Trevor Story of the Boston Red Sox celebrates with Wilyer Abreu after Abreau scores against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday.Cole Burston/Getty Images
The Toronto Blue Jays’ final homestand of the regular season got off to an uneasy start Tuesday night, as they suffered a 4-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox.
With their quest to win the division hanging in the balance over this final six-game homestand, the AL East-leading Blue Jays did not inch any closer to clinching it, in the defeat to third-place Boston, a club also jockeying for playoff position.
The New York Yankees (89-68) gained on Toronto (90-67) by walking off the Chicago White Sox, 3-2. So now the Jays have just a 1.0 game advantage over New York for both the AL East division lead and top spot in the American League, while also holding the season tiebreaker with the Yankees.
The loss went to Kevin Gausman, who allowed nine hits and four runs in five and 2/3 innings in the start for Toronto, while striking out seven.
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On Sunday the Jays had become the first AL team to secure a postseason berth with their win in Kansas City, and enjoyed a champagne celebration. Then the Jays flew home and re-focused on trying to win the division.
It was Boston who struck first on Tuesday, as Nathaniel Lowe singled on a ground ball that screamed past a sprawling Andres Gimenez and skipped into center field, scoring Masataka Yoshida in the second inning.
The Jays loaded the bases in the third inning, and George Springer drilled a line drive down the third base line that appeared to score two runs and put Toronto ahead. But it was then called a foul ball. It was not a reviewable play.
The packed Toronto stadium booed, while Springer clasped his head in astonishment at the call. Jays manager John Schneider marched out to protest it, to no avail. Springer was forced back to the plate, and the next pitch past him – a slider on the outside of the zone -- was called a strike and ended the inning. After two borderline calls that went against Springer, the Jays remained scoreless, and the usually smiling Toronto slugger slammed down his helmet in anger.
“I thought it was fair. People in our replay room thought it was fair,” said Schneider. “From my vantage point, from George’s and from replays that we did have, it should have been a two-run double.”
Instead, the Jays tied the game in the fourth, thanks to an RBI single from Gimenez.
But Boston pulled ahead again during a tough sixth inning that featured another RBI single from Lowe, and a two-run double from Carlos Narváez. That five-hit inning marked the end of Gausman’s night.
There was also a close run-down reviewed call between third base and home that went Toronto’s way.
The Jays could not muster a comeback this time, like they have so often in recent weeks.
Lucas Giolito allowed a run on three hits and four walks in his start for Boston, striking out three over 4 2/3 innings.
Boston (86-71) is now four games back in the division.
The Jays have just five games remaining on the regular season docket.
“It’s crazy, you play 162 games, and it always feels like it comes down to last week,” said Gausman.
Max Scherzer is expected to start for the Jays Wednesday, in the second game of this three-game set with Boston before Tampa visits to close out the season before the playoffs begin next week.