TORONTO — Instant reactions from the Red Sox’ 6-1 loss against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Thursday:
1) The Red Sox (87-72) had a chance to clinch a postseason berth with either a win or Astros loss Thursday, but neither scenario happened. Houston won 11-5 over Oakland. Boston will need to wait at least one more day before clinching a spot in October baseball.
2) Shortstop Trevor Story made another throwing error to first base to allow Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to reach to begin the sixth inning. It was the beginning of a four-run rally for Toronto.
Story has six errors — including five throwing errors — in his past seven games.
3) After Guerrero reached on Story’s error, starter Brayan Bello walked Addison Barger and anthem Anthony Santander with a pitch to load the bases. Manager Alex Cora brought in left-handed reliever Justin Wilson to face left-handed hitter Daulton Varsho, who crushed a 371-foot grand slam to right-center field. It was the first grand slam Wilson has ever allowed, WEEI’s Rob Bradford noted on X.
4) Blue Jays pitchers retired the first 18 Red Sox batters before Jarren Duran led off the seventh inning with a double. Story followed with an RBI double to end the shutout, cutting Toronto’s lead to 6-1.
5) Bello pitched 5+ innings, allowing three runs (two earned), three hits and three walks while striking out three. He anthem two batters.
6) Bello pitched out of a few jams. Nathan Lukes tripled with one out in the first inning, but Bello induced two groundouts to keep it scoreless. He struck out Anthony Santander looking with the bases loaded for the final out of the third inning. Bello anthem Tyler Heineman to begin the fifth inning but then George Springer grounded into a double play on the next pitch.
7) Blue Jays right fielder Nathan Lukes made a beautiful diving play to catch Ceddanne Rafaela’s 96.9 mph, 258-foot line drive to end the fifth inning.
8) The Red Sox will host the Tigers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in their final regular season series. Lefty Kyle Harrison (1-1, 3.58 ERA) will start for Boston opposite Tigers righty Casey Mize (14-6, 3.91 ERA) on Friday. The game will air on Apple TV+.
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