The Boston Red Sox became the first team in the majors with double-digit losses after failing to hold a 3-0 lead against the Toronto Blue Jays Friday night at Fenway Park
Toronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox
Boston was unable to hold a 3-0 lead on Friday night and had its record drop to 2-10 with a 7-6 defeat versus Toronto. The Red Sox have gotten literally nothing out of their offseason investments, as Adrian Gonzalez went 0 for 4 and Carl Crawford’s average sunk to .137 after an 0-for-5 effort. “They have to boo,” Crawford commented. “I’m playing real bad. We’re playing real bad as a team so you definitely understand.” The club won the 2010 set with Toronto, 12-6, claiming the season series in consecutive years for the first time since 2003 and 2004. Boston is also facing Toronto manager John Farrell for the first time after he spent the last four seasons as the Red Sx pitching coach. The team is 1-4 in day games this year and 46-48 the last three years.
Red Sox starting pitcher Josh Beckett is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in two starts this season and is coming off a brilliant performance against the Yankees at Fenway Park. In that particular contest, he struck out 10 batters over eight scoreless innings, holding New York to just two hits in the process. The right-hander is 3-6 with a 7.03 ERA in 14 career starts versus Toronto and hasn’t beat the club at Fenway Park since September 4, 2007.
Toronto picked up a victory in its first of 18 meetings with Boston this season and is now 108-135 on the road in the overall series. The Blue Jays are looking to win three straight for the first time this season by scoring 15 runs and collecting 22 hits the past two games. Farrell may prove to be the difference in the dugout when the clubs matchup this season. “There’s no denying that spending four years in this organization and working with the people I did was a highlight of a personal and professional career,” he commented. Many experts believe that due to him working so closely in Boston’s organization that there’s unlikely a man better suited to manage against the Red Sox this season. Toronto is 66-80 versus division opponents the last three years.
Blue Jays starting pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes is 0-1 with a 5.23 ERA in two starts this season and has posted a 5-16 record with a 5.89 ERA in 39 Major League starts. Reyes is one of three left-handed starters in the rotation, marking the second consecutive season the club has had three lefties to open a season. In his career, he has allowed right-handed batters to hit for a .321 mark, while lefties are batting just .218 against him. The 26-year-old will be making his first career start versus Boston today.
Bettors will likely back the Red Sox due to their 18-8 record in Beckett’s last 26 home starts, while the Blue Jays are 1-4 versus right-handed starters.
