Boston Red Sox
Boston was hitless until the sixth inning.
The Red Sox lineup was quiet on Saturday after an exciting win on Friday. Barry Chen/Global Staff
The Boston Red Sox played their worst game of the past month on Saturday.
Boston was shut out 6-0 by Toronto Blue Jays starter Dylan Cease, who pitched a complete game to quiet the Sox bats for the first time in a long time.
In fact, Cease hit a perfect game in the fifth inning and had no batters in the sixth inning. He is the first baserunner to win against the Red Sox since the Nationals’ Cade Cavalli on June 30.
Yes, that Kid Cavalli, who got into a feud with Wilson Contreras, leading to both being suspended.
The Blue Jays paid off to pitch nine complete frames on 120 pitches (80 strikeouts), during which they allowed just one hit, three walks, and struck out nine to earn their seventh win. His 167 strikeouts lead the American League.
Interim manager Chad Tracy said Cease’s performance was “the story of the game” and tipped his hat to the right-hander after the game.
“It’s the story of the game. There’s not much else to say,” Tracy said. “He was very good and in the zone. A lot of times in the zone, ahead in the count. He had good stuff. There are games you play where you have to raise the roof. He threw the ball very well.”
“There’s not much to say other than a really good pitcher came out and pitched a really good game.”
Cease became the first pitcher to throw a complete game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park since Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka in 2017.
Cease also improved on his already impressive career statistics at Fenway. Through five starts in Boston, he has a 0.88 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 44 strikeouts. Hitters are averaging .194 against him.
Cease’s strong outing was the opposite of Sonny Gray’s start in Boston, which was the team’s de facto bullpen with Garrett Crochet still far from returning to the mound in any capacity.
Gray, who had nine straight good starts and 10 straight decision winners on Saturday, had one bad round, which dictated the remainder of the contest. He gave up five runs in the top of the third on a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. RBI hit, a George Springer three-run home run, and an Ernie Clement RBI double.
Gray’s final streak was ugly: five innings, 10 hits, five runs (all earned), no walks, and three strikeouts on 75 pitches (54 strikeouts).
He told reporters that he “felt great” during his debut and was not worried about anything health-wise.
“I felt great. I think that’s part of the a little frustrating part.” Gray said. “If you look at the (third) inning… I couldn’t close out the inning. … It could have been a lot worse for me personally today than it was (the other four innings). Guys saved me (defensively) out there.”
Center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela scored a double play by making a stunning diving catch and throwing a runner to second base in the second inning to keep Toronto scoreless at that point.
Left fielder Jarren Duran made an excellent play of his own when he threw a laser at home plate to take out a base runner in the fourth inning, holding the Blue Jays to within 6-0.
Although Gray praised the teammates behind him for his help, he said it gave Cease too much of a cushion, forcing him to play his full game with one hit.
“You’re giving the guy on the mound on the other side a little extra. … He’s too good to be up 5-0 in the third inning,” he said.
Boston will look to take the series into Sunday’s rubber match. The premiere is set for 1:35 PM ET.
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