Red Sox keep playoff hopes alive, beat Jays 4-1

TORONTO – The Boston Red Sox kept their slim playoff hopes alive on Monday by beating the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 in the opener of a three-game road series.

Red Sox starter Tanner Houck pitched five shutout innings and allowed just one hit to improve to 9-10 on the season. The Red Sox improved to 79-78.

Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt struggled by allowing three runs, two of which were earned, along with a season-high seven walks to drop to 11-14 on the season.

“It was a weird night for him,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider of his starter’s performance.

“He couldn’t really find the zone with anything, especially off-speed stuff — cutter, sweeper, curveball. So, weird night. You look up, and that game could have easily been a different outcome than 4-1.”

After striking out Jarren Duran to start the game, Bassitt walked three of the next five batters over the first two innings.

The Red Sox opened the scoring in the second inning, as second baseman Vaughn Grissom scored catcher Connor Wong from third on a sacrifice fly. It was Grissom’s fourth RBI of the season and his first since being called back up to the Red Sox from triple-A Worcester on Sept. 20.

The Red Sox doubled their lead in the third inning courtesy of an RBI single by outfielder Wilyer Abreu. The run gave Abreu 58 RBIs on the season and continued a strong campaign for the 25-year-old, who entered the game leading all American League rookies in slugging percentage, doubles and extra-base hits.

Third baseman Nick Sogard led off the fourth inning with a hard-hit double and then advanced to third after Bassitt was charged with a balk. Centre-fielder Ceddanne Rafaela would then give the Red Sox a 3-0 lead on a swinging bunt to bring Sogard home, giving the 24-year-old utility-man his 71st RBI of the season and a league-leading 57 as the ninth hitter in a team’s lineup.

Bassitt was replaced by right-hander Zach Pop after an Abreu single in the top of the fifth inning pushed runners to first and third with only one out. It marked the second consecutive game in which Bassitt finished with under five innings pitched and allowed three or more walks.

Bassitt chalked up his poor showing to mechanical issues.

“We’re not throwing bullpens. So, just go out there and be better,” offered the 35-year-old as to how he could avoid future performances such as this. “Obviously, there’s some dry work you can do. But, no.”

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