BOSTON (AP) – Xander Bogaerts hit a three-run home run to back Eduardo Rodríguez in his first start at Fenway Park since 2019, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 on Tuesday night. Rodríguez (3-0), who missed last season due to COVID-19 complications, allowed two runs on three hits over six innings and struck out six for AL East-leading Boston. Matt Andriese, Adam Ottavino, and Matt Barnes worked a scoreless inning in relief. Barnes earned his third save.
Rodríguez was pulled after allowing his second homer of the day, a towering leadoff shot by Randal Grichuk leading off the seventh. Bo Bichette also homered for the Blue Jays, who have lost three straight.
Toronto ace Hyun Jin Ryu (1-2) lasted five innings, giving up eight hits, four runs, and striking out two.
Trailing 4-2 in the eighth, the Blue Jays had a runner on third with two outs, but Bichette struck out. Rodríguez received a warm greeting from the pandemic-limited Fenway crowd of 4,728. It was a small consolation prize for the left-hander, who missed out on scheduled opening-day starts each of the past two seasons. He still appeared to feed off the home fans’ energy, hurling a 95 mph fastball to strike out Bichette looking in the first inning.
Rodríguez cruised through his first three innings, allowing only a walk.
put the Blue Jays in front 1-0. Christian Arroyo and J.D. Martinez singled ahead of Bogaerts’ blast to left-center in the bottom of the inning. Marwin Gonzalez doubled later in the fourth, and Bobby Dalbec drove him in with a triple.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: Cavan Biggio started in right field after missing two games due to a hand issue. … Toronto placed right-hander T.J. Zeuch on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder tendinitis. Infielder Santiago Espinal was recalled from the club’s alternate training site and started at third base.
On Sunday, Red Sox: Left-hander Chris Sale will report to the team’s Fort Myers, Florida spring training facility to continue his rehabilitation following Tommy John surgery in March of 2020. “It’s just a matter of time before when he gets on the mound. We’ll go from there,” manager Alex Cora said.
DELAYED ARRIVAL
Cora was delayed getting to the ballpark, saying he had issues with his COVID-19 test results before the game.
“Some testing didn’t go how it should have gone,” Cora said, adding that he was tested multiple times.
Cora is scheduled to receive his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: Montoyo hasn’t settled on a starter but said his options include Tommy Milone (0-0, 3.24 ERA), left-hander Anthony Kay (0-1, 10.80), or an opener.
Red Sox: Right-hander Garrett Richards (0-1, 6.00) will make his fourth start of the season. He has posted a 1.80 ERA and a .179 opponent batting average in his past two starts.
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