Bello Struggles in Red Sox Loss to Blue Jays

Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images

April 29, 2026

Blue Jays 8, Red Sox 1

The Boston Red Sox fell below .500 in the Chad Tracy era with an 8–1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre Wednesday afternoon. Braydon Fisher got the win, pitching 1 2/3 innings, only allowing one hit in the process. Brayan Bello earned the loss, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks while making it only 3 2/3 innings.

Red Sox-Blue Jays Game Summary

Willson Contreras started the scoring with a no-doubt bomb to left field to give the Red Sox a 1–0 lead. However, that lead was short-lived. Bello loaded the bases with one out in the third. Kazuma Okamoto, who ripped a two-run single in the last game, did so again, taking a 2–1 lead. With two outs in the inning, Yohendrick Pinango ripped a single to left field, scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr., as Okamoto got thrown out at home by Roman Anthony.

Bello was taken out with two outs in the fourth and replaced with Greg Weissert. Bello was nodding his head no as Chad Tracy walked to the mound. Ernie Clement blasted a two-run home run before Weissert got the final out.

Eric Lauer‘s day ended in the fifth with him leading the bases with one out. Fisher coaxed a line-out to shortstop from Contreras. In the process, Caleb Durbin was doubled up at second base, ending the inning. Quite the Red Sox way to prevent their own rally from kickstarting.

The bottom half of the inning saw George Springer and Myles Straw hit back-to-back RBI singles, making it 7–1. Despite having bases loaded and one out in the eighth, the Red Sox squandered it. A pinch-hitting Jarren Duran struck out, and Connor Wong grounded out to third base.

Brandon Valenzuela hit his second home run on the year off Garrett Whitlock in the bottom half of the eighth.

What Went Right for the Red Sox

Contreras and Abreu Mashing

Both Contreras and Wilyer Abreu botched two hits in this contest. Contreras nearly had a second home run, before the ball got caught on the warning track.

What Went Wrong for the Red Sox

Another Stinker From Bello

There might need to be a conversation about Bello getting sent down, or at least getting removed from the rotation. Bello looked like a toddler acting up in front of his parents when Tracy came out to take the ball from him. His sinker was either getting hit 100+ miles per hour, or way out of the zone.

Not Hitting When it Matters

The Red Sox went a combined 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Even then, the one hit they got courtesy of Roman Anthony didn’t score the runner.

Looking Ahead

The Red Sox will have themselves their second series of the year against the Houston Astros, this time inside Fenway Park. Mike Burrows will take the mound for the Astros, as it’s still to be determined who the Red Sox will throw out there.