Final, Blue Jays 6-4: Make it six straight losses for the Red Sox.
The Sox made some late noise Wednesday, but it simply delayed the inevitable. The Blue Jays grabbed the middle game 6-4 behind another two-homer performance from Edwin Encarnacion.
Clay Buchholz once again struggled for Boston. He lasted just 4 2/3 innings and allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits.
A.J. Pierzynski and Xander Bogaerts both collected three hits in the loss. Bogaerts connected for two doubles, as did Mike Carp, who finished 2-for-3.
The Red Sox and Blue Jays will conclude their three-game series Thursday at 4:05 p.m. Jon Lester will square off against Mark Buehrle.
Mid 9th, Blue Jays 6-4: Koji Uehara kept the deficit at two runs.
Uehara retired the side in order in the ninth inning. Steve Tolleson, Brett Lawrie and Dioner Navarro failed to get anything going.
The Red Sox will come up in the ninth inning needing two runs to keep this game alive. David Ortiz, Jonny Gomes and A.J. Pierzynski are due up versus Blue Jays closer Casey Janssen.
End 8th, Blue Jays 6-4: The Red Sox aren’t going quietly.
Mike Carp lined an RBI double into the triangle to score Shane Victorino from first base. Victorino had replaced A.J. Pierzynski, who singled, at first base via a forceout.
The Red Sox weren’t done.
Xander Bogaerts came within a foot of hitting his third home run of the season. The ball plunked high off the Monster, and Bogaerts dived head-first into second base with an RBI double.
The Blue Jays called upon Brett Cecil to replace Esmil Rogers. Brock Holt greeted Cecil with a line drive into left-center field that plated Bogaerts with Boston’s fourth run.
Grady Sizemore struck out, and manager John Gibbons again turned to his bullpen. Steve Delabar needed just one pitch to get Dustin Pedroia to ground out to third base.
Koji Uehara will pitch the ninth inning for Boston. Koji needs some work with the lack of save chances of late.
Mid 8th, Blue Jays 6-1: Andrew Miller worked around a walk in the eighth inning.
Miller began the eighth inning by striking out Melky Cabrera. The left-hander then walked Jose Bautista before sitting down pinch-hitter Erik Kratz by way of the K.
Edwin Encarnacion was kept in the yard in the eighth. The slugger grounded to the left side for an inning-ending forceout.
Encarnacion has four multihomer games this month, making him the first Blue Jays player ever to accomplish the feat. He’s also the first major leaguer to rack up four multihomer games in a single month since Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (Sept. 2010).
End 7th, Blue Jays 6-1: The Red Sox could use a spark.
Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz and Jonny Gomes went down in order against Aaron Loup in the seventh inning.
The Red Sox have been punchless for the better part of a week. Something needs to change.
Mid 7th, Blue Jays 6-1: The Blue Jays tacked on a run.
Steve Tolleson, who pinch-hit for Juan Francisco, singled with one out. Tolleson advanced to second base when Brett Lawrie grounded out.
Dioner Navarro walked with two down, paving the way for Anthony Gose’s single into center field. Grady Sizemore came up firing, but Tolleson had no problem scoring Toronto’s sixth run.
Andrew Miller replaced Chris Capuano and recorded the final out of the top of the seventh.
End 6th, Blue Jays 5-1: The Red Sox brought the tying run to the plate in the sixth inning. The drama didn’t last long, as Grady Sizemore struck out with the bases loaded to end the threat.
A.J. Pierzynski led off with a single into left field. Drew Hutchison retired Shane Victorino and Mike Carp via a couple of flyouts, but Xander Bogaerts followed with a base hit into left-center that prompted manager John Gibbons to turn to his bullpen.
Lefty Aaron Loup walked Brock Holt on five pitches, setting up a bases-loaded showdown with Sizemore. The matchup clearly was in Toronto’s favor, as Sizemore is much better against right-handed pitching.
In many ways, Sizemore’s strikeout was a microcosm of the Red Sox’s woes, especially when you consider Dustin Pedroia typically bats in the leadoff spot being occupied by Sizemore in this game.
