TORONTO (AP) — After going hitless for almost an entire week, Jackie Bradley Jr. came up big for the Boston Red Sox.
David Ortiz singled home the go-ahead run in a five-run ninth inning and the Red Sox rallied to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-6 on Saturday.
Bradley snapped an 0-for-21 slump with a game-tying double in the seventh, then tied it again with a two-run homer off Roberto Osuna (1-5) in the ninth. He had gone 1 for 32 before the two hits, and was hitless since a fourth-inning double against Tampa Bay on Sept. 12.
“It felt good,” Bradley said. “It felt like I finally made solid contact.”
Interim manager Torey Lovullo praised Bradley for putting his slump aside and producing.
“It showed signs of maturity that he can put that behind him despite the tough circumstances,” Lovullo said. “I know it was a big day for him and he’s very excited.”
Twenty-four of Bradley’s past 33 hits have gone for extra bases, including 15 doubles and seven home runs.
It was the first time in 74 such situations this season that the Blue Jays lost when leading after eight innings.
Xander Bogaerts also homered for the Red Sox, who are 9-9 against Toronto this season. The Blue Jays’ lead in the AL East dropped to 3 1-2 games with the Yankees’ 5-0 win over the Mets.
“Anytime we can win against the best right now, that’s always
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