Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Powers Blue Jays to 4-2 Comeback Win Over Red Sox
by Jaxon Winters
On Thursday at Rogers Centre, the Blue Jays spent eight innings searching for that ignition, trailing a Red Sox club that had the gall to believe two runs might be enough. But in the bottom of the eighth, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. found his moment, and with one ferocious swing, he reminded both teams that hope is never on the visitor’s side in Toronto-not when Vladdy’s in the box.
The Red Sox had done their work early, if not decisively. Alex Bregman, who’s been Boston’s most reliable bat, lashed a bases-loaded double down the left field line in the fifth, plating two and putting the Jays on their heels. José BerrÃos, Toronto’s steady right-hander, had been sharp-eight strikeouts, just two walks, and a parade of ground balls-but Bregman’s blow was a gut punch. For six innings, the Jays’ bats looked as if they’d left their courage in the dugout, with Tanner Houck carving them up for seven innings, allowing just four hits and a single run.
But baseball, as ever, is a game of patience and punishment. Daulton Varsho, fresh off shoulder surgery and swinging like he’d never missed a day, put the Jays on the board in the seventh with a solo shot to left- his second homer in as many games. It was the first sign of life, a warning to Boston that the night was far from over.
Then came the eighth. Nathan Lukes slapped a single to right. Bo Bichette, who’d been quiet, doubled over Wilyer Abreu’s head, putting runners on second and third. Justin Slaten, Boston’s reliever, had the look of a man walking a tightrope with the wind at his back. Guerrero, down 0-2, took a breath, then unleashed a 404-foot missile that left the bat like a secret exposed- loud, undeniable, and game-changing. He stood to admire it, as he should, before firing his bat toward the dugout and pounding his chest. The Jays, suddenly up 4-2, had turned a night of frustration into one of celebration.
Mason Fluharty, the rookie lefty, had already done his part with four outs of flawless relief, and Yimi GarcÃa slammed the door in the ninth with a pair of strikeouts, earning his second save. The Blue Jays, who’d lost eight of their last nine before this series, now have two straight wins and a pulse in the AL East.
As for Boston, Houck deserved better. He struck out six, walked none, and left with a lead, only to watch it vanish in the hands of a bullpen that’s now cost him five straight starts. Bregman’s double was the lone bright spot in a lineup that stranded runners and couldn’t answer when the game tilted.
Toronto’s stars- Varsho, Bichette, and, most of all, Guerrero- found their fire when it mattered, while Boston’s best faded into the background. It’s the kind of win that can change a season’s temperature, and the kind of loss that leaves a team staring at the ceiling, wondering how it slipped away.
In the end, the Blue Jays didn’t just win a ballgame-they reclaimed their swagger, and perhaps a bit of their destiny. For the Red Sox, it’s back to the drawing board, and for the Jays, it’s a reminder that in baseball, as in life, you’re never out of it until the last pitch is thrown.
Final Score: Toronto Blue Jays 4, Boston Red Sox 2
As of this game
Toronto Blue Jays Key Play Stats
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: 1 home run (3-run, 8th inning), 3 RBI
Daulton Varsho: 1 home run (solo, 7th inning), 1 RBI
Bo Bichette: 1 double, 1 run scored
Nathan Lukes: 1 single, 1 run scored
José BerrÃos: 6â…” IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
Mason Fluharty: 1â…“ IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K (win, 2-0)
Yimi GarcÃa: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (save, 2)
Boston Red Sox Key Play Stats
Alex Bregman: 1 double, 2 RBI (5th inning)
Tanner Houck: 7 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K (no decision)
Justin Slaten: 1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (loss, 0-2)
Team Stats
Blue Jays: 4 runs, 7 hits, 0 errors, 2 home runs, 1 double, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts (batting), 10 strikeouts (pitching)
Red Sox: 2 runs, 7 hits, 0 errors, 1 double, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts (batting), 7 strikeouts (pitching)
Series Standings (AL East, as of May 2, 2025)
New York Yankees: 19-12
Red Sox: 17-16
Blue Jays: 15-16
Tampa Bay Rays: 13-18
Baltimore Orioles: 12-19