Toronto Blue Jays Post Heroic Win over Red Sox at Rogers Centre

[Box Score]

This was a game the Toronto Blue Jays really had to have to take a series from the Boston Red Sox to get themselves to 60-50, a high-water mark of 10 games over .500 after 110 played. Surely, the Blue Jays have had some big wins this season, but this is probably the one that cements them as a contender for a postseason spot with 52 left to play.

Therefore, the Blue Jays fell behind in this one early 7-2 behind a lackluster performance by Hyun-Jin Ryu. All series long, it seemed like they have been waiting for the bats to wake up now back at Rogers Centre. Maybe they haven’t been seeing the ball well, but the heavily-armed lineup of Toronto is yet to really show up since the team’s return back north of the border.

Then, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. gave them a rallying cry. I don’t know how many home runs that Guerrero Jr. will end up with when his internal clock as a baseball player stops, but today was career home run 59. It was a hanging breaking ball that he top hand released over the left field wall. Surely he will hit more impressive home runs, but this was a big one in terms of getting the Blue Jays going to chip away at the lead.

After his 35th long ball of the season, Guerrero Jr. wasn’t done supplying highlights. We commented earlier in the year that Guerrero Jr. actually looked like a base stealer in a game he attempted two stolen base attempts. Well, he stole his third of the season in this one and he looked alright.

Then, one of the biggest swings of the season for Toronto took place in the bottom of the 8th. With Matt Barnes brought on to get a four-out save, it wouldn’t come easy. Springer launched a monster three run home run for his 14th of the season to put the Blue Jays up 9-8, a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Jordan Romano came on in the ninth for his 10th save of the year, and Blue Jays had escaped with an improbable comeback win and a series victory over a heavily favored Boston team that has seemed to just have their number in tight games all year long.