BOSTON, MA – JUNE 29: Walker Buehler #0 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Sunday, June 29, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)MLB Photos via Getty Images
BOSTON — Rapid reactions from the Red Sox’ 5-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park Sunday:
1) Walker Buehler’s start was a little better than his last one. Then again, it could hardly have been worse. After issuing seven walks and lasting just four inning in Anaheim in his most recent outing, Buehler again got through just four innings. He walked three this time, including one with the bases loaded to force in a run. Last time out, Buehler allowed a homer on the first pitch he threw; on Sunday, he didn’t allow a homer until…the second batter he faced. He then immediately gave up another on the next pitch he threw, too. In all, 72 pitches and four runs allowed over four innings wasn’t the improvement the Red Sox sought.
2) The Red Sox were again deficient in some situational hitting opportunities. In the fifth inning, they had a runners on first and second with one out, and after a throwing error on the part of Toronto catcher Tyler Heineman moved both baserunners in scoring position, couldn’t advance either runner. It was more of the same in the sixth when Jarren Duran tripled into the right field corner with one out. However, he remained there as the Sox followed with two quick groundouts sandwiched around a hit batsman.
3) Just what the Red Sox didn’t need — an injury to another member of their pitching staff. In the sixth inning, after hitting Toronto’s Andres Gimenez on the foot with a pitch, reliever Zack Kelly brought out a trainer and manager Alex Cora. After a couple of warmup tosses in which he apparently didn’t feel right, he walked off the mound, and in frustration, cursed loudly into his glove. He was replaced by Brennan Bernardino. The Red Sox later announced that Kelly left because of right oblique tightness.
4) Catcher Carlos Narvaez has thrown out more would-be base stealers than any catcher in the game and he’s not afraid to use his arm in other situations. In the fourth inning, with Buehler on the ropes, the bases loaded and two outs, he back-picked a throw to first and caught Toronto catcher Tyler Heineman with too big lead off first base. The Blue Jays challenged the call but the out was upheld upon review.
5) Ceddanne Rafaela continues to be a marvel in center. At the start of play Sunday, he had 12 defensive runs saved in center field, ranking him second among all major leaguers. Meanwhile, in another defensive metric, outs above average, he was also ranked second with 12. He showed why when, in the fourth inning, he raced in and made a shoestring catch on a sinking fly ball off the bat of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
6) Roman Anthony is showing signs of busting out. Following Saturday’s three-hit effort, Anthony collected a sharp single up the middle in the third inning, then added an opposite-field single in the fifth, giving him five hits in the last two games. Anthony boasts a low BABIP (batting average in balls in play), which suggests he’s been unlucky. If the last two games are any indication, that’s beginning to change for the better — on top of better at-bats and outcomes.
7) When Trevor Story swiped second base in the second inning, it was his 13th stolen base in 13 tries this season. That’s the most successful steals to start a season since Storty himself was 13-for-13 in 2022. The modern-day franchise mark is held by the late Julio Lugo, who stole 20 bases from the start of the season before being caught in 2007.
8) The Red Sox will start a new home series Monday when they welcome the Cincinnati Reds for a three-game interleague set. On Monday at 7:07 p.m., it will be ace LHP Garrett Crochet (7-4, 2.06) vs. rookie righthander Chase Burns (0-0, 5.40) for the Reds, who are, of course, managed by Terry Francona.