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Pivetta and O'Neill lead Red Sox to victory over Blue Jays in series opener
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    Pivetta and O’Neill lead Red Sox to victory over Blue Jays in series opener

    O Canada: The Boston Red Sox were victorious 7-3 against the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series north of the border thanks to a couple of Canadians.

    Victoria’s Nick Pivetta picked up the win after pitching seven innings and giving up three runs on nine hits. He also recorded four strikeouts and one walk.

    The 31-year-old levelled his record on the season to 4-4 and improved to a 3.88 ERA.

    “It’s always very exciting for me to pitch in my home country,” Pivetta told reporters after the game. “My mom was here today with my aunt, so I think that’s really great. I was happy that we could put the win together and have a good day.”

    Left fielder Tyler O’Neill, from Burnaby, B.C., opened the scoring for the Red Sox with a solo home run in the first inning off of Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi.

    The 28-year-old hit another solo shot off of Kikuchi in the top of the third that made it 4-1.

    “It’s always fun coming back home and breathing that northern air, just being up here for a little bit,” O’Neill said.

    O’Neill is batting .253 with 12 home runs and 23 RBIs during his first season with Boston. He was acquired during the off-season from the St. Louis Cardinals for pitchers Nick Robertson and Victor Santos.

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    In a thrilling matchup between the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays, it was Nick Pivetta and Tyler O’Neill who stole the show in the series opener. Pivetta, the starting pitcher for the Red Sox, delivered a stellar performance on the mound, striking out seven batters and allowing just one run over six innings. His command of the strike zone and ability to keep the Blue Jays’ potent lineup in check set the tone for the game.

    On the offensive side, it was Tyler O’Neill who provided the fireworks for the Red Sox. The outfielder went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs, including a crucial two-run shot in the fifth inning that gave Boston the lead for good. O’Neill’s power at the plate and clutch hitting were instrumental in securing the victory for the Red Sox.

    The Blue Jays put up a fight, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continuing his hot streak with a solo home run in the fourth inning. However, they were unable to overcome Pivetta’s strong pitching and O’Neill’s offensive onslaught.

    Overall, it was a well-rounded team effort from the Red Sox that led to their victory over the Blue Jays in the series opener. Pivetta’s dominant pitching and O’Neill’s explosive hitting were key factors in securing the win, and they will look to carry that momentum into the rest of the series. With both players firing on all cylinders, the Red Sox are poised to make a strong push towards the playoffs.