TORONTO — Instant reactions from the Red Sox’ 10-2 win over the Blue Jays here at Rogers Centre on Tuesday:
1) Jarren Duran belted his sixth career leadoff home run and his first of this season to put Boston ahead 1-0 immediately. Duran’s average has increased 32 points from .241 to .273 the past three games.
2) For the second time on this road trip, the Red Sox did something that they hadn’t done in 16 years. Boston belted five homers in the first three innings of a game for the first time since Sept. 8, 2009. Duran, Alex Bregman, Rafael Devers, Kristian Campbell and Wilyer Abreu all went deep. It came after Duran on Saturday became the first Red Sox player with a straight steal of home since Jacoby Ellsbury did it exactly 16 years prior (April 26, 2009).
3) Both Devers’ and Abreu’s homers went 422 feet. Devers’ blast left his bat at 111.1 mph. Bregman’s homer went 410 feet. Duran’s went 378 feet and Campbell’s went 346 feet.
4) Boston hitters were a combined 2-for-24 with one extra-base hit, two walks and nine strikeouts against Blue Jays starter Bowden Francis entering the game. But they scored seven runs on eight hits (five homers) and no walks while striking out just one time against him.
5) Ace Garrett Crochet pitched 7 innings, allowing two runs, four hits and three walks while striking out six. He allowed a 421-foot two-run homer to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Crochet induced 11 swings and misses, including six with his four-seam fastball which averaged 96 mph. He topped out at 98.
6) Blue Jays center fielder Daulton Varsho made one of the wildest catches you’ll ever see. He fell down on the warning track going after Duran’s 396-foot fly ball. He somehow made the catch while on the ground after seeing the ball at the final second.
7) Everybody in the Red Sox lineup but Ceddanne Rafaela had at least one hit. Abreu and Bregman had three each. Campbell and Triston Casas each had two.
8) The Red Sox and Blue Jays will play the second game of their three-game series Wednesday at 7:07 p.m. Lucas Giolito will make his Red Sox debut. The Blue Jays have not yet announced a starter.
