Boston Red Sox
Boston was hitless until the sixth inning.
The Red Sox lineup was quiet on Saturday coming off an exciting comeback win on Friday. Barry Chin/Globe Staff
The Boston Red Sox played their worst game in the past month on Saturday.
Boston was shut out 6-0 by Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Dylan Cease, who pitched a complete game to quiet the Sox’ bats for the first time in a long time.
In fact, Cease carried a perfect game into the fifth inning and a no-hitter into the sixth. He’s the first starter to earn a victory against the Red Sox since the Nationals’ Cade Cavalli on June 30.
Yes, that Cade Cavalli, who got into a dustup with Willson Contreras, which led to suspensions for both.
The Blue Jays pushed Cease to throw a full nine frames on 120 pitches (80 strikes), during which he allowed just one hit, three walks, and struck out nine to earn his seventh win. His 167 strikeouts lead the American League.
Interim manager Chad Tracy said Cease’s performance was “the story of the game” and tipped his cap to the right-hander after the game.
“It’s the story of the game. Not much to say,” Tracy said. “He was awfully good and in the zone. Frequently in the zone, ahead in the count. Had good stuff. There are games you play where you have to tip your cap. He threw the ball very, very well.
“There’s not much to say other than a really good pitcher went out and threw a really good game.”
Cease became the first pitcher to throw a complete game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park since Yankees hurler Masahiro Tanaka in 2017.
Cease also improved his already impressive career stats at Fenway. Through five starts in Boston, he has a 0.88 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 44 strikeouts. Hitters are averaging .194 against him.
Cease’s strong outing was the opposite of Boston starter Sonny Gray’s, who’s been the team’s de facto ace as Garrett Crochet remains far away from returning to the mound in any capacity.
Gray, who had pitched nine consecutive quality starts and 10 straight winning decisions entering Saturday, had one bad inning, which dictated the remainder of the contest. He gave up five runs in the top of the third on a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. RBI knock, a George Springer three-run home run, and an Ernie Clement RBI double.
Gray’s final line was an ugly one: five innings, 10 hits, five runs (all earned), no walks, and three strikeouts on 75 pitches (54 strikes).
He told reporters he “felt great” during his start and isn’t concerned about anything health-wise.
“I felt great. I think that’s a little bit of the frustrating part,” Gray said. “If you look at the (third) inning … I wasn’t able to finish the inning. … It could have been a lot worse for me personally today than it was (in the other four innings). The guys bailed me out (defensively) there.”
Center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela recorded a double play by making a spectacular diving catch and throwing out a runner at second base in the second inning to keep Toronto scoreless at the time.
Left fielder Jarren Duran made an excellent play of his own when he threw a laser to home plate to get the base runner out in the fourth, preventing the Blue Jays from making it 6-0.
Although Gray praised his teammates behind him for helping him out, he said he gave Cease too large a cushion, which propelled him to his one-hit complete game.
“You give the guy on the mound on the other side a little extra. … He’s too good to have a 5-0 lead in the third inning,” he said.
Boston will look to take the series in Sunday’s rubber match. First pitch is set for 1:35 p.m. Eastern Time.
Kaley Brown
Kaley Brown is a sports producer for Boston.com, where she covers the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox.
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