Darnell McDonald shines as Boston Red Sox defeat Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 – MLB Update
Darnell McDonald put up a wonderful performance to assist in the Boston Red Sox 3-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on Tuesday, July 5.
McDonald put an end to the game by throwing out Edwin Encarnacion at the plate in the final stages of the game.
"It's been very tough," McDonald said. "I want to do things to help the team. Obviously, I haven't been effective at the plate. It's a long season. When you're not hitting, defense has to be on point."
Losing the first encounter of three-game series by 9-7, the Red Sox emerged as an entirely transformed team, one which was unshakably determined to overpower the Toronto Blue Jays despite several odds.
"To not give up today, get a few runs, get a few more guys on base against an excellent closer says a lot about our club," McDonald said.
Jon Lester played his part as the most towering defence figure on Tuesday with his four strong innings, followed by Matt Albers two innings in which he gave up a hit. It was Jonathan Papelbon who virtually brought disaster for the Red Sox in the ninth inning,
by allowing four hits and two runs.
Jason Varitek started the running campaign for the Red Sox in the second inning with his double to left centre, allowing David Ortiz to score followed by J. D. Drew’s single that gave an early 2-0 lead to the Red Sox.
Jon Lester, superbly fit and poised to demonstrate his pitching perfection, threw hitless and scoreless innings to maintain the lead. Not even for a moment did the Boston starter seem willing to give any space to the Blue Jays’ hitters.
With his hit, Dustin Pedroia brought the third run for the Red Sox, tripling his team’s lead against a weakening Blue Jays defence. Brett Cecil was not replaced as he kept pitching.
Before he had to leave the game due to his strained muscle, Lester pitched four strong and hitless innings to keep the Red Sox in the game.
Once Lester was out of the game, Albers played his role, pitching two scoreless innings and giving up only one hit. Morales was the third relief pitcher to come, while the Red Sox lead was 3-0, to disallow any hit.
Cecil was not to rest on Tuesday as his team invested all their confidence in him to pitch. By the time the eighth inning got completed, Cecil gave up seven hits and allowed three runs.
The only tough time that the Red Sox faced was in the ninth inning when Papelbon literally caused havoc with the four hits he allowed and two runs that he gave up to Jose Bautista, before McDonald threw out Edwin Encarnacion at the plate to save the game.
McDonald’s endeavour paid off in a difficult 3-2 victory of the Red Sox, bringing them back in to three-game series which stands level at 1-1. It will be interesting to see how the Red Sox tackle the upcoming task on Wednesday.
Tags: