BOSTON — The Red Sox are on the verge of being swept for the second series in a row.
The Red Sox rallied back from a four-run deficit Saturday at Fenway Park to tie their game against the Toronto Blue Jays 4-4 in the sixth inning. The Jays had the last laugh, though, as Russell Martin launched a solo homer over the Green Monster in the 11th inning to propel Toronto to a 5-4 win.
The Red Sox, who were swept by the Baltimore Orioles earlier this week, have lost five straight.
GAME IN A WORD
Tease.
Just when you think the Red Sox might pull off a nice comeback win, they yank the carpet right out from under you.
Boston couldn’t produce any offense against Toronto’s bullpen. The Sox had the bases loaded with one out in the seventh inning yet came away empty handed, killing the momentum they had generated.
The Blue Jays have won 10 in a row. Clearly, these teams are trending in opposite directions.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Martin crushed Matt Barnes’ 96 mph fastball off the light tower in left-center field in the 11th inning.
It’s been a rough week for Barnes, who also crumbled in Friday’s 13-10 loss.
ON THE BUMP
— Clay Buchholz managed to make it through six innings despite some bumps along the way.
Buchholz surrendered three runs on five hits in the second inning, again highlighting the potency of Toronto’s quick-strike offense. Fortunately for Boston, the right-hander allowed only one run on three hits in his other five innings, making for a rather reasonable afternoon.
Buchholz struck out seven and walked one while throwing 105 pitches (72 strikes).
— Tommy Layne retired the only two hitters he faced in the seventh inning. Both Ryan Goins and Jose Reyes tried to bunt their way aboard, which proved unsuccessful.
— Alexi Ogando allowed one hit over 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
— Koji Uehara tossed a scoreless ninth inning.
— Barnes survived the 10th inning despite facing some big boppers, but Martin jumped all over the right-hander’s 2-0 fastball to lead off the 11th inning.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Xander Bogaerts plated Hanley Ramirez with an RBI single in the third inning for Boston’s first run.
Bogaerts couldn’t come through with the bases loaded in the seventh inning, though. He dropped down to one knee while flailing at a slider from Liam Hendriks on an inning-ending strikeout.
— Ramirez had two hits after sitting out Friday’s series opener with left knee and left hamstring soreness.
— Pablo Sandoval exited the game before the seventh inning with right quad tightness. The Panda made an impact at the dish before departing, though, as he collected two hits and two RBIs.
Sandoval, who has swung the bat well since his two-day hiatus last weekend, delivered a two-run single in Boston’s three-run fourth inning. He struck out in the sixth inning and was replaced by Jeff Bianchi at third base to begin the following frame.
— David Ortiz tied the game 4-4 in the sixth with a solo homer to right field. It was a no-doubter for Ortiz, who now has two homers over his last three games.
Ortiz also walked and scored on Sandoval’s two-run single in the third. He, like Bogaerts, struck out with the bases loaded in the seventh as Boston squandered an excellent scoring chance.
— Rusney Castillo, who reached base four times Friday night, was robbed of a home run by Jose Bautista in the third inning. The play looked better because of the low right field wall, but Castillo’s deep drive still would have cleared the fence if Bautista wasn’t there, so Joey Bats definitely deserves credit.
TWEET OF THE GAME
You said it, Mike.
[tweet https://twitter.com/MikeColeNESN/status/609828304099487745Â align=’center’%5D
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Blue Jays will slap a bow on their three-game series Sunday afternoon. Eduardo Rodriguez, who’s been downright filthy in three major league starts, will toe the rubber for Boston. Toronto will counter with Marco Estrada.
Thumbnail photo via Gregory Fisher/USA TODAY Sports Images
