Red Sox (somehow) manage split vs Blue Jays

Jim Monaghan
Content Coordinator

Remember those wonderful days of June and July when there were times you wondered if the Red Sox would ever lose?

Now, not only are they not winning, they're barely even scoring runs anymore.
Photo courtesy of WEEI

The Toronto Blue Jays shut Boston out 1-0 in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday, wasting a tremendous pitching performance by Nick Pivetta, and nearly doing the same behind a solid outing by Tanner Houck in game two.

Pivetta (pictured) shut out Toronto in the first game for six innings, allowing just one hit and a walk while striking out five. The offense - just two runs on eight hits - was almost completely inept.

Houck allowed a run in 3.2 innings on six hits before  manager Alex Cora turned to the bullpen. Alex Verdugo homered in the top of the sixth and Jonathan Arauz singled home a run in the eighth to give the Red Sox a 2-1 win and a split of the doubleheader.

Despite the win, the day was a complete mess.

Jarren Duran and JD Martinez were not available due to COVID issues, which also kept bench coach Will Venable out of the dugout.

On the field, the lack of offense was one thing, but ridiculously bad base running in the second game was equally atrocious.

The win in the second game wasn't the only positive news to come out of Saturday.

Chris Sale made what is believed to be his final minor league rehab start before joining the team next week.

Sale went 4.2 scoreless innings striking out eight, while allowing three walks and just two hits. Sale threw 89 pitches, his highest pitch count in 2021.

Click here to find more by Jim Monaghan on Red Sox Life. Follow him on twitter - @Monaghan21.