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Red Sox Live Blog: Blue Jays Outlast Sox, Win Series Opener 7-5

Final, Blue Jays 7-5: And that will do it, folks. Mauro Gomez made it interesting with a two-run jobby, but the Sox fell short.

For those of you who stuck around after that lengthy rain delay, I salute ye.

Colby Rasmus and Yunel Escobar led the way for the Jays with two hits apiece. Gomez went 2-for-2 off the bench with three RBIs (two-run homer) while Scott Podsednik (two hits) and Dustin Pedroia (two-run homer) helped lead the Sox' offense.

Mid 9th, Jays 7-3: Colby Rasmus launched a two-run tater to put the Jays up 7-3.

11:12 p.m.: Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Daniel Bard.

End 8th, Jays 5-3: Dustin Pedroia got the faithful all antsy in their pantsy as the scrappy two-bagger sent the pretty white pearl into the parking lot on Lansdowne to bring the Sox within two runs.

End 7th, Jays 5-2: After a Mauro Gomez (happy 23rd MG!) pinch-hit single scored the Sox' second run, Rajai Davis made a great play in left as he ran down a deep fly at the wall and doubled up Gomez at first to end the inning.

10:48 p.m.: John Farrell gets his legs loose as he removes Alvarez from the game. In comes old friend (I stress old) Darren Oliver.

Alvarez allowed two earned runs on four hits in 6 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out one.

Mid 7th, Jays 5-1: Chris Carpenter Ks Rasmus for the second out of the inning, and Ciriaco made a sweet play, coming in on the ball to make the third out of the frame.

Mid 6th, Jays 5-1: Mortensen strikes out the side! Mortensen strikes out the side! That is all.

End 5th, Jays 5-1: The Sox get on the board thanks to a pair of hits by Kalish (bunt) and Pods before Dustin Pedroia scores Kalish on a ground ball. 

10:08 p.m.: How about that first pitch by UMass athletic director John McCutcheon? Yeesh! And I thought that Umass football promo commercial was bad….

Mid 5th, Jays 5-0: After Rasmus drove Doubront from the game with a triple, he scored on an Escobar bloop to right off of Mortensen to make it 5-0 Jays.

9:50 p.m.: Mortensen relieves Doubs after a Rasmus triple. The lefty allowed four earned runs on six hits while striking out three and walking two in four-plus innings.

End 4th, Jays 4-0: Cody Ross made things interesting by rocking a double off the Monster to lead off the bottom of the fourth. Rajai Davis looked pretty silly going after it, as he timed his jump pretty poorly. Loney left Pedroia stranded on a groundout to second.

Mid 4th, Jays 4-0: Moises Sierra just doubled up the Jays' lead by destroying a pitch way over the left-center field wall. Kelly Johnson, who walked, scored on the tater to make it a 4-0 lead.

For those of you looking for that ball, it's stuck up in the light tower. Any climbers out there looking for a souvenir?

Following the launch job, Rajai Davis reached base thanks to a Ciriaco throwing error. On the bright side, Dustin Pedroia leveled Davis (unintentionally) as he tried to make his way to second.

End 3rd, Jays 2-0: Scott Pods ripped a one-out single but that's about all the Sox could get in the third frame.

Mid 3rd, Jays 2-0: Eddy Encar smoked a solo shot high above the Monster to give the Jays a 2-0 lead. But here's some good news: Doubs picks up hits third K of the evening, getting Rasmus on a nice offspead pitch. That Rasmus sure like to hug the plate — I'm shocked to see that he's only been hit by six pitches this season.

End 2nd, Jays 1-0: Mike Aviles drew a two-out walk after Loney (groundout) and Salty (fly out) were retired. Ciriaco left him stranded, though, as the Sox head into the third down a run.

Mid 2nd, Jays 1-0: Doubront picks up his first two Ks of the evening as he gets through the inning unscathed. He did dish out a free base to Moises Sierra but then left him stranded after striking out Davis to end the frame.

End 1st, Jays 1-0: After Pedie gets on thanks to an Escobar error, the Sox left him stranded. Ellsbury got robbed of extra bases in the left-field corner and Ross grounded out to short to get the fielder's choice.

