By Canadian Press

Tapia homer in 5-run second leads Blue Jays over Red Sox 6-1

Apr 20, 2022 | 9:47 PM

BOSTON (AP) — Raimel Tapia hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in a five-run second inning for his first RBIs this season, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox 6-1 Wednesday night.

José Berríos (1-0) won for the first time in three starts this season, allowing one run and eight hits in six innings with six strikeouts and one walk. He lowered his ERA from 11.81 to 6.35.

“They have a pretty good lineup, a great team. We like to compete against a team like that,” Berrios said. “I came to have fun, compete, and I did it. Nothing’s going to be easy, so you have to find a way.”

Left-hander Tim Mayza got two outs while allowing two hits, and right-handers Trevor Richards and Julian Merryweather combined for 2 1/3 hitless innings.

Nick Pivetta (0-3) gave up five runs, seven hits and four walks in four innings. His ERA rose from 9.39 to 10.03, and the 29-year-old Canadian right-hander failed to reach the fifth inning for his second straight start.

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J.D. Martinez had an RBI single in the first that drove in Rafael Devers, who had doubled. Martinez left with left adductor tightness after doubling to lead off the third.

Matt Chapman singled leading off the second, and Tapia homered to right for a 2-1 lead. Pivetta walked Santiago Espinal on a full count and Alejandro Kirk on four pitches, and Cavan Biggio’s single loaded the bases.

George Springer hit a sacrifice fly, and Bo Bichette followed with a two-run single for a 5-1 lead.

Espinal added a seventh-inning sacrifice fly. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Tapia stole bases in the inning after Toronto entered with three this season.

“The approach was better,” Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo said. “We saw more pitches, not in the first couple of innings but after that we saw a lot of pitches and we made their guy throw a lot of pitches. That’s what you want as a lineup.”

REMEMBERING REMY

The Red Sox honored former second baseman Jerry Remy in a pregame ceremony. Remy, a native of Somerset, Massachusetts, made his major league debut with the California Angels in 1975 before spending more than 40 years with the Red Sox organization as a player, coach and broadcaster. He died on Oct. 30 after a lengthy battle with lung cancer. Former Red Sox teammates Fred Lynn, Dwight Evans, Bob Stanley, Rick Burleson and Hall of Famers Jim Rice, Dennis Eckersley and Carl Yastrzemski were in attendance.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: After being hit by a pitch from Phillips Valdéz in the sixth, Springer left in the bottom of the inning with a bruised right forearm. X-rays were negative.

Red Sox: C Christian Vázquez was reinstated from the COVID-19 related injury list, where he was placed before Monday’s game. C Ronaldo Hernandez was optioned to Triple-A Worcester. … 2B Trevor Story was hit on the helmet by a Berrios pitch in the third inning but stayed in the game.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: RHP Kevin Gausman (0-1, 4.22 ERA) is scheduled to start the series finale on Thursday. He is 4-8 with a 4.53 ERA in 20 games against the Red Sox, but has not faced them since 2018 while with Baltimore. In 11 games at Fenway Park, he is 2-4 with a 4.57 ERA.

Red Sox: RHP Tanner Houck (1-0, 3.00) will make his third start of the season. This will also be his third career start against the Blue Jays. He has a 2.35 ERA against Toronto, without a decision.

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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

The Associated Press