After six innings, the Blue Jays had a single baserunner.Nick Pivetta painted corners, induced soft contact, and allowed just one Toronto hitter to reach base. But Robbie Ray matched him pitch for pitch.A night after the Blue Jays cracked open a nine-run fifth inning, Ozzie Smith Jersey taking the series opener over the Red Sox with a late-game offensive showcase, Saturday afternoon was about the pitching. The Red Sox and Blue Jays combined for zero hits through the games opening four frames as Ray and Pivetta shaped dueling gems."You notice early on that it was going to be a back-and-forth pitcher's duel," Ray said.Scroll to ContinueBut after both starters left the game, it took just one Bob Gibson Jersey pitch. Marcus Semien jumped a 95-MPH Matt Barnes fastball, launching it deep into left field. It was just Torontos second hit of the ball game (fourth hit Lou Brock Jersey total), but it was the only knock that mattered. Blue Jay batters spilled out of the dugout before the deep fly even landed.When Semien hit that first-pitch homer it was amazing," Ray said. "Everyone was screaming and yelling, it was a fun experience for sure.Even hard-hit balls were erased by smooth defense all afternoon. Santiago Espinal barehanded a slow roller in the third and Bostons right fielder erased a liner in the bottom of the fifth as both teams clawed for a single tally.You're no Gretzky, a fan barked at Hunter Keith Hernandez Jersey Renfroe (#99) as he slid along the turf, backhanding a Teoscar Hernndez scorcher to keep the Blue Jays off the board. Even when Ray let two on in the sixth inning, and a bizarre replay review extended the frame, Torontos starter left the mound with a zero. Ray and Pivetta each finished with six scorele s innings and a pair of no-decisions.Since the Blue Jays returned home, theyve won eight of nine games. Paul Goldschmidt Jersey Theyve topped teams by eight runs and snuck out with two-hit wins like Saturday's. Toronto has slowly scratched within two games of a playoff spot and have a chance to win their first series of the season against the Red Sox tonight.