Mid 6th, Blue Jays 5-1: Chris Capuano worked a scoreless sixth inning for Boston.
Capuano issued a two-out walk to Jose Bautista but induced two ground balls and a popout.
Brock Holt continues to throw his body around the infield. Holt made a diving stop and recorded two assists in the sixth inning.
End 5th, Blue Jays 5-1: Runs have been tough to come by for the Red Sox.
Dustin Pedroia reached on an error in the fifth inning. He shot a line drive right through Edwin Encarnacion’s legs at first base.
The Red Sox couldn’t capitalize. Drew Hutchison rebounded to take care of David Ortiz and Jonny Gomes. Ortiz flied out to center field, and Gomes popped out into shallow right field.
Mid 5th, Blue Jays 5-1: Clay Buchholz walked off the mound in the fifth inning after another poor performance.
Adam Lind led off the fifth inning with a single. Edwin Encarnacion, who has homered twice in this game, followed with a ground ball to the left side that Brock Holt handled before firing an errant throw across the diamond. Encarnacion reached on Holt’s error.
The Blue Jays had runners at the corners with two outs after Buchholz snagged a comebacker and tossed to second for a forceout. Brett Lawrie beat out the double-play attempt at first base.
Dioner Navarro extended Toronto’s lead with a single into left field. Lind trotted home from third base, and Buchholz was sent to the showers soon after.
Chris Capuano took over and ended the inning by getting Anthony Gose to ground into a forceout.
The book is closed on Buchholz. He gave up five runs (four earned) on nine hits over 4 2/3 innings. Buchholz struck out two, walked two and threw 90 pitches (53 strikes).
It’s amazing this game is still within reach for Boston — theoretically, at least.
End 4th, Blue Jays 4-1: Shane Victorino was dropped to sixth in the order Wednesday. He responded by hitting his first home run of 2014.
Victorino sent a 3-2 fastball from Drew Hutchison over the left field wall to cut into Toronto’s lead. Red Sox manager John Farrell said before the game he dropped Victorino in the lineup because of the outfielder’s recent struggles against right-handed pitching.
Mike Carp worked a two-out walk after Victorino’s bomb, and Xander Bogaerts followed that up with a double into the left field corner.
Brock Holt ended the inning with a ground ball to the right side.
Mid 4th, Blue Jays 4-0: Clay Buchholz kept the Blue Jays’ offense off the scoreboard in the fourth inning.
Buchholz struck out Anthony Gose and Jose Bautista in the fourth. Gose went down looking, and Bautista came up empty on a hearty cut.
Melky Cabrera singled with two outs in the inning. Nothing more came of it.
End 3rd, Blue Jays 4-0: The Red Sox again didn’t have an answer in the third inning.
Dustin Pedroia singled with two outs, but that was it. Drew Hutchison retired Brock Holt, Grady Sizemore and David Ortiz en route to a scoreless inning.
Mid 3rd, Blue Jays 4-0: Edwin Encarnacion is going to haunt the Red Sox’s dreams.
Encarnacion smoked yet another home run in the third inning. It was his second of the game, fourth in two days and 12th of the season.
Encarnacion again took aim at the Monster seats, hitting an absolute missile over the left field wall.
Encarnacion’s blast was a two-run homer because Adam Lind led off the inning with a triple into the triangle. It’s been a rough night for Clay Buchholz so far.
End 2nd, Blue Jays 2-0: Mike Carp’s wall-ball double went for naught.
Carp doubled with two outs in the second inning after Drew Hutchison made quick work of A.J. Pierzynski and Shane Victorino. Pierzynski struck out looking on three pitches, and Victorino went down looking on four pitches.
Xander Bogaerts lined out to left field to end the inning.
Mid 2nd, Blue Jays 2-0:Â It appears the Blue Jays — Edwin Encarnacion, in particular — have mistaken Fenway Park for a driving range.
Encarnacion blasted two home runs Tuesday as part of Toronto’s four-homer attack. He went right back to work Wednesday, ripping a solo shot into the first row of Monster seats to give the Jays a 1-0 lead.
