Boston's 7-0 win on Sunday helped it improve to 11-4 against Toronto in 2009 on the heels of a stellar first start from wily old veteran Paul Byrd. The 38-year-old submitted a six-inning effort that was better than most of what Boston saw from him in 2008, which was certainly encouraging after reports surfaced that the other wily old veteran — Tim Wakefield — will be getting a cortisone shot for another flare-up in his lower back and missing at least one start.
For the second straight time, Boston sent an iffy starter to the mound against Toronto ace Roy Halladay and came away with a big win. The Sox have now won eight straight games against the Blue Jays at Fenway Park.
Newcomer Billy Wagner also made his first appearance in a Red Sox uniform, and he was near perfect, too. Maybe it was just Boston's lucky day. Or maybe the pieces are finally aligning for the Red Sox as they look to make a big push in the wild-card race.
Red Sox 7, Blue Jays 0
Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.
Aug. 30, 2009
Headliner: Nobody was expecting Paul Byrd to start for Boston on Sunday, but when Wakefield went down, the going got tough. Byrd stepped in when he was needed, and despite subpar numbers in four minor league starts — he went 0-2 with a 4.00 ERA in 18 innings with the PawSox — he couldn't have been better on Sunday, throwing six strong shutout innings and allowing three hits while walking three with one strikeout.
The bullpen followed up his effort with three shutout innings of their own, beginning with Manny Delcarmen in the seventh, Wagner in the eighth — he allowed a hit then struck out the side — and Takashi Saito in the ninth.
Dirt Dog: Kevin Youkilis had a big day for Boston, driving in the first run in the bottom of the first with a double to left. His sacrifice fly in the third brought home Dustin Pedroia with Boston's third run, and his seventh-inning single drove in the seventh and final run.
Special shout-out to Toronto designated hitter Adam Lind, the only member of the Blue Jays to come up with more than one hit. He got two, which comprised half of Toronto's production for the entire afternoon.
Better Luck Next Time: Roy Halladay's unfortunate August pressed on Sunday afternoon. (Ever since J.P. Ricciardi failed to trade him, he just hasn't been able to get his act together. Maybe he did want out of Toronto after all.) On Sunday, he matched Byrd's six innings but had nowhere near as much success, allowing four runs on seven hits with six strikeouts. The perennial Cy Young candidate finishes August with a 2-3 record and a 4.50 ERA, allowing 18 runs in 36 innings.
Key Moment: Any time you get a run off Roy Halladay in the first inning, it's always a good sign, so Youkilis' early strike was certainly promising. But Rocco Baldelli — filling in for Jason Bay in left field — struck with a solo shot in the bottom of the second to further agitate the ace. After Youk's third-inning sac fly, shortstop Alex Gonzalez added insult to injury and brought home J.D. Drew with a single to right to make it 4-0 in the fourth inning — and that was more than enough for Byrd to hold things down.
On Deck: After a well-deserved off-day following this 10-game home stand, Boston squares off with Tampa Bay for a critical series that could make or break the Rays' postseason dreams. The Sox were slated to face nemesis Scott Kazmir, but thankfully, they won't have to now that he's starting a new life in Los Angeles. Instead, Jon Lester (10-7, 3.60 ERA) takes on Andy Sonnanstine to kick off September. Lester hasn't lost in seven starts and took a no-decision against the White Sox last time out after giving up three runs in 6 2/3 innings.
Sonnanstine (6-7, 6.61 ERA), who's been dwelling in Triple-A Durham, will be called up for at least this start. Since being sent down on June 27, he has compiled a 5-3 record with a 4.40 ERA in nine starts.
