Final, Blue Jays 2-1: The Red Sox went down without a peep against Casey Janssen in the ninth inning, and they suffer a frustrating 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays.
The Red Sox had 11 hits to the Blue Jays’ six, yet Boston simply wasn’t opportunistic enough. The Sox repeatedly wasted scoring chances, and it ended up costing them.
The Red Sox left 12 men on base and went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position as Mark Buehrle successfully walked a tightrope to earn the win. Boston carried a 1-0 lead into the seventh inning, but three straight singles tied the game, and a sacrifice fly gave Toronto a 2-1 lead.
Jake Peavy was fantastic until the seventh inning, and he actually outpitched Buehrle. Peavy suffered the hard-luck loss, though, and he’s now 1-1 in three starts since joining the Red Sox.
Peavy gave up two runs on five hits in his six innings of work — an error charged to Will Middlebrooks was later changed to a hit, which means that both runs charged to Peavy were earned. Peavy struck out four, didn’t walk anyone and was in total control for most of his outing.
The Red Sox will fly out of Toronto on the heels of two straight losses. They’ll arrive back at Fenway on Friday for the first game of a three-game series with the Yankees. Felix Doubront will face Andy Pettitte in Friday’s opener, which is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.
Good night, everyone.
End 8th, Blue Jays 2-1: Rajai Davis caused some havoc on the bases, but we’ll head to the ninth inning with one run separating these two teams.
Davis took off for second base on Rubby De La Rosa’s second pitch, and Ryan Lavarnway’s throw traveled into center field. Davis got up and scampered over to third base.
Jose Bautista found himself in a 3-0 count, but De La Rosa got the Blue Jays slugger to ground into the hole. Stephen Drew made a backhanded stop and fired to first base, where Daniel Nava picked the throw to end the inning.
Shane Victorino, Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz are due up for Boston in the ninth inning.
9:42 p.m., Blue Jays 2-1: Junichi Tazawa got two quick outs, but couldn’t get the third. The Red Sox will now turn to Rubby De La Rosa.
Munenori Kawasaki and Jose Reyes began the bottom of the eighth inning by grounding to the right side. Rajai Davis then hit a sharp ground ball that kicked off Tazawa and over to Stephen Drew at short. Drew made the play and fired to first, but Davis was simply too fast.
De La Rosa will enter with Davis on first and two outs. Jose Bautista is digging in, so we’ll have power against power.
9:37 p.m., Blue Jays 2-1: Want to predict what is going to happen next? The MLB PrePlay app allows you to predict every play of every game. By correctly selecting the outcome of every at-bat in real time, you’re able to earn points.
Mid 8th, Blue Jays 2-1: The story of this game has been the Red Sox’ inability to cash in with runners on base. They’ve now stranded 12 runners, and they’re staring defeat right in the eyes because of it.
The ageless Darren Oliver took over for the Blue Jays in the eighth inning, and he got two quick outs before Daniel Nava hammered a two-out double over Rajai Davis’ head in center field. Nava’s double slammed off the wall.
Will Middlebrooks then made Oliver work. He saw six pitches while earning a two-out walk to put runners at first and second.
Jacoby Ellsbury, who has been on a tear since late May, couldn’t come up with a big knock. Ellsbury chased a pitch in the dirt to end the inning.
Junichi Tazawa will take over for Boston in the eighth. He’ll look to keep this a one-run game, as the Red Sox have Shane Victorino, Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz due up in the ninth inning.
End 7th, Blue Jays 2-1: Jake Peavy was pitching a gem. Now, he’s on the hook.
Craig Breslow took over in a 1-1 game after the first three hitters of the seventh inning reached against Peavy. The first batter Breslow faced was Mark DeRosa, who pinch-hit for Adam Lind. DeRosa lifted a fly ball to left-center field that was deep enough for Edwin Encarnacion to tag up and score. The run was charged to Peavy.
Breslow ended up minimizing the damage, as J.P. Arencibia flied out to shallow right field and Kevin Pillar struck out swinging. But the Blue Jays are suddenly in front after being held in check for six innings.
