the top fifth inning of the rubber match, the Red Sox jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Once again, the Jays cut the lead in half, thanks to a Varsho home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. The next inning, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a three-run shot to take a 4-2 lead, which the Blue Jays held onto to win the series.
With the return of Varsho, the Blue Jays have a cast of regulars: Varsho, Bo Bichette, Guerrero Jr., Santander, Alejandro Kirk, Ernie Clement, Andrés Giménez, and George Springer. The other spot rotates between Nathan Lukes, Addison Barger, Myles Straw, and Alan Roden. It’s nice to have that stability moving forward.
Of the regulars, Varsho had the best series, slashing .300/.462/.900 with two home runs in 13 plate appearances for a 263 wRC+. Guerrero Jr. also hit two home runs, bringing his wRC+ to 158 for the series. Of the other regulars, Bichette was the other one with a wRC+ above 100 (167).
Starting pitching wasn’t great for the Blue Jays in this series. Francis made the start, giving up seven earned runs in three innings of work. Yariel Rodríguez opened for Eric Lauer, with the two combining for four earned runs in five innings of work. José Berríos was the only starter with any success, pitching six and two-thirds innings with just two earned runs given up.
As for the bullpen, the two long relievers struggled. Laauer piggybacked off Rodríguez, giving up two earned runs in four innings. Casey Lawerence gave up three earned runs in two and two-thirds innings. Other than that, the other reliever to give up an earned run in this series was Chad Green. It was a successful series for the bullpen, all things considered.
Next up for the Blue Jays is a three-game series at Rogers Centre against the Cleveland Guardians.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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