The Boston Red Sox welcomed the Toronto Blue Jays to Fenway Park for the first of three games on Monday, and Alex Cora's squad earned a 7-6 win after an incredible comeback in the final two innings.
Boston was up 2-1 through six innings after Rafael Devers' two-run home run in the fourth inning, but things came crashing down for them in the sixth, when starting pitcher Tanner Houck allowed two more runs (one earned due to a catcher's interference and a throwing error by David Hamilton). Isaiah Campbell came in to allow two more runs on a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. moonshot over the Green Monster.
However, things flipped for the Red Sox in the eighth inning, scoring four runs off of a Hamilton two-run home run and a two-run single by Romy Gonzalez to tie the game at six runs each.
In the ninth, Boston turned to closer Kenley Jansen, who allowed just one baserunner. That runner was thrown out trying to steal second by freshly recalled catcher Tyler Heineman. Then, in the bottom half of the inning, Red Sox rookie shortstop Ceddanne Rafaela reached first on a fielding error, and Jarren Duran drove him home to walk it off.
The win improves Boston's record to 43-36 on the season and 19-20 at Fenway Park. This is the first time that Cora's team has been seven games over .500 all season. The Red Sox and Blue Jays will meet on Tuesday for the middle game of the series.
