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Jun 18, 20261
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Valenzuela's go-ahead double leads Blue Jays to sweep Red Sox 4-3
Brandon Valenzuela hit a go-ahead RBI double in the ninth inning off Aroldis Chapman as the Toronto Blue Jays completed a three-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox with a 4-3 win Thursday. The decisive hit came after Red Sox catcher Connor Wong misplayed a foul pop-up that would have been the final out.
Quick Facts
Who
Brandon Valenzuela
What
Brandon Valenzuela hit a go-ahead RBI double off Aroldis Chapman
When
Thursday
Where
Boston
- Brandon Valenzuela hit a go-ahead RBI double off Aroldis Chapman
- Toronto Blue Jays swept Boston Red Sox in three-game series
- Connor Wong misplayed a foul pop-up in the ninth inning
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a 410-foot home run
- Nathan Lukes hit a solo homer
BOSTON — Brandon Valenzuela delivered the decisive blow in the ninth inning as the Toronto Blue Jays completed a three-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox with a 4-3 victory Thursday. Valenzuela's go-ahead RBI double off closer Aroldis Chapman with two outs ricocheted off the Green Monster, capping a dramatic ninth-inning rally for Toronto.
The winning play came after Red Sox catcher Connor Wong misplayed a foul pop-up in shallow territory that would have ended the inning. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Nathan Lukes contributed home runs for the Blue Jays, giving Toronto five wins in six matchups against Boston this season. Guerrero's 410-foot blast off starter Sonny Gray in the first inning landed in the first row of the Green Monster seats, marking his fourth homer of the season and first since May 17.
The Red Sox mounted a comeback attempt, tying the game at 3-3 in the eighth inning on consecutive homers by Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Caleb Durbin. Boston had broken a 16-inning scoreless drought in the seventh when Wilson Contreras drove in Ceddanne Rafaela with a grounder. However, the late-game miscue proved costly as the Blue Jays capitalized to secure the sweep.
Tommy Nance earned the win after recording the final two outs in the eighth inning, while Mason Fluharty pitched a perfect ninth for his first save. Chapman suffered the loss, falling to 0-2 on the season. Toronto starter Trey Yesavage allowed three runs over 7⅓ innings while striking out six with no walks. Gray permitted three runs and six hits over seven innings with seven strikeouts and one walk.
The Red Sox's record fell to 12-25 at Fenway Park and 6-17 against AL East opponents this season. Toronto will face Chicago at Wrigley Field on Friday, while Boston travels to Seattle for a weekend series.
Topics
Why This Matters
The Blue Jays' sweep significantly improves their AL East positioning while Boston's struggles at Fenway Park (12-25 record) raise concerns about their playoff viability. Valenzuela's late-inning heroics underscore Toronto's ability to capitalize on defensive miscues, a critical trait for postseason contention. The Red Sox's offensive troubles against division rivals (6-17) highlight systemic issues that require immediate attention.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 18, 2026
WireBlue Jays defeat Red Sox 4-3, completing three-game sweep