Peavy was charged with two runs (one earned) on four hits in his six innings of work. He struck out four and didn’t walk anyone while throwing 99 pitches (68 strikes).
9:06 p.m., 1-1: Jake Peavy had been cruising along. He ran into trouble in the seventh inning, though, and he’ll leave with the score tied at one apiece.
Jose Bautista ripped a hard ground ball at Will Middlebrooks to begin the inning. Middlebrooks couldn’t handle it, and Bautista reached.
Edwin Encarnacion and Brett Lawrie then delivered back-to-back singles. Lawrie’s single plated Bautista with the game-tying run.
Craig Breslow now takes over with runners at first and third and no outs.
Mid 7th, Red Sox 1-0: Mark Buehrle’s night has been strange.
Buehrle has given up 10 hits, yet the Red Sox only have one run to show for it.
Dustin Pedroia singled into center field with one out in the seventh inning for his third hit. Keeping with the game’s ongoing trend, Buehrle settled down to keep Boston off the scoreboard.
David Ortiz and Jonny Gomes each flied out to Rajai Davis, who remains busy in the outfield.
End 6th, Red Sox 1-0: Jake Peavy has been awesome thus far.
Peavy needed just nine pitches to toss another scoreless inning in the sixth.
Munenori Kawasaki grounded out to short. Jose Reyes and Rajai Davis flied out to left field and right field, respectively.
Peavy has thrown 89 pitches (62 strikes) through six innings.
Mid 6th, Red Sox 1-0: It was back to the tightrope for Mark Buehrle in the sixth inning. The left-hander successfully walked it.
The Red Sox put runners at the corners with no outs, yet they came away empty-handed.
Stephen Drew singled to lead off the inning, and he went from first to third when Ryan Lavarnway singled into center field with a hit-and-run on.
Buehrle buckled down from there. He struck out both Daniel Nava and Will Middlebrooks before Jacoby Ellsbury grounded out to third base to end the inning.
End 5th, Red Sox 1-0: Jake Peavy retired nine in a row before J.P. Arencibia lined a single into center field. The hit hardly disrupted Peavy’s rhythm.
Brett Lawrie flied out and Adam Lind grounded out before Arencibia singled. Peavy was very upset with himself following the hit because he was ahead in the count, 0-2, and Arencibia is notorious for striking out and chasing bad pitches.
Peavy bounced back, though. He struck out Kevin Pillar on a nasty cutter to end the inning.
Peavy’s cutter has been excellent thus far. It’s really running away from right-handed hitters.
Mid 5th, Red Sox 1-0: Mark Buehrle has spent much of this game navigating through trouble. There was no sign of trouble in the fifth inning.
Buehrle needed just eight pitches to throw a scoreless inning.
Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz both flied out to center fielder Rajai Davis, who has been busy in the early going.
Jonny Gomes ended the inning with a ground ball to third base. Brett Lawrie made the play and fired to first base on the run.
End 4th, Red Sox 1-0: Jake Peavy has been much sharper in this game than he was in his last start.
Peavy tossed another scoreless inning in the fourth. He once again retired the side in order.
Peavy struck out Rajai Davis and then took care of a comebacker. Edwin Encarnacion popped out to Dustin Pedroia in shallow center field behind the second base bag to end the inning.
Peavy now has three strikeouts. He has thrown 65 pitches (43 strikes) thus far.
Mid 4th, Red Sox 1-0: The Red Sox almost squandered another opportunity. This time, however, they managed to score a run.
Daniel Nava doubled down the left field line with one out in the fourth inning, and he moved up to third base when Will Middlebrooks singled into center field.
Nava took a wide turn around third on Middlebrooks’ liner, but the ball bounced off the turf pretty hard and Rajai Davis played it well. If Nava tried to score, he likely would have been a dead duck.