There have a been many weird plays out in the field thus far — it's obvious that the rain has been a factor on defense. Not only did Escobar throw one away on Pedie's grounder, but he also almost botched the third out of the inning.

Mid 1st, Jays 1-0: Brett Lawrie led off with a double to right, and Colby Rasmus moved him over on a groundout to Dustin Pedroia, who made a spectacular play on the slow roller. James Loney deserves some love for the nice little pick job at first.

Edwin Encarnacoin got the RBI with a sac fly to deep left-center.

8:18 p.m.: Bad news O's fans (and Sox fans?). The Yanks are up 5-0 in Balty thanks to a pair of taters in the fourth. Russell Martin hit a three-run jobby while Steve Pearce (not to be confused by that glass-blowing genius Simon Pierce) hit a two-run jack.

7:48 p.m.: The game will start at 8:25 p.m. ET. For all you party animals who hit up happy hour today, that's about beer No. 7. That being said, please drink responsibly.

7:36 p.m.: What is this, stand-up hour? Don and Jerry are killing it right now during the rain delay.

7:15 p.m.: This Red Sox rain delay is presented by L.L. Bean.

Still waiting to hear any details about when things will get started from Fenway. In the meantime, here's some links from elsewhere on NESN.com.

John Lackey is close to returning, writes Didier Morais, while David Ortiz is not. Meanwhile, NESN Nation is hoping that the Sox can find their offense again at Fenway Park after that miserable road trip.

6:48 p.m: And … it's pouring. Sit tight, folks. Hopefully this one rolls right along.

Check out this great photo of a rainy Fenway Park from @PackyLions.

6:45 p.m.: Mother Nature may delay the Red Sox' return home as rain is rolling in. We'll keep you posted on any updates.

5:20 p.m.: Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe is reporting (via Twitter) that the Sox have placed three pitcher on waivers: Daniel Bard, Mark Melancon and Clayton Mortensen.

3:48 p.m.: Lineups!

Red Sox

Scott Podsednik LF,
Dustin Pedroia 2B,
Jacoby Ellsbury CF,
Cody Ross RF,
James Loney 1B,
Jarred Saltalamacchia C,
Mike Aviles SS,
Pedro Ciriaco 3B,
Ryan Kalish DH,
Felix Doubront P

Blue Jays

Brett Lawrie 3B,
Colby Rasmus CF,
Edwin Encarnacion 1B,
Yunel Escobar SS,
Adam Lind DH,
J.P. Arencibia C,
Kelly Johnson 2B,
Moises Sierra RF,
Rajai Davis LF,
Henderson Alvarez, P

2:23 p.m.: Here are some interesting notes heading into tonight's matchup, compliments of the Sox PR department.

• Of the Sox' 24 remaining games, 11 will be played at Fenway Park.
• Sox batters lead the American League with 387 runs, 369 RBIs and 698 hits at home, including a major league-leading 189 home doubles and 278 extra-base hits.
• Despite having his season-long 15-game hit streak snapped Wednesday night, Dustin Pedroia has hit safely in all but two of 30 games since Aug. 5, batting a major league-best .375 (45-for-120) in that time, raising his overall average from .262 to .290.
• Mauro Gomez is celebrating his 28th birthday today.
• Scott Podsednik has hit safely in 13 of 14 starts in Boston this year, including nine multi-hit efforts, and is 23-for-54 (.426) in 16 total games on Yawkey Way this year. His .384 career average (38-for-99) at Fenway leads active players in Boston (minimum 100 plate appearances).

8 a.m.: The Red Sox are back home at Fenway Park for the first time in more than a week as they host John Farrell and the Blue Jays for a three-game stand.

Felix Doubront is on the bump for the Sox, and he'll be squaring off with righty Henderson Alvarez. Doubront took the loss last Saturday, allowing five runs on six hits
and two walks with six strikeouts in just three innings at Oakland.

Alvarez, 22, is 7-12 with a 5.04 ERA this year. In July, he mustered a win at Fenway despite allowing seven earned runs on eight hits in just 5 2/3 innings of work. Alvarez hasn't notched a win in more than a month.

Tune in to NESN at 5:30 p.m. ET for pregame coverage.