TORONTO – Brock Holt hit a grand slam and drove in five runs as the Boston Red Sox rallied from a 7-2 deficit, taking advantage of the Toronto bullpen to defeat the Blue Jays 8-7 in their home opener Friday night.
Things had looked secure for Toronto (2-3) after a Josh Donaldson grand slam in the fourth. But the Jays relief corps blew a save opportunity for the third game in the row, letting Boston (2-1) off the hook with four runs in the sixth and two in the seventh before a Rogers Centre sellout of 48,871 looking for another taste of last season’s playoff fever.
READ MORE: Toronto Blue Jays superfan has been there since day one
The Jays got the tying run to second base in the eighth inning but reliever Koji Uehara retired Donaldson and Jose Bautista to end the threat. Flame-thrower closer Craig Kimbrel pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.
Matt Barnes (1-0) got the win while Drew Storen (0-1) took the loss.
READ MORE: Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman: ‘Toronto is a baseball city’
Toronto has lost its last five home openers, the longest opener losing streak in franchise history.
Donaldson, swinging a big bat despite a bum leg, made history with the Jays’ first grand slam in a home opener for a commanding 7-2 lead.
Comments