Red Sox Stop the Blue Jays, Orioles Get Win Against the Yankees

In a 7-5 win, the Boston Red Sox (49-33) defeated the wannabe Toronto Blue Jays (39-40) on Friday thanks to a pinch hitting move by Jonny Gomes, who took the place of Daniel Nava. He hit a RBI single in the seventh inning that ended a tie and helped Boston get the win.

This came after the Red Sox had given up a five-run advantage.

Jonny Gomes

Leading through the fifth inning, the Blue Jays’ bats woke up and the team came roaring back to tie it 5-5 by the seventh inning from an  Edwin Encarnacion home run. This was his 23rd for the season.

But it wasn’t enough as Gomes acted as the spoiler for Toronto.

For the night, Boston had 15 hits and for the seventh game, they’ve had a minimum of 10 for a sixth occurrence. Combined for those games, they’d had 93 hits, according to the Associated Press.

Red Sox rookie righty Allen Webster (0-2) had his fourth start and in his six innings, he had six hits, four runs, two walks and three strikeouts. He left the mound with a 5-4 advantage and Andrew Miller (1-2) got the winning nod over his 1 1/3 innings without a score.

Toronto had righty Josh Johnson (1-2) as its starting pitcher and he went four innings for another no decision.

Boston has now won four consecutive games and with its 49-33 record, it represents the best for the AL. They’re also 16 games past .500–a first since they had a 90-72 record in 2011.

As for Toronto, who’s had a magical month of June winning 12 of 14 games, they have now last two straight thanks to the Red Sox.

This series will continue on Saturday with Toronto’s righty Esmil Rogers (3-3) taking the mound vs. Boston’s lefty Felix Doubront (4-3).

Things happen in threes as Boston gets another win (-140, 10 o/u). For this year’s World Series, they sit at +1200 to win it.

Orioles defeat Yankees, 4-3

The Baltimore Orioles (45-36) squeaked out a 4-3 win against the visiting New York Yankees (42-37) on Friday.

It didn’t come easily as the Yankees had lefty C.C. Sabathia (8-6) on the mound for five innings, who kept the Orioles without a hit.

There was something about the seventh inning for the AL East on Friday night as the Orioles, who got their first score in the sixth inning, finally took the lead then as Nate McLouth’s home run broke the tie and ultimately got the win.

C.C. Sabathia

For Sabathia, he was on his way to his 200th win and his manager Joe Girardi was looking for career victory No. 600 with a Friday victory but instead Orioles pitcher Kevin Glausman (1-3) got his first major league win. He gave up three hits in 4 1/3 innings as part of the Orioles relief team.

Sabathia said of the game via the Associated Press, “We’ve been battling and scuffling all year, fighting through all the injuries. Then to come out here and get three and not be able to hold it … it’s extremely frustrating.”

The Orioles now sit 3.5 games behind the Red Sox, while the Yankees are behind by 5.5 games.

This weekend series will continue between these two teams, battling to move up in the division.

On Saturday, Lefty Zach Britton (1-2) will take the mound for Baltimore. He is 1 for 3 against the Yankees in his six starts but he pitches well at home. He is 1-1 (2.60 ERA) over his three starts on the home mound.

For the Yankees, they will have righty David Phelps (5-4) as their pitcher. Lucky for them, Phelps fares well against the Orioles. On April 13 in relief duty, Phelps pitched four scoreless innings with one hit in a 5-3 loss to Baltimore.

The Yankees will get the win on Saturday (-114, 9 o/u).