Boston Red Sox Outslug Toronto Blue Jays in a Chaotic 11–10 Spring Training Shootout

Spring Training isn’t supposed to feel like this — but Sunday afternoon in Fort Myers delivered anything but a routine Grapefruit League exhibition. What unfolded at JetBlue Park was a full-throttle, back-and-forth slugfest that looked far more like July chaos than late-February tuning.

The Boston Red Sox improved to 2–0 with an 11–10 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in a game where the score swung wildly, momentum flipped repeatedly, and Alex Cora got an early look at an offense that seems determined to attack from pitch one.

Boston opened aggressively, plating four runs in the bottom of the first inning immediately after Brayan Bello was tagged for four in the top half. Cora hinted pregame that this lineup resembled a potential Opening Day configuration, and it backed up his point by answering every challenge Toronto presented.

“We’re going to move the ball around, we’re going to put the ball in play, we’re going to hit the ball hard,” Cora said afterward. “That’s what we’re going to do in that first inning.”

And that’s exactly what the Red Sox did all afternoon.

Jarren Duran Sets the Tone, Nate Eaton Steals the Show

If this is the version of Jarren Duran Boston gets in 2026, the outfield picture becomes a lot clearer. Slotted third — a possible preview of his regular-season role — Duran scorched two doubles and posted multiple loud swings, showcasing sharper timing and a more aggressive approach to pitches he struggled with last season.

“He seems like a different hitter,” Cora said. “I’m expecting a lot of big things from him.”

Nate Eaton matched that energy with a perfect 3-for-3 afternoon, including two doubles of his own. His work helped ignite a six-run sixth inning in which 11 Red Sox came to the plate, blowing open what had been a tight contest.

In a spring environment where roster spots are won by seizing moments, Eaton and Duran took those opportunities and elevated the entire offensive rhythm.

Bullpen Steadies the Game Before Late Drama Returns

Amid the offensive fireworks, Boston’s bullpen provided the type of calm the box score may overlook. Garrett Whitlock needed only 10 pitches — seven for strikes — in a clean, polished inning. Greg Weissert and Jovani Moran followed with scoreless frames that gave the Red Sox enough room to withstand Toronto’s late push.

And of course, in true Grapefruit League fashion, the drama resurfaced. The Blue Jays rallied for three runs in the ninth, forcing the Red Sox to tighten up defensively to avoid extra innings. Ultimately, Boston closed it out, securing a win that was far more stressful than anyone expects from a February matchup.

But if the early days of camp say anything about this team, it’s that the offense intends to make noise from day one — calendar be damned.

The Red Sox are 2–0, the bats are awake, and the competitive edge is already showing. For a club entering 2026 with heightened expectations, this kind of early urgency is exactly what Alex Cora wants to see.

If spring is about building identity, Boston may already be carving out theirs: relentless, fast-starting, and ready to trade blows inning after inning.