Editor’s Note: The COVID-19 situation, in sports and around the world, is constantly evolving. Readers in Canada can consult the country’s public health website for the latest.
The Boston media is known for being tough on their teams at all times.
It reaches another level, though, when something like Tuesday night happens.
Because Boston Red Sox closer Tanner Houck is unvaccinated, he had to be placed on the restricted list prior to this week’s series in Toronto against the Blue Jays.
And wouldn’t you know it, his absence loomed large on Tuesday when the Blue Jays scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth for a 6-5 win over the Red Sox.
Longtime Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy and other members of the Boston media were quick to post their feelings on Twitter.
Without Houck, the Red Sox asked Tyler Danish, who pitched the eighth, to go back out for the ninth.
But Danish, who has zero career saves, let the first two runners on. That prompted Red Sox manager Alex Cora to replace him with Hansel Robles.
Robles wasn’t any more successful, giving up RBI singles to Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to end it.
When asked if the situation made him more frustrated about the vaccination situation, Cora said no.
“We go with the 26 that are here, and we try to get 27 outs and we didn’t do it,” Cora said.
The Blue Jays have now won five of six against the Red Sox in Toronto this season heading into Wednesday’s series finale when Toronto will start ace Alek Manoah.
And, maybe just maybe, the same two teams will play in the same venue in October.