Not worthy of high five
Newest Sox starter can’t deliver win
If Andrew Cashner represents an upgrade over Hector Velazquez, then the Red Sox should have asked for first class instead of a middle seat in the exit row.
In his first start for the Red Sox since his trade from Baltimore on Saturday, Cashner did pitch far deeper into a game — five innings, plus two batters — than Velazquez had in any of his starts this season. But the quantity paled against quality, as Cashner allowed six runs, five earned, in the Red Sox’ 10-4 loss to Toronto last night.
Worse than Cashner’s effort was that the Red Sox offense could not cover up the flaws of the pitching like it did in Monday’s win. The Red Sox’ inconsistent level of elite play was exposed by a 36-60 Blue Jays team that out-hit, out-pitched and outperformed the hosts.
Cashner began the game with a single to Eric Sogard and allowed a triple to Lourdes Gurreil Jr., the third batter he faced, but it was not until the second inning that the Blue Jays began to put up some runs.
After beginning the inning with a strikeout, Cashner walked Justin Smoak, allowed a single to Freddy Galvos and then gave up a three-run home run to Teoscar Hernandez to put the Blue Jays on top, 3-1.
In the third inning, Cashner gave up a run on a Smoak two-out single to make it a 4-1 Blue Jays lead
The Red Sox had grabbed the early lead on Xander Bogaerts’ solo home run off Toronto starter Jacob Waguespack, who settled in quite nicely through the fourth inning.
The Bogaerts home run was the last hit Waguespack allowed until Michael Chavis singled with two outs in the fifth. That began the end for the Jays starter. After Brock Holt doubled, Mookie Betts singled them both in and then was singled in by Bogaerts to tie the game at 4.
The Blue Jays turned to their bullpen after Bogaerts’ RBI tied the game. Gifted with a brand-new tie game, Cashner’s response was not especially grateful.
On the first pitch of the sixth inning, Smoak smoked a hanging curveball into the Blue Jays bullpen to put the Blue Jays back on top. After allowing another single to Galvis, manager Alex Cora came out for his first-ever hook of Cashner.
In his five-plus innings, Cashner allowed eight hits with two walks, two strikeouts and two home runs — plus a wild pitch and hit batsman.
The Red Sox stranded a runner at third base in both the sixth and seventh innings.
The Blue Jays tacked on four runs in the ninth inning.