After two straight victories to begin the series against Boston, the Blue Jays come into game three of their four game series looking to take the series win, and rattle off their third straight while extending their lead as first place in the AL East.

This game was in store for another exciting pitching matchup, as Toronto sent Kevin Gausman to the mound and Boston relied on Tanner Houck to get the Red Sox their first win of the series.

Starting off early in the top of the first, Houck found himself in trouble early, as the Jays managed to load the bases with only one out, and Will Wagner hit a ground ball to the second baseman resulting in a groundout and an RBI to put the Jays up early.

Boston would immediately answer in the bottom half, after Jarren Duran would lead-off the inning by getting on base, attempt to take second on a steal, and wind up at third after a wild throw coming into second base was sent wide and into center field. Alex Bregman would come up with only one away and Duran only 90 feet from home, and would send a fly ball back to the wall and would’ve easily been extra bases if not for an astounding jumping catch by Nathan Lukes in center field.

Nathan “No Fear” Lukes 😤 pic.twitter.com/5QUvCi79ty

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 9, 2025

The run would come in to score however, and Boston was able to tie it up at 1-1 at hte end of the first.

The rest of the game however, would be total domination from both Gausman and Houck, as both pitchers regained their composure and battled back and forth with neither giving in and conceding a run for the rest of their outings. Because both men left the game with the score still tied, neither would be in contention for a decision, whether it would be a loss or a win. However, it would be a disservice not to mention how incredible these two were in this game, Gausman went eight full innings without giving up a run and striking out 10 batters, and Houck went 6.2 innings only giving up the one run as well.

At the end of the bottom of the ninth, neither team could pull in front and for the first time this season the Blue Jays would head to extra innings.

Jeff Hoffman would come into the game in the ninth inning, and continue the work that Gausman started with, being absolutely dominant in both the ninth and 10th, striking out two batters in a very clutch situation with a runner on third.

Top half of the 11th would come, and thanks to the extra-innings rule and a runner automatically starting at second base, Bo Bichette would come up with a runner at third with one away and would line a ball into center field that wouold be deep enough to score the run and break the tie giving the Jays a 2-1 lead.

Nick Sandlin would comem in to close the game in the bottom of the 11th inning, and would take care of all three batters he faced in order. The Blue Jays have won three in a row and extend their lead of first in the division. Toronto and Boston will wrap up their four game series on Thursday, with Toronto looking to sweep their second series of the season.

Winner: Toronto Blue Jays (8-5)

Loser: Boston Red Sox (6-7)

PLAYERS OF THE GAME:

K. Gausman: 8.0IP, 4H, 0ER, 10K

V. Guerrero Jr. 3/5, 1R

W. Wagner 0/2, 1BB, 1RBI

PITCHERS:

Win – J. Hoffman: 2.0IP, 0H, 0ER, 3K (1-0)

Loss – J. Winckowski: 1.0IP, 0H, 1R (0-1)

Save – N. Sandlin: 1.0IP, 0H, 0ER, 1K (1)