Juan Francisco walked immediately following Encarnacion’s homer. The Blue Jays added to their lead with one out behind two singles and a walk. Jose Reyes knocked in Francisco with a base hit into center.
Chris Capuano already has begun warming up in the Red Sox’s bullpen. Boston really needed Buchholz to step up, especially with Felix Doubront exiting in the fifth inning Tuesday and landing on the 15-day disabled list with a shoulder strain. Right now, things aren’t going so well.
End 1st, 0-0: Grady Sizemore, batting leadoff for the 10th time this season, got things going with a walk.
Sizemore saw eight pitches en route to his free pass against Drew Hutchison, marking a very good at-bat for the Boston outfielder.
The Red Sox couldn’t do anything with Sizemore on base, though. Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz lined out to second base and third base, respectively, before Jonny Gomes struck out to end the inning.
Sizemore actually found himself in scoring position by way of swiping second base with Gomes batting.
Mid 1st, 0-0:Â Clay Buchholz overcame a leadoff single.
Jose Reyes began the game with a single into right field. Buchholz has given up 10 hits in each of his last two starts, so you probably weren’t alone if you thought it signaled the beginning of Toronto’s hit parade.
Fortunately for the Red Sox, Buchholz settled down to retire Melky Cabrera, Jose Bautista and Adam Lind. The trio scattered three flyouts.
7:13 p.m.: Clay Buchholz deals a first-pitch strike. Let’s go!
6:45 p.m.: Felix Doubront was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left shoulder strain before Wednesday’s game.
Doubront left Tuesday’s start in the fifth inning after experiencing shoulder fatigue. Farrell said Wednesday that Doubront bumped his shoulder on a car door Monday and that the contusion prevented the left-hander from firing normally during Tuesday’s start.
It’s unclear at this point who will replace Doubront in the rotation, though Brandon Workman and Allen Webster are two candidates.
6:40 p.m.: The Red Sox have shuffled their lineup.
Grady Sizemore will lead off with Dustin Pedroia sliding down into the No. 2 spot. Shane Victorino has been dropped to sixth in the order amid some struggles against right-handed pitching.
Red Sox manager John Farrell said Sizemore atop the order is designed to get another left-handed bat higher in the lineup. He wanted to move Victorino down while the outfielder works on improving at the plate against righties.
Mike Napoli is sitting out Wednesday’s game — at least to start — because of flu-like symptoms. Mike Carp will get the nod at first base.
Stephen Drew is available in an emergency situation, according to Farrell.
Wednesday’s complete lineups are below.
Boston Red Sox (20-24)
Grady Sizemore, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Jonny Gomes, LF
A.J. Pierzynski, C
Shane Victorino, RF
Mike Carp, 1B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Brock Holt, 3B
Clay Buchholz, RHP (2-3, 6.17 ERA)
Toronto Blue Jays (24-22)
Jose Reyes, SS
Melky Cabrera, LF
Jose Bautista, RF
Adam Lind, DH
Edwin Encarnacion, 1B
Juan Francisco, 3B
Brett Lawrie, 2B
Dioner Navarro, C
Anthony Gose, CF
Drew Hutchison, RHP (2-3, 3.64 ERA)
6:30 p.m. ET: The Boston Red Sox are in the midst of their longest losing streak since 2012. They’ll turn to Clay Buchholz on Wednesday.
The Red Sox have lost five in a row, dropping them to a season-low four games below .500 at 20-24. Boston has dropped six of its last seven contests, including Tuesday’s series opener against the Blue Jays at Fenway Park, in which Toronto pounded four home runs.
Buchholz has had a rough season for the Red Sox. The right-hander enters with a 6.17 ERA and on the heels of two straight starts in which he’s allowed 10 hits. If Buchholz is going to turn things around this season, now would be a good time with Boston reeling a bit.
Buchholz will face Drew Hutchison on Wednesday. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. Tune in on NESN, and keep it right here with NESN.com’s live blog.
