After making a resurgence against Detroit and falling flat against Texas, Boston seems to be on the upswing again as it looks for a sweep of Toronto on Thursday. Then, it’s back to Fenway for a critical series against the Yankees, so heading home with a bit of momentum certainly can’t hurt. Will the Sox be able to get the job done with Jon Lester on the mound on Thursday? Stay tuned.
When and Where
7:07 p.m. ET (NESN), Aug. 20, 2009
Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Records
Red Sox (68-51, 2nd place in AL East)
Blue Jays (55-63, 4th place in AL East)
Skinny
Everyone knows the Red Sox’ weak spot is on the road, and thankfully, this idea comes to an end after Thursday’s contest. They struggled a bit against Texas, but as Kevin Youkilis returned from a five-game suspension, the offense returned from the dead, reeling off 16 runs in two contests. The pitching wasn’t too shabby either on Wednesday night: Clay Buchholz, facing the impossible task of taking on Roy Halladay, threw an impressive six innings of one-run ball while Halladay surrendered four runs and took the loss. Boston’s hitters teed off for three home runs on Wednesday, too, as David Ortiz, Jason Bay and Victor Martinez all went deep. For the first time in a while, Boston’s bats and pitchers were working in tandem, and hopefully, they can keep it going in the series finale.
Starting Lineups
| Red Sox | Blue Jays |
| Jacoby Ellsbury, CF | Marco Scutaro, SS |
| Dustin Pedroia, 2B | Aaron Hill, 2B |
| Victor Martinez, C | Vernon Wells, CF |
| Kevin Youkilis, 1B | Rod Barajas, C |
| Jason Bay, LF | Kevin Millar, 3B |
| David Ortiz, DH | Randy Ruiz, DH |
| Mike Lowell, 3B | Edwin Encarnacion, 3B |
| J.D. Drew, RF | Juan Bautista, LF |
| Alex Gonzalez, SS | Travis Snider, RF |
Pitching Matchup
LHP Jon Lester (9-7, 3.71 ERA) vs. LHP Brett Cecil (5-1, 4.35 ERA)
Entering this series, the Red Sox essentially expected sure-fire victories on the days Josh Beckett and Jon Lester took the mound. We all know how Beckett’s start turned out, and while every pitcher is bound to lose his feel every once in a while, Boston hopes that Thursday won’t be that day for Lester. The southpaw has been incredibly solid as of late, submitting a quality start and allowing four runs or less each time he’s taken the mound in the past two months. In three starts in August, he’s allowed five earned runs in 19 innings. He has registered double-digit strikeouts in two of his past three outings, and in eight career starts against Toronto, he is 3-3 with a 3.33 ERA. The Rogers Centre isn’t his favorite place to pitch — he’s 1-3 with a 5.28 ERA there — but if he throws the way he has over the past two months, the setting shouldn’t matter.
Toronto’s 23-year-old lefty exited his last start (Aug. 8) in the fifth inning after experiencing pain in his knee — the third time since spring training he’s had a flare-up. He skipped a start but didn’t require a stint on the disabled list. Since a rocky outing on July 5, Cecil has submitted four quality starts in five outings, allowing four runs or less in all five outings.
Stat Sheet
Red Sox
After Thursday’s game, Boston will return to Fenway Park for a 10-game home stand against New York, Chicago and Toronto after playing 15 of their last 19 games on the road.
Boston’s 13-17 record since the All-Star break (prior to Wednesday’s game) ranks 10th in the American League. It is Boston’s worst record through the first 30 games of the second half since 1992.
The Red Sox have hit two or more home runs in each of their last five games, in eight of their last nine and in 14 of their last 18.
Jason Bay has seven home runs in his last 11 games after going homerless for 20 games.
This marks the fifth time in Bay’s career that he has hit 25 or more home runs in a season.
Closer Jonathan Papelbon made his 250th career relief appearance on Tuesday night. He becomes one of eight players in Red Sox history to achieve that milestone.