Jacoby Ellsbury knocked in Nava by hitting a ground ball to the right side. Munenori Kawasaki made the play and tossed to second base, but the Blue Jays had no chance to turn a double play. Not only was Ellsbury too fast, but Middlebrooks also had a nice takeout slide.
Shane Victorino popped out in the infield to end the inning. The Red Sox finally avoided letting Mark Buehrle off the hook, though, so that’s a step in the right direction.
End 3rd, 0-0: Three innings are in the books, and there’s still no score.
Jake Peavy tossed a perfect third inning, giving him two perfect frames in the contest.
Peavy started the inning by striking out Kevin Pillar, who gunned down Dustin Pedroia at the plate back in the first inning.
The inning ended with two straight flyouts off the bats of Munenori Kawasaki and Jose Reyes.
Let’s see if Mark Buehrle continues his tightrope walk in the fourth inning.
Mid 3rd, 0-0: The Red Sox are already battling an unhealthy trend in this one.
The Sox stranded another runner in the third inning, and they’ve now stranded six through the first three innings. As a result, we’re still scoreless.
Dustin Pedroia led off the third with a single into right field. He now has two hits in the contest.
David Ortiz ripped a ground ball to the right side that Brett Lawrie — who was pulled over because of the shift — snagged. Lawrie, who is Toronto’s third baseman, tossed to first to complete the out. No one covered third base, though, so Pedroia just kept on running. Shortstop Jose Reyes is to blame for that mishap.
Mark Buehrle ensured that Reyes’ mental error didn’t cost the Blue Jays. Jonny Gomes popped out in foul territory along the left field line, and Stephen Drew struck out to end the inning.
End 2nd, 0-0: Adam Lind gave the Blue Jays their first baserunner with two outs. He didn’t go anywhere.
Jake Peavy, who tossed a 1-2-3 first inning, retired Edwin Encarnacion and Brett Lawrie to begin the second. Encarnacion flied out to center, and Lawrie popped out in foul territory.
Lind then put a charge into one, and it landed on the warning track in the left-center field gap. He cruised into second base with a double.
Peavy got locked in a battle with J.P. Arencibia, who has put together a nice series. Peavy eventually won the battle by going up high with a 3-2 fastball. Arencibia couldn’t catch up to it.
Mid 2nd, 0-0: Shane Victorino flied out with the bases loaded in the ninth inning of Wednesday’s game. He did the same in the second inning of Thursday’s game.
The Red Sox once again knocked on the door in the second inning before Mark Buehrle abruptly closed it.
Ryan Lavarnway got the offense going with a one-out single into center field.
Daniel Nava then hit a sharp liner back to Buehrle that kicked off the lefty’s shin/ankle area. The ball ended up over near third base, and Nava reached safely as Lavarnway took second.
After a visit from the trainer and a warmup toss, Buehrle went back to work. He retired Will Middlebrooks on a liner to center field before walking Jacoby Ellsbury with two outs. Buehrle had two strikes on Ellsbury, but he missed in the dirt with his 3-2 offering.
Victorino couldn’t cash in with the bags packed, though. He lifted a fly ball to right field that Jose Bautista easily grabbed for the final out.
End 1st, 0-0: Jake Peavy is already yelling at himself on the mound. But it isn’t because of any struggles.
Peavy worked a 1-2-3 first inning.
Jose Reyes led off with a groundout, and Rajai Davis and Jose Bautista each flied out to end the inning.
Mid 1st, 0-0: The Red Sox made some two-out noise in the first inning. The Blue Jays had the last laugh.
Mark Buehrle started his night by retiring Jacoby Ellsbury and Shane Victorino. Ellsbury lifted a fly ball to center field, while Victorino struck out swinging on a big, looping curveball.
Dustin Pedroia looked to ignite the offense with two down. He hit a ground ball back up the middle, and Munenori Kawasaki made the stop. It was a difficult play, though, and Kawasaki’s throw was off the mark.
Buehrle then walked David Ortiz to set up runners at first and second, and Jonny Gomes threatened to plate Pedroia with a single into left field. Kevin Pillar, who made his major league debut Wednesday, came up firing and delivered a strong throw to gun down Pedey.
