Rowdy Tellez’s home run powers Blue Jays past Red Sox

Rookie goes deep to open series with a win against the division rivals

Rowdy Tellez played a pivotal role in the Blue Jays' win over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports 

Rowdy Tellez hits his 18th home run of the season to give the Toronto Blue Jays over the Boston Red Sox in a 4-3 victory Tuesday night.

With Cavan Biggio on base, the first baseman hit a 111 mph, 429-foot blast that soared into right field to give Toronto the lead at the bottom of the fifth. He finished 2-for-4.

In his first major-league start, T.J. Zeuch kept the Blue Jays in the game despite surrendering a first-pitch homer to Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts. That was the only earned run he allowed through his first three innings.

The Toronto (56-89) starter finished the game after four and a third innings pitched. He gave up three earned runs, six hits, walked three and only struck out one batter through his 81 pitches.

But it was the starter’s ability to induce ground balls that earned him 13 outs, six of them were because of a soft infield ball in play.

On the debut pitch of the game, Boston’s (76-69) Betts hit a barreling home run that struck off the left-field foul pole and into the stands. His 28th dinger of the season gave the visiting team a 1-0 lead.

Nathan Eovaldi (1-0) made his eighth start of the season, but was unable to keep the Blue Jays bats grounded.

Eovaldi lasted four and a third innings, allowing only two runs and six hits. The starter walked only two Blue Jays, while punching out six.

Josh Taylor came in relief of the Red Sox starter and allowed a two-run homer to Tellez — the first batter he faced — that sealed the victory for the home team.

Buddy Boshers came in the relief of Zeuch with one out in the top of the fifth, but after getting Mitch Moreland to groundout, an Andrew Benintendi’s single scored Martinez from second, giving the Red Sox a 3-2 lead.

The lefty reliever gave way to Justin Shafer after the allowed single put Boston in front. Through four outs, the reliever was able to get three strikeouts and no walks, for a clean appearance that helped secure the victory for the Blue Jays.

The combination of Boshers, Shafer, Derek Law, Tim Mayza and Jordan Romano was able to keep Toronto in the game and eventually earn the win.

Closer Ken Giles kept was shaky for the Blue Jays, giving up a single to Brock Holt and walking Betts with two outs, but got Rafael Devers to fly out for the victory.

The Blue Jays look to win the series at home Wednesday night against the Red Sox. Toronto’s Trent Thornton (4-9, 5.23 ERA) will start for the home team and Jhoulys Chacin (3-10, 5.79 ERA) will make his first start for the Red Sox since signing for the reigning World Series champions on Aug. 31 after being released by the Milwaukee Brewers.

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Posted: Sep 10 2019 10:22 pm
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