In keeping with their results in the wins and losses columns, the Red Sox accomplished two of the three keys we set out for them. They limited the slugging Blue Jays to four home runs and just one in the final two games. They also saw progress made by Dustin Pedroia, who left Toronto for Boston for one final examination before a minor league rehab assignment begins Saturday.
What the Sox could not avoid is another dismal daytime result. They are now 13-19 in afternoon affairs after giving up four runs in the bottom of the ninth to drop Thursday's finale 6-5.
There was plenty more to take away from Boston's last series in the Rogers Centre this year. Here is a look:
Going Batty
It had been more than a month without a double-digit scoring effort or a win by more than four runs before Wednesday night's 10-1 rout of the Jays. Boston slugged four home runs in the win, getting two from Bill Hall.
After scoring just six runs in the last three games in New York, the Red Sox put 22 on the board in Toronto. They slugged eight home runs and hit .319 (36-for-113) in the set. It marked the first time Boston has scored five runs or more in each game of a three-game series since it did so against Arizona at home June 15-17.
Papel-bomb!
It's tough to get on a guy who had given up just one run in 17 2/3 innings, but Jonathan Papelbon's blown save Thursday was tough to take, especially when you consider it is the fifth time in his last 18 save opportunities that he has given it up.
Papelbon remains an elite closer who will reach 30 saves for the fifth straight season someday soon (he remains stuck on 29), but he has had a tendency since the ALDS meltdown to have some very ugly outings from time to time. If he doesn't have his good stuff, it seems, or his location is off, he just gets hit. Adjustments simply haven't helped in such situations.
Needs a Little Salt
Kevin Cash had one double in 54 at-bats while backing up or filling in for Victor Martinez. In his first start as a member of the Red Sox, 25-year-old backstop Jarrod Saltalamacchia had two doubles and was robbed of a third. He also scored a run in an effort that showed how instant the offensive upgrade was when the club recalled Saltalamacchia and put Cash on the disabled list.
Of course, Saltalamacchia's offensive potential is known. It is his defense which has been suspect, especially with the recent throwing issues that prompted his demotion to the minors while in the Texas Rangers' system.
But Salty threw out one of the two runners who tried to steal on him and had zero issues getting the ball back to the pitcher, a problem which plagued him earlier in the year.
