The Blue Jays sweep the Red Sox in dominating fashion

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BOSTON — One of the messages he sent manager John Schneider when he arrived at Fenway Park this weekend: Have fun.

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Do you want to have fun?

About running as a team, going on one of the longest winning streaks of the season and for good measure beating a nose division opponent in humiliating fashion.

Producing at an impressive pace to match the 38C temperatures here, the Jays completed a three-game sweep of the Red Sox and it was pure dominance overall.

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In Sunday’s finale, a five-run first inning sent the Jays into cruise control 8-4, stomping the collective back of the Sox, who were waiting for playoff contention.

“I feel like we did what good teams do when they see a weakness in a team,” said starting pitcher Ross Stripling, who gave up two runs on five hits in four innings. “That Red Sox team is riddled with injuries and not playing as well as it can, but we took advantage of that and swept them here at Fenway.

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“When good teams smell blood in the water, they go after it. It’s a great way to start the second half.

Of course there is some great progress with Jay right now. On a six-game winning streak — their second-longest streak of the season — the Jays are 7-1 under coach John Schneider and return home on Tuesday for a six-game sweep against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Even better, with the Rays losing to KC, the Jays are in second place in the AL East and are now in the AL wild card race.

By pushing the right buttons on and off the field, Schneider is getting the most out of his players.

“I like to have fun because baseball is tough,” said Schneider, who finished his first road trip as a manager with three wins and a 40-10 record. “I respect what (the players) do every day — playing and grinding and traveling and warming up and everything that comes with it.”

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“So you have to try to keep the light. But at the same time, you have to understand why you’re here.”

Jays players seem to know the mission well. The manager’s tumult is alive and well as the Jays respond to Schneider’s verbal and tactical prodding.

The offense was in evidence again when leadoff man George Spring singled to lead off the second inning, stole second base and advanced to third in the first inning of a sloppy defensive effort by the Sox.

Springer was the first in a nine-hitter.

The most surprising thing about the weekend was the one-sided attitude.

On Friday, he was putting up 28 runs and Saturday starter Alec Manoa mowed down a Boston hitter, then let the Red Sox dugout know about him. The combined 40 runs in a three game streak is a club record.

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The Jays improved to 10-3 against the Sox this season and have won five of six at Fenway. Toronto swept the Sox (first since 2016) and swept them at Fenway for the first time since 2015.

“We’ve been through some tough times and it’s more than we can expect now and we can expect more in the future,” Schneider said. “All the credit in the world to (the Red Sox), but to come in here and play like this … that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Game on.

The Jays sent nine to the plate in the first inning and five came home, the biggest being a bases-loaded triple from left fielder Raimel Tapia. All five runs have come with two outs, something that is happening with the Jays these days. He scored his fifth home run of the day by taking a 92 mph throw from Jeter Downs on his back. One short of the franchise record streak at Fenway. Junior Felix, who was a big hit in the park, was 11 years old in June 1989… Vlad Guerrero Jr. warms up at the plate on a four-hit day. It was the fourth four-hit shutout of his career and third this season.. Sunday’s victory clinched the Jays’ fourth shutout of the season.

Canada is not

It looks like a Spartan St. Louis Cardinals team will be sent to Toronto for their games against the Jays on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Cards announced on Sunday that the two stars will not make the trip because they have yet to be vaccinated for Covid-19.

Center fielders Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt will be the biggest impacts in their absence, but backup catcher Austin Romine is also ineligible.

Goldschmidt (leads the National League in batting average at .333); And Arenado are the heart of the Cardinals’ batting lineup. They have a combined 133 RBI and 40 home runs.