Josh Beckett Returns to Toronto House of Horrors as Red Sox Seek Answers

Home was not kind to the Red Sox. They now embark on a six-game road trip searching for better results, beginning with three straight in Toronto.

The first of Boston's two 10-game homestands in less than a month resulted in a 4-6 record and kept the club firmly embedded in fourth place in the American League East.

It ended when the bullpen blew a three-run lead in a 7-6 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.

Josh Beckett gets the call at the Rogers Centre, a house of horrors for the righty in the past. He will be opposed by Dana Eveland, who is off to a nice start for the Blue Jays, losers of six of their last nine.

WHEN AND WHERE

Red Sox (8-11) vs. Blue Jays (10-9)
Monday, April 26, 7 p.m. (NESN)
Rogers Centre, Toronto

HEAD TO HEAD

The Sox won 11 of 18 meetings in 2009, the first time they've claimed the season series with the Blue Jays since 2004.

PITCHING MATCHUP

RHP Josh Beckett (1-0, 5.26 ERA) vs. LHP Dana Eveland (2-0, 1.93 ERA)

Simply put, the Blue Jays own Josh Beckett. Take them out of the mix and the righty might have had a couple of American League Cy Young Awards by now.

In 12 career starts against Toronto, Beckett is 3-5 with a 6.62 ERA, both of which represent the worst numbers he has against any American League opponent. In 29 innings pitched overall in the Rogers Centre, he has given up 12 home runs.

Last year was no different. In just 10 1/3 innings over two starts vs. the Jays, Beckett was reached for 12 runs on 14 hits and six walks. He also gave up five homers.

If the trends continue, we could have a slugfest on our hands; Toronto starter Dana Eveland is 0-2 with an alarming 17.36 ERA in three starts vs. Boston.

LINEUPS

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• Five of Boston's last six games have been decided by one run.
• Reliever Scott Atchison had gone 33 appearances without a decision before suffering the loss Sunday. It was his first decision since Sept. 30, 2004.
  
• Dustin Pedroia played in his 500th game Sunday.

Blue Jays

• Reliever Jason Frasor has given up nine runs in 8 2/3 innings.
• Vernon Wells has 199 career home runs. Just three other players have reached 200 as a Blue Jay.
• Toronto entered Sunday leading the majors with 77 extra-base hits, nine more than any other team.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• A CT scan done on left fielder Jacoby Ellsbury revealed hairline fractures in four ribs. He is eligible to return from the 15-day disabled list April 27. Team officials said his treatment plan will not change and he will resume play only when his symptoms are gone. Ellsbury said Sunday that he feels about the same as he has for a week or so, and his baseball-related activities are "light".
• Daisuke Matsuzaka will throw a four-inning simulated game Monday in Toronto and return from the disabled list to pitch at some point in the Baltimore series this weekend. In three rehab starts in the minors while recovering from a neck strain, the right-hander was 2-0 with a 1.62 ERA.
• Center fielder Mike Cameron was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a sports hernia. His term is retroactive to April 19. Both he and Ellsbury will travel with the team to Toronto.

Blue Jays

• Third baseman Edwin Encarnacion was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a right shoulder injury.
• Lefty Brian Tallet was also placed on the DL on Friday with left forearm soreness. The move is retroactive to April 18.
• Right-handers Scott Richmond and Jesse Litsch are both on the 60-day DL and targeting June returns.

OUTLOOK

Boston had been living dangerously all week, getting two walk-off wins and two more by one run, going 4-1 during one stretch despite not playing great baseball.

It came back to bite the Sox in the finale of the homestand, and they will be burned in Toronto if they don't tighten things up. The Jays lead the AL in home runs and doubles and can pour it on quickly if given the opportunity.