The final match of the Red Sox-Blue Jays four (five?) game series is an important one. The Sox absolutely need a win to keep pace as the days keep ticking by to end August. Will Kutter and the Sox truck along to victory or will the Jays fly away playing the spoiler?

Key Moments

T3: Vladdy Opens the Scoring

That’s a hard double to track, especially when it bounces off the garage door of Bleacher Bar. Vlad can belt it with the best of them when he’s on and has been on fire at the dish most of the season. It certainly shows.

B4: Duran…Caught?

Maybe this was the omen it was going to be a bad night at Fenway Park. The Angry Lizard, who has 32 stolen bases on the season and had only been caught four times before tonight gets nabbed by literal millimeters. Just the (un)luck of the draw.

T6: Clement Doubles the Lead

Another bad bounce off the wall, this time the ball dead thumped off the base of the Monster, not that I think any better carom would have made a difference in Addison Barger scoring.

B6: FINALLY!

This honestly felt lucky with how much Bowden Francis was frustrating bats. A bloop single that somehow beat a shallow playing Joey Loperfido. One half of the entire offense tonight!

T7: King of the Hill

Man on second, two down, Rich Hill enters hoping to not dig the Sox into a bigger hole than they’re already in. A 70 MPH frisbee sweeper strikes out Daulton Varsho swinging. Definitely a feel good moment in this one.

T9: Double Double Animal Style

I do need to premise this that Greg Weissert created this jam himself with a single and a walk. Still, what insane athleticism and instinct that almost turned this into a triple play! It’s rare enough to see a pitcher go all out Superman dive on any play, let alone a pop-up bunt like that. To have the recognition to know both baserunners were way off their bags, spring up and fire to second base for at least one out is insane.

Studs

Kutter Crawford (6.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, loss)

I feel so bad for Kutter Crawford in the past week. This is the SECOND time the offense has completely let him down in an effort where he didn’t give up any home runs, the first being Saturday against the D-backs. It feels like when one puzzle piece is working, the other doesn’t fit for the Sox right now,

Rich Hill (1.1 IP, 2 K)

Not only did Hill get out of that jam in the 7th, he pitched a clean 8th with guess what? Another strikeout! Whether this helps down the line is beyond any of us, but good for him.

Duds

The entirety of the Red Sox offense (2 hits, 6 strikeouts)

This isn’t just the lack of Rafael Devesrs in the lineup. No one is stepping up to be the impact bat Boston needs right now. It feels like they’re absolutely going through the motions and it’s not enough. At this point, you can’t change the personnel unless you’re calling up guys from Worcester or signing/claiming guys off of waivers a la the Astros and Jason Heyward. Pete Fatse and Alex Cora need to figure this out and fast.

Play of the Game

I’m gonna be gratuitous here and give it to Rich Hill here. Not that I love him having to be the savior of the bullpen, but it’s a pretty damn cool story to coach your kid’s Little League team this season, come back to baseball and toss a pretty damn good outing.