Toronto Blue Jays finish historic battering of Boston Red Sox
It felt as though whenever one looked up, a member of the Toronto Blue Jays was launching the ball at Fenway Park over the weekend. It did not matter who was at the plate, or who the Boston Red Sox had on the mound; that offering was most likely to end up sailing off into the distance, clearing the wall and extending the Blue Jays’ lead.
As such, it should not be a surprise that the Blue Jays had a record setting performance over the weekend. Their eight homers on Sunday was the most of any opponent at Fenway, breaking the record set by the 1967 Orioles.
Boston Red Sox glad to see Toronto Blue Jays leave town
That was not the only record that the Blue Jays set. They had also tied the single game record for homers by any team, last accomplished by the Red Sox in 2013. Amazingly, it was not the Blue Jays’ franchise record for the most homers in a game; that mark was set in 1987 when they hit ten homers in a game against the Orioles.
Even though the contest was more of a batting practice session than anything else, the Blue Jays had several positives. Teoscar Hernandez is continuing to get back on track, having sent two homers out on Sunday. Rowdy Tellez got in on the action, taking infielder-turned-pitcher Christian Arroyo deep in the ninth inning. Toronto/Buffalo/Dunedin had 20 hits in the game, leading to a rusty sign that obviously had not been used in a long time making an appearance in the scoreboard.
It is also not a surprise that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. joined in on the fun at the plate. He launched his major league leading 21st homer of the season, furthering a season that should end with an MVP award if he continues at his current pace.
Even more importantly, this was a weekend that the Blue Jays needed. The Red Sox hold one of the Wild Card spots, and the Blue Jays entered the day three games behind the Astros for the second Wild Card berth. This dominant showing over the weekend not only drew them closer, but provides some needed momentum.
The Toronto Blue Jays had a record setting performance on Sunday. Even more importantly, that performance gets them closer in the standings.