Matz Knocked Around in Blue Jays Loss

Red Sox hitters hammered the big left-hander for nine hits in a 4-1 Blue Jays loss.

Jarren Duran was flying around the bases. 

The Red Sox rookie had just lined an extra-base-hit into Fenway Park’s dreaded “triangle” in right-center field. George Springer bobbled the baseball, as one run scored easily. Duran chugged around third and the relay from Santiago Espinal pulled catcher Reese McGuire just far enough off the plate to delay the tag. 

Safe. An inside-the-park home run. As demoralizing as it gets.

While the play was eventually ruled a triple and error on Springer, it personified a forgettable outing for Matz. The Blue Jays lefty was in trouble from first pitch onwards. The Red Sox scored runs in the first two innings, and wound up stringing several stretches of consecutive hits off him in the 4-1 Blue Jays loss. 

On July 23 against the New York Mets, Matz looked steady, but not great. Wednesday’s start was a step backwards. The 30-year-old walked only one batter, but didn’t miss too many bats either. His night was done after 3 1/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on nine hits with just two strikeouts. 

Vladdy ties Vernon Wells for fewest games to 300 hits in Jays history

If Blue Jays fans have their way, this won’t be the last time Vladimir Guerrero Jr. etches his name in the record books. 

With a fourth-inning double off Tanner Houck, the 22-year-old slugger tied Vernon Wells for the franchise record of fastest to 300 hits. Both men did it in just 281 games.

Guerrero Jr.’s achievement was a lone bright spot in a rather bleak performance during Wednesday’s nightcap. The Blue Jays get one more crack at the Red Sox Thursday, before a long-awaited return to Rogers Centre on Friday.