(Boston) Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Raimel Tapia hit a grand slam inside the field on Friday night when Boston Red Sox center fielder Jarren Duran lost the ball in the reflectors at Fenway Park and did not run at full speed to retrieve it.
Posted yesterday at 11:46 p.m.
Tapia’s sprint around the trails was the highlight of a record offensive outburst for the Blue Jays, who won 28-5 on 29 hits, including five home runs.
The Blue Jays erased their team mark for the most points scored in a game, with their 25e of the match in the fifth inning.
They came within two runs of tying Major League Baseball’s modern-day record for most runs in a game. On August 22, 2007, the Texas Rangers scored 30 points against the Baltimore Orioles.
Moreover, the grand slam inside the field of Tapia was the second in the history of the Blue Jays. The other was made by Junior Felix on June 2, 1989 against Bob Stanley, also at Fenway Park.
Friday’s punctuated a third set of seven runs.
With two outs, Tapia raised a fly ball to center field against reliever Austin Davis.
PHOTO MICHAEL DWYER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nathan Eovaldi of the Boston Red Sox receives a reball after a single hit by Teoscar Hernández
Duran took two steps back, then two forwards, before throwing his hands up in confusion. Spectators grumbled as the ball landed on the warning lane behind him.
Duran walked slowly toward the ball as left fielder Alex Verdugo ran full speed, slid down to retrieve the ball and threw it infield.
The throw to home plate never came close to removing Tapia, who had sped up his run when he realized Duran had lost track of the ball.
The 25-year-old Duran, 25, in his second Major League Baseball campaign, came into the game a lethargy with two hits in 30 visits to the plate.
On June 26, 1978, the Blue Jays thrashed the Baltimore Orioles 24-10 for what was their most points in a game until then.
In that game, John Mayberry had hit two homers and driven in seven runs after being used as a pinch hitter.
The Red Sox allowed two more runs in the sixth inning, which then tied their team record for most runs allowed in a game. On July 7, 1923, the Red Sox suffered a 27-3 thaw against Cleveland.
28e Blue Jays run came in the ninth inning on a Matt Chapman single.
Danny Jansen, with two, Chapman and Teoscar Hernández also homered for the Blue Jays on Friday night.
The Toronto squad entered the evening with a two-game lead over the Red Sox for the final spot in the race for the fourth Ace in the American League.