7:09 p.m.: Mark Buehrle’s first pitch catches the top of the strike zone for a strike. We’re off and running at Rogers Centre.
7:01 p.m.: Thursday’s game marks the rubber match of the series.
The Red Sox have a major league-leading 24 series wins this season, and a victory in Thursday’s finale will give them 25. The Tigers, Pirates and Orioles are all tied for second in the majors with 22 series wins.
This also marks the 16th of 19 games between the Sox and Jays. The Red Sox lead the season series 9-6.
6:46 p.m.: Brandon Workman suffered the loss Wednesday, but the Red Sox’ bullpen is making some improvements.
Boston’s ‘pen owns a 2.39 ERA since the All-Star break. The unit had a 4.10 ERA before the break.
6:26 p.m.: David Ross made more strides in his rehab assignment Wednesday.
Ross, who has been on the disabled list since June 18 because of a concussion, caught seven innings for Triple-A Pawtucket. He went 0-for-2 with a walk.
Ross is 1-for-8 with a double, an RBI and two walks in four rehab games — two with Pawtucket and two with Double-A Portland.
Ross is scheduled to play with the PawSox again on Friday.
5:09 p.m.: It seemed likely that Mike Napoli would get a day off Thursday despite Wednesday’s ninth-inning heroics. But John Farrell will go with Daniel Nava at first base rather than Mike Carp.
Nava has started just five games at first base this season, but he’ll be down there for Thursday’s series finale. He’ll bat eighth, while Will Middlebrooks will round out the lineup in the No. 9 spot.
Jonny Gomes will get the call in left field and bat fifth. Stephen Drew will bat sixth, and Ryan Lavarnway will start behind the plate and bat seventh.
Check out Thursday’s complete lineups below.
Red Sox (72-50)
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Shane Victorino, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Jonny Gomes, LF
Stephen Drew, SS
Ryan Lavarnway, C
Daniel Nava, 1B
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Jake Peavy, RHP (9-4, 4.50 ERA)
Blue Jays (55-65)
Jose Reyes, SS
Rajai Davis, CF
Jose Bautista, RF
Edwin Encarnacion, DH
Brett Lawrie, 3B
Adam Lind, 1B
J.P. Arencibia, C
Kevin Pillar, LF
Munenori Kawasaki, 2B
Mark Buehrle, LHP (8-7, 4.43 ERA)
8 a.m. ET: The Red Sox nearly pulled off another incredible, come-from-behind victory Wednesday, but they just couldn’t get one more big hit.
The Red Sox were down to their final out Wednesday when Mike Napoli hit a two-run homer to tie the game at three apiece. The Sox then loaded the bases in the ninth inning and put two more runners on in the 10th inning, but they were unable to push across any more runs, and Brett Lawrie’s RBI single in the bottom of the 10th secured a 4-3 Toronto victory.
It was a valiant effort by Boston, although it’ll still show up in the loss column. The Red Sox will send Jake Peavy to the hill Thursday as they look to bounce back in the series finale.
Peavy has started just two games for Boston, and they were on complete opposite ends of the spectrum. Peavy went seven innings and allowed just two runs on four hits while striking out seven in his Red Sox debut on Aug. 3. Then, he got lit up for six runs on 10 hits without a single strikeout in his second outing on Aug. 9.
Peavy is a 12-year veteran, so he knows a thing or two about rebounding from a bad start. He’ll face another wily vet on Thursday, though, as the Blue Jays will send Mark Buehrle to the hill. Buehrle enters with an 8-7 record and 4.43 ERA in 24 starts this season.
Thursday will mark the end of the Red Sox’ season-long 11-day road trip. It’ll be their 10th game in that span, and they enter with a 4-5 record thus far. The Red Sox would certainly love a win to get to .500 for the trip and to put them into a good place before a three-game series with the Yankees back at Fenway.
Thursday’s first pitch is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. Be sure to tune in on NESN, and stick around NESN.com’s live blog.
