On July 22nd, 2022, the Toronto Blue Jays went 28-5 over the Boston Red Sox, pounding them for the most runs scored in Jays history. It was a punishing affair from the Jays, with every starter collecting at least 2 runs and an RBI, and the Jays collecting 5 HRs in the process. Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi lasted just 2.2 innings and gave up 9 runs. Over the next 3.2 innings, relievers Davis, Ort, and Hernandez gave up 18 runs as the Jays continued to pound away. The Red Sox also showed some particularly
bad defensive performances, only making two official errors, but missing a wide range of opportunities to limit the damage. It was also the first game back after the All-Star Break in 2022, with the Jays and Red Sox tight in the standings with Toronto at 51-43 and the Red Sox 48-46.
It started in the first, with a Guerrero double and a Kirk single to put runners at the corners. Bichette got jammed on the first pitch, chopping it back to Eovaldi, who didn’t bother to look at Guerrero on third before tossing it to first, allowing the first run to score easily. If he had turned back to third, Guerrero was an easy out to get caught between the bases. In the second, Gurriel Jr. slapped a single and gave way to Chapman, who crushed a ball to left centre for a two-run shot.
In the third, Eovaldi got Guerrero before the flood gates opened. Kirk singled, Bichette doubled, and Hernandez walked to load the bases for Gurriel, who lashed a single into centre, scoring two. Espinal hit a single into right, scoring another although on review, it looked like Hernandez was tagged out going home. Jansen walked to load the bases, ending Eovaldi’s night and then something truly bizarre happened.
Ramiel Tapia came to the plate and lofted a deep flyball to centre that even he was certain was a likely out. But Duran never saw the ball, walking towards the bases with his hands spread in a helpless gesture as the ball dropped a few feet before the wall and bounced off. Tapia had put on the gas and raced around to easily score an inside the park grand slam! Davis was able to get out of the inning without further damage, but the score was 10-0 for the Blue Jays.
In the 4th, Hernandez hit a home run to right field. 2 outs later, Chapman was hit by a pitch and Espinal reach on an infield single and both advanced on a throwing error by Davis. Jansen stepped in and hit a three-run bomb over the Green Monster. Boston finally got some runs in the bottom of the inning, scoring three on home runs by Vázquez and Bradley Jr.
The Jays decided that couldn’t stand and unloaded in the fifth on Kaleb Ort. It started well, getting both Guerrero and Kirk to open the inning. The Jays then hit four straight singles including a high pop-up by Chapman that should have been the end of the inning, but it was allowed to fall between the pitcher, catcher and third baseman who seemed to all think the other one had the ball. This was followed by a walk and another single to score three more and bring Tapia back to the plate with the bases loaded. This time, Tapia just hit a double, scoring two. Guerrero singled two more runs home, bringing the score to 21-3. Darwinzon Hernández came into the game and immediately walked Kirk and gave up back to back singles to Bichette and Hernandez before Gurriel hit a ringing double to bring the score to 25-3.
In the sixth, yet another throwing error allowed Espinal to reach and Jansen clubbed a second home run over the Monster for the 27th run of the game. In the bottom of the sixth and the seventh, the Red Sox added two more runs via solo homers by Vazquez and Refsnyder. In the top of the ninth, Chapman singled with Biggio at third to drive in the final run of the game, with the score at the final 28-5.
Jansen and Tapia powered the Jays assault with six RBIs each and three homers, followed by Gurriel with 5 RBIs and Chapman with 4 RBIs. It wasn’t just the most runs every scored by the Jays in a single game, but it was also the most runs ever given up in the Red Sox 122 seasons at the time. If the bats hadn’t of quieted after the sixth, the Jays had a shot at tying or passing the liveball era record of 30 runs in a game.
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