Boston Red Sox Edge Toronto Blue Jays in Thriller: July 21, 2021 Highlights……..
On July 21, 2021, the Boston Red Sox secured a dramatic 7-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in a thrilling AL East matchup at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York. The game was marked by clutch hitting, dominant bullpen performances, and a late-game comeback that helped Boston maintain its spot atop the division standings.
The Blue Jays took an early lead in the bottom of the second inning, when Randal Grichuk launched a solo home run off Red Sox starter Garrett Richards. Toronto extended their lead to 3-1 by the fourth, thanks to RBI singles from Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who continued his MVP-caliber season with another multi-hit game.
Boston, however, showed the resilience that has defined their 2021 campaign. In the top of the fifth, Enrique Hernández cut the deficit with a towering solo homer to left field, making it 3-2. The Red Sox tied the game in the sixth on a sharp RBI double by Rafael Devers, who drove in Alex Verdugo after a leadoff walk.
The turning point came in the top of the eighth inning. With the score tied at 4-4, J.D. Martinez came to the plate with two men on base and crushed a go-ahead two-run double off Blue Jays reliever Trevor Richards. The hit gave Boston a 6-4 lead, and they added an insurance run later that inning on a sacrifice fly by Christian Vázquez.
The Red Sox bullpen was outstanding in relief of Garrett Richards, who pitched five innings while allowing three earned runs. Josh Taylor, Adam Ottavino, and closer Matt Barnes combined for four scoreless innings, shutting down a potent Toronto lineup that includes Guerrero, Bichette, and Marcus Semien. Barnes earned his 20th save of the season with a clean ninth inning, including a strikeout of Guerrero to end the game.
Despite the loss, the Blue Jays showed offensive firepower and defensive highlights, including a diving grab in center field by George Springer and a key double play turned by Semien and Bichette in the fifth inning. Starter Steven Matz pitched effectively through five innings, but the bullpen was unable to hold off the Red Sox offense in the late frames.
With the win, the Red Sox improved to 58-38 on the season, staying ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays in the tight AL East race. Toronto, on the other hand, fell to 48-45, struggling to keep pace despite their strong offensive lineup.
Wednesday’s game showcased the intensity of a division rivalry and the depth of talent on both rosters. With several more matchups between the Red Sox and Blue Jays remaining in the season, fans can expect more high-stakes baseball in the coming weeks.
Boston will look to carry this momentum forward as they continue their road trip, while Toronto aims to bounce back in their push for a Wild Card spot. For now, though, the night belonged to the Red Sox, who once again showed their ability to deliver in the clutch.