GAME #16, BOSTON RED SOX AT TORONTO BLUE JAYS

[Bear]

RED SOX V BLUE JAYS

THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2017, 12:37 PM AT ROGERS CENTRE

TV:  NESN, MLBN, SNET

BOSTON, 9-6.......................................................................TORONTO, 3-11

BOSTON:

CHRIS SALE, LHP, 1-1.25 ERA, 29K

Sale has been marvelous in his initiation to the Red Sox, giving up three earned
runs over 21 2/3 innings while striking out 29.  Opponents are hitting .145 against
the left-hander, who is 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA lifetime at Rogers Centre.

TORONTO:

MARCO ESTRADA, RHP, 0-1, 3.50 ERA, 17k

Estrada was excellent in his last start against Baltimore, pitching seven shutout
innings.  He allowed four hits, struck out eight and consistently forced soft
contact.  His change up produced an average exit velocity  of just 74.3 MPH.

Sale, Estrada face off in series finale

Keegan Matheson

Toronto's climb from the American League East basement won't get any easier in Thursday afternoon's series finale as Boston sends ace Chris Sale to the mound to face Marco Estrada.

Sale is already exceeding his lofty expectations after the Red Sox dealt a package of highly-touted prospects to the White Sox for the left-hander in December. Through three starts, Sale owns a 1.25 ERA and has held opponents to a .149 batting average.

"He's got three power-type pitches for a lot of swing-and-miss," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "And let's face it, [the] three starts he's made for us, he's not had any margin of error. He's worth the price of admission just to see him."

Estrada is coming off his strongest start of the season, a seven-inning shutout performance against the Orioles on Saturday. By mixing his fastball and changeup, Estrada created weak contact throughout the game while striking out eight.

In that outing, Estrada forced eight swinging strikes on 41 changeups and the seven balls put in play off that pitch maxed out at an exit velocity of just 78.8 mph according to Statcast data.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS GAME

•  Sale's strikeout totals are no secret, but he's been even more dominant than usual this season. Entering play on Wednesday, Sale led the Major Leagues with 29 strikeouts, just ahead of Cleveland's Danny Salazar and the Yankees' Luis Severino (both with 27).

•  Few pitchers have tamed Mookie Betts in his young career, but Estrada has managed to do it so far. The 2016 runner-up for American League MVP is just 2-for-16 (.125) against Estrada in his career with a pair of walks and four strikeouts. Entering Wednesday, however, Betts led the league by a wide margin by going 128 plate appearances without a strikeout. That streak extended to 129 plate appearances before Betts struck out in the fourth inning.

•  In his last outing, Sale generated 21 swinging strikes, a total he matched or exceeded in only three starts last year. In fact, after dipping to 12.2 percent last year, Sale's swinging-strike rate is back to exactly his 2015 level (16.1 percent) in '17 -- putting him sixth among pitchers with 200 pitches.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170419225264772/sale-estrada-face-off-in-series-finale/?game_pk=490327

[Bear]

RED SOX LINEUP:

PEDROIA, 2B
BENINTENDI, CF
BETTS, RF
RAMIREZ, DH
MORELAND, 1B
BOGAERTS, SS
SANDOVAL, 3B
LEON, C
HLT, LF

PITCHER:  SALE

[Muggah]

For godsakes can we try and get Sale some runs today.

[Bill-806]

Go RED SOX !!!!  Get Sale some runs, please !!!

[Bear]

It's been pretty discouraging since the start of the year.

[Rob from Mass]

Pitchers duel going to bottom 5 no score.Sale with 7 Ks after 4.

[longgame]

Please score some freaking runs for your ace. 

[Bill-806]

  When Mookie was on 3rd  (half way down), why didn't Moreland just drop a bunt ?????  Mookie would have scored before any play could be made to first ??????

[Rob from Mass]

Sale out and Kimbrel in to close it out as Sox score 1 in top 9.
On Kimbrel's 2nd pitch game is tied on a HR by Morales.
Can`t fault JF for bringing in Kimbrel who has pitched excellent last few times out.

[Schloicka]

Sale out and Kimbrel in to close it out as Sox score 1 in top 9.
On Kimbrel's 1st pitch game is tied on a HR by Morales.
Can`t fault JF for bringing in Kimbrel who has pitched excellent last few times out.

I think it was the right move. A damn if you do and a damn if you don't time. Just a poor pitch down the middle. The 1st pitch was a strike but called a ball so Kimbrel didn't want to get down in the count 2-0 and threw to good a pitch. Crap happens. I'm more concerned about the total lack of offense the last 2 games. They need to pick up the pace.

[Schloicka]

Betts come's through. Drives in 3 runs with a double down the left field line in the 10th. Kimbrel in line for the win. It would of been great for Sale to get the win but as long as the Sox win I don't care who gets it.

[Rob from Mass]

Mookie strokes a 2 out double with bases full and drives in all 3.    4-1 to bottom 10

[Rob from Mass]

Kimbrel back out for bottom 10.

[Rob from Mass]

Kimbrel strikes out the side in the 10th.

[Schloicka]

Sox pitchers K 18 hitters today.