RHP Yariel Rodriguez gets rocked by Bosox in horrific first inning

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Kudos to the Blue Jays for coming back all the way from a six-run deficit to beat the visiting Boston Red Sox 7-6 on Wednesday night.

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And hats off to the team’s beleaguered bats on a night of season firsts with three home runs being belted, including back-to-back blasts in the sixth inning by Daulton Varsho and Alejandro Kirk, who would emerge as the game hero with his bases-loaded single in the 10th.

The night began as poorly as possible, but then things turned in the sixth when the Jays finally found their stride at the plate, making for a thrilling finish.

Lady luck also intervened in the win. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. — the Jays runner at second to start the bottom of the 10th — would have probably been thrown out at third trying to advance on a line drive to centre field for the first out, but the throw from Wilyer Abreu hit Vladdy as he slid head-first into third.

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The tension only increased when George Springer and Varsho were intentionally walked to get to Kirk, the Bosox no doubt hoping for a double-play grounder.

But Kirk lined a 2-1 cutter from Justin Slaten into the gap in left-centre to score a jubilant Guerrero.

The following are a couple of takeaways on a night when Varsho, playing in his second game, crushed a two-run homer and a new hitting coach David Popkins was ejected when he objected to home-plate umpire Derek Thomas’ strike zone.

ROTTEN Y-ROD

The Jays went with an opener only to have Yariel Rodriguez help open the floodgates to what turned into a truly regrettable first inning.

The misery began when Y-Rod walked leadoff hitter Jarren Duran, who would provide the beleaguered right-hander a reprieve when the speedster was thrown out at the plate on Rafael Devers’ double.

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No lifelines however, when it came to Alex Bregman, who went deep into left field for his seventh homer of the season.

In total, 29 pitches were thrown by Y-Rod, resulting in two walks, two hits, a wild pitch and, of greater significance, two runners crossing home plate.

Left-hander Eric Lauer, whose contract the team selected from triple-A earlier in the day, started the second inning. He struck out Triston Casas to lead off the frame, but wound up throwing 35 pitches while surrendering two runs.

TONY TATER

Only once this season have the Blue Jays produced a three-run home run. The number doubled when Anthony Santander went deep into right field in the seventh as the Jays tied the game 6-6.

Santander has now accounted for both of Toronto’s three-run belts and Wednesday’s dinger was his team-leading fourth long ball of the season.

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Known as a notorious slow starter, Santander, dubbed Tony Tater, does appear to be heating up, which  represents a good sign for the Blue Jays desperate for any break-out bats.

BAUBLE KIRK

It was Alejandro Kirk bobble-arm giveaway night, an occasion for fans to line up hours before first pitch at the chance to get their hands on the trinket.

Fans cheered the catcher when Kirk was shown on the video screen.

Kirk batted in the No. 6 hole in the second game of a three-game series against Boston, sandwiched between Varsho and Addison Barger, who started in right field.

It was Kirk who was at the plate when Hopkins got tossed after the catcher took a changeup on the outside corner for a called strike three.

UP NEXT

Thursday night’s series finale between the two AL East rivals pits Boston’s Tanner Houck, who is looking for his first win of the season, versus fellow right-hander Jose Berrios, whose lone win of the season came against Boston on April 7 at Fenway Park.

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