David Ortiz is one home run shy of his eighth straight 20-home run season.
As of Wednesday night, third baseman Mike Lowell had the league’s third-highest batting average against Toronto at .335.
Blue Jays
Aaron Hill has 28 home runs, which tied him for third place in the AL as of Wednesday night. His 255 total bases rank first in the league.
Hill leads all No. 2 hitters in the majors in home runs, RBIs (80), extra-base hits (52) and total bases.
Before Wednesday night, Toronto had homered in a season-high 11 consecutive games. The Jays have gone deep in 15 of their last 17 games.
Shortstop Marco Scutaro has reached base safely 209 times this season, third-best among American Leaguers as of Wednesday’s game.
Adam Lind‘s 61 extra-base hits rank second it the AL (as of Wednesday).
Toronto has won just two of its last nine series.
Black and Blue
Red Sox
Right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka was placed on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to June 20) with a mild right shoulder strain. He pitched his third bullpen session in Ft. Myers on Monday, throwing 65 pitches. He is scheduled to throw two or three innings for the Gulf Coast League Red Sox this Monday.
Right-hander Tim Wakefield was placed on the 15-day DL (retroactive to July 18) with a lower back strain. He threw a bullpen session Tuesday and is scheduled to make another rehab start for the PawSox on Friday.
First baseman/outfielder Jeff Bailey was placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to July 5 with a left ankle sprain. He began a rehab assignment with the PawSox Aug. 3.
Catcher George Kottaras is on the 15-day DL with a lower back strain. He made his first rehab appearance Saturday for the PawSox, catching Wakefield for five innings and going 0-for-1 with two walks.
Outfielder Rocco Baldelli was placed on the 15-day DL on Aug. 6 with a left ankle contusion. Batting second for the PawSox on Tuesday, he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout.
Shortstop Jed Lowrie was placed on the 15-day DL (retroactive to Aug. 7) with ulnar neuritis of the left wrist.
Catcher Jason Varitek sat out Tuesday’s game with a sore neck and was not in the lineup on Wednesday either.
Blue Jays
Right-hander Shaun Marcum (right elbow) was placed on the 15-day DL on March 27.
Right-hander Dustin McGowan (right shoulder) was placed on the 15-day DL on March 27.
Right-hander Jesse Litsch (right elbow) was placed on the 15-day DL on April 14.
Right-hander Bobby Ray (right shoulder) was placed on the 15-day DL on May 22.
Left-hander Scott Downs (left big toe) was placed on the 15-day DL on Aug. 2.
This Date in Red Sox History
A Red Sox-Indians game is postponed so that Indians players can attend shortstop Ray Chapman‘s funeral in Cleveland on Aug. 20, 1920.
Overheard
“We knew going in we had to play a good game. You don’t beat a guy like Halladay unless you are really on top of your game, and I thought our guys did a good job.”
— Red Sox manager Terry Francona on Boston’s 6-1 win over Roy Halladay and the Blue Jays on Wednesday
Press Box
Red Sox
Jason Bay’s big hit leads Boston over Toronto.
Tim Wakefield and Daisuke Matsuzaka are set to pitch on Friday.
Red Sox broadcaster Jerry Remy will return to the booth on Friday, as Boston takes on New York.
Blue Jays
Roy Halladay was less than impressive on Wednesday night.
The Sox trump Toronto once again.
Randy Ruiz knows what his purpose is.
MLB
The Rays are suddenly streaking.
Pudge Rodriguez returned to the Rangers’ lineup.
Cliff Lee threw a complete-game gem for the Phillies.
Outlook
This could be yet another big turning point for the Red Sox. It’s about time that they start playing with some of the consistency they exhibited during the first two months of the season, and maybe now is the time that the pitching staff and the offense finally get on the same page — for good. If Jason Bay and David Ortiz keep hitting the way they are right now while Buchholz and Lester (and, hopefully, Beckett) continue to exert dominance, Boston could find itself in the playoffs after all.
