Music: {allcanada} Blue Jays bash BoSox; Hutchison solid

Sunday, June 3, 2012

{allcanada} Blue Jays bash BoSox; Hutchison solid

TORONTO--The Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox don't see each other again until June 25, but when they do, the batters might want to take cover.

In Toronto's 5-1 win Sunday before 41,925 at Rogers Centre, four batters were hit by opposing pitchers, two Red Sox and two Blue Jays, though it appears the Blue Jays may have gotten the worse of the exchanges.

In the second inning, Toronto DH Edwin Encarnacion was hit on the back of the right hand by Boston starter Daniel Bard. Encarnacion immediately hopped out of the batter's box and up the third baseline in considerable pain. He was later replaced by Jeff Mathis.

Following the game, Blue Jays manager John Farrell said post-game x-rays on Encarnacion were "inconclusive," and he would be undergoing further tests, including a CT scan. Farrell added the Blue Jays hoped to have an update on Encarnacion's status later on Sunday.

Bard couldn't throw a strike to save his life, walking five and punking Yunel Escobar in addition to Encarnacion over his 1.2 innings of work.

As for Toronto starter Drew Hutchison, the 21-year-old rookie hit Red Sox catcher Kelly Shoppach with a pitch in the third inning and third baseman Kevin Youkilis in the shoulder with a high fastball in the sixth.

Youkilis, suspsecting the pitch was sent towards his body on purpose in retaliation for Encarnacion made an agressive move towards Hutchison, but was quickly intercepted by Toronto catcher J.P. Arencibia.

In the top of the eighth, Francisco Cordero greeted Youkilis with some chin music on the first pitch before retiring him on the next pitch with a weak grounder.

THE BIG PICTURE: With the win, the Blue Jays (28-26) avoid being swept at home at the hands of their AL East division rivals as they prepare to open a six-day, six-game road trip in Chicago vs. the White Sox beginning Tuesday.

THE ARMS: For the fourth time in his past five starts, Hutchison allowed one earned run or less. The 21-year-old rookie pitched ahead for most of the afternoon and allowed just seven baserunners over his seven innings of work. Darren Oliver recorded the first two outs of the eighth before Cordero came on to retire Youkils.

Casey Janssen closed things out in the ninth for Toronto in non-save situation.

THE BATS: The Blue Jays barely out-hit the Red Sox (6-5) on the afternoon, but thanks to Bard and Jose Bautista, Toronto didn't need many.

After walking the first two batters in the bottom of the first, Bautista took Bard deep to left-centre for his 14th home run of the season to put the Blue Jays in front 3-0.

In the second inning, Bard again walked the first two batters of the inning and eventually found himself facing Bautista with the bases loaded and two out. This time however, Bard opted not to challenge the Toronto slugger, walking him on a 3-2 breaking ball to give the Jays a 4-0 lead.

When Encarnacion was plunked on the next pitch to Toronto ahead 5-0, chants of "throw him out," began to rain down on Bard.

Soon after, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine saved home plate umpire Mike Winters the trouble and pulled him in favour of Franlin Morales.

WHAT ABOUT VLADDY? The 37-year-old Domincan slugger went 1 for 5 Saturday in his first game with the triple-A Las Vegas 51s. You can read what John Farrell had to say Sunday about the Blue Jays short-term plans for him here.

LAWRIE TALKS ABOUT SCARY SATURDAY: Brett Lawrie was in the Blue Jays lineup Sunday batting sixth at third base less than 24 hours after a a close encounter with a fatal shooting at Toronto's Eaton Centre mall Saturday afternoon. Lawrie was in the mall at the time of the shooting and recounted his experience with reporters before the game on Sunday.

UP NEXT: Following an off-day Monday, the Blue Jays travel to Chicago to open a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday.