Matz Knocked Around in Blue Jays Loss

Jarren Duran was flying around the bases.

The Red Sox rookie had just lined an extra-base-hit into Fenway Park's dreaded "triangle" in right-center field. George Springer bobbled the baseball, as one run scored easily. Duran chugged around third and the relay from Santiago Espinal pulled catcher Reese McGuire just far enough off the plate to delay the tag.

Safe. An inside-the-park home run. As demoralizing as it gets.

Thesis: Jarren Duran is fast.

Exhibit A: pic.twitter.com/qIRdIAhGuE
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 29, 2021

While the play was eventually ruled a triple and error on Springer, it personified a forgettable outing for Matz. The Blue Jays lefty was in trouble from first pitch onwards. The Red Sox scored runs in the first two innings, and wound up stringing several stretches of consecutive hits off him in the 4-1 Blue Jays loss.

"I felt like I threw some decent pitches and [Red Sox hitters] just fought them off until they got the pitch they wanted and made me pay," Matz said.

"When you're out there, you're seeing them fight them off, you're kind of playing chess with them out there," he added. "It was a battle for me today and obviously I wasn't able to execute."

On July 23 against the New York Mets, Matz looked steady, but not great. Wednesday's start was a step backwards. The 30-year-old walked only one batter, but didn't miss too many bats either. His night was done after 3 1/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on nine hits with just two strikeouts.

Vladdy ties Vernon Wells for fewest games to 300 hits in Jays history

If Blue Jays fans have their way, this won't be the last time Vladimir Guerrero Jr. etches his name in the record books.

Fewest games to first 300 hits in #BlueJays HISTORY:

T-1) Vladdy (281)
T-1) Vernon Wells (281) pic.twitter.com/nhDbJUPAWC
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 29, 2021

With a fourth-inning double off Tanner Houck, the 22-year-old slugger tied Vernon Wells for the franchise record of fastest to 300 hits. Both men did it in just 281 games.

Guerrero Jr.'s achievement was a lone bright spot in a rather bleak performance during the second game of Wednesday's split doubleheader. The Blue Jays get one more crack at the Red Sox Thursday, before a long-awaited return to Rogers Centre on Friday.

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