Red Sox left fielder Alex Verdugo looks at the scoreboard Friday night during the fifth inning of his team’s 28-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Michael Dwyer/Associated Press
BOSTON — Raimel Tapia hit an inside-the-park grand slam after a misplay by Boston center fielder Jarren Duran, and the Toronto Blue Jays set a franchise record for runs in a game, rolling past the Red Sox 28-5 on Friday night.
Toronto came within two runs of the modern major league record for runs in a game after stranding two in the ninth inning with Boston infielder Yolmer Sanchez on the mound.
Every starter had at least two hits, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. tied Frank Catalanotto’s franchise record with six of them.
Danny Jansen homered twice and drove in six runs. Matt Chapman and Teoscar Hernández added solo home runs for the Blue Jays, who topped their previous single-game mark of 24 runs set June 26, 1976 against the Baltimore Orioles.
The 28 runs are the most ever yielded by a Red Sox team, eclipsing the previous mark in a 27-3 loss to Cleveland in 1923.
Toronto entered the day with a two-game lead over the Red Sox for the AL’s final wild-card spot. The Blue Jays improved 7-3 against Boston this year.
Kevin Gausman (7-7) scattered seven hits and three runs over five innings to pick up his seventh victory.
Boston starter Nathan Eovaldi (4-3) lasted just 2 2/3 innings, allowing a homer and nine runs.
That started a 29-hit night for Toronto – winners of four straight – that featured nearly as many follies by the Red Sox.
It started with Tapia’s home run sprint.
With two outs in the third and Toronto leading 6-0, Tapia lifted a fly ball to center against reliever Austin Davis.
Duran took a couple steps back, then a couple in, then put up his hands in confusion. Boston fans groaned when the ball landed on the warning track behind him.
Duran walked slowly toward the ball while left fielder Alex Verdugo raced over, slid to scoop it up and fired it toward the infield. The relay home wasn’t close to nabbing Tapia, who picked up speed when he realized Duran had lost the ball.
Boston’s blunders on defense showed up again in the fifth. With the score 15-3, Chapman lifted a two-out pop-up on the infield that fell between catcher Kevin Plawecki, reliever Kaleb Ort and third baseman Rafael Devers for a base hit that allowed another run to cross.
It prompted more jeers and disdain from the Boston faithful who remained in their seats. Those that stayed tried to make the best out of a drab night at the ballpark, but Toronto added nine more runs before the Red Sox finally got the third out.
Fans still managed to rise to their feet for the traditional Fenway signing of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.” Yet, on an evening as memorable as it was forgettable, it too ended with a smattering of boos.
The only cheer left? When Duran struck out to end the game.
The modern MLB record for runs in a game is 30, set by the Texas Rangers against the Baltimore Orioles on Aug. 22, 2007. The all-time mark is 36 for the Chicago Colts against the Louisville Colonels in 1897.
Kevin Gausman (7-7) scattered seven hits and three runs over five innings for Toronto.
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