Returning to Fenway didn't cure what ailed the Red Sox. Indeed, the same old problems followed them home.
The Sox got a lousy start from Rick Porcello (seven runs in 5.1 innings) and again couldn’t buy enough big hits in a big spot, going 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position, absorbing an 10-4 drubbing by the Toronto Blue Jays. In the last five games, the Sox are a combined 4-for-39 with RISP.
Porcello dug the Sox a first-inning 3-0 hole when he gave up a three-run homer to Kendrys Morales.
After the Sox struck back with a two run-double from Eduardo Nunez in the second, Porcello in the third inning yielded a solo homer to Jose Bautista – his first in about a month – then surrendered a two-run blast to No. 9 hitting backup catcher Raffy Lopez.
The three homers allowed gave Porcello 35 gopher balls this season, tying him for the American League lead in that department. He also leads the league in hits allowed (215) and losses (16).
Matt Barnes, in a mop-up appearance, struck out the first two hitters he faced in the ninth then gave up four straight hits – a homer, two doubles and a single – to account for three more runs.
The Sox scratched out solo runs in the sixth and seventh, but that wasn’t nearly enough as they lost for the fourth time in the last five games and saw their lead shrink to 2.5 games in the A.L. East.
GAME NO.: 138
WHO: Red Sox (77-60) vs Toronto Blue Jays (63-74)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
TV: NESN
RADIO: WEEI (93.7 FM)
PITCHERS: Rick Porcello (9-15, 4.45) vs. J.A. Happ (6-10, 3.96)
BOX SCORE: MLB Gameday
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
- Huge letdown from Rick Porcello tonight, who beat this same Blue Jays team last week in Toronto, holding them to one run in 6.1 innings. Porcello fell behind 3-0 in the first and had only one 1-2-3 innings. He also gave up 10 hits and three homers. He now leads the A.L. in hits allowed (215), homers allowed (35) and, one would expect, losses. Unless the Sox stage a massive comeback here, he'll have 16 losses. It's hard to believe that this is the same guy who won the Cy Young Award last year. Then again, given how's he pitching, he's not the same guy. He's not burying his two-seamer and his location is off too often, leading to all the homers.
- The struggles with RISP are real. In fact, they're almost comical. The Sox are just 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position tonight, and dating back to the start of the four-game series at Yankee Stadium, are a miserable 3-for-36. It would seem impossible in a random turn of events to be that bad in one category for almost five full games, but, well, here they are.
- Dustin Pedroia was out of the lineup Monday, but that was planned ahead of time and didn't reflect any issues as he returns from his second DL stint due to inflammation of the knee. "He came out of (Sunday) night (in good shape),'' said John Farrell. "He's moving in the right direction. It would be ideal to get him back-to-back days (Tuesday) and Wednesday before the off-day Thursday.''
- Xander Bogaerts, who was benched for the final three games of the Yankee series, was back in the lineup. "We're hopeful it gave him the opportunity to catch a second win here as we come down to the final stretch,'' said Farrell.
- Carson Smith was struck in the buttocks by a batted ball Sunday night in the final game of the Pawtucket Red Sox season, but there isn't any concern at this point. "They took him out as a precaution,'' said Farrell. "He's traveling to Boston today, so we would hope and expect that he'll be active here in the next day or so.''
- David Price threw a 30-pitch bullpen in which he threw all of his pitches "with really good intensity,'' according to Farrell. "That was another encouraging workday.'' The tentative plan calls for a lighter bullpen session Wednesday and then for Price to face hitters in a simulated game or live batting practice later in the week.
- For now, there are no plans to promote Bryce Brentz to the major league roster. Brentz hit 30 homers at Pawtucket, but the Red Sox already have to clear a spot to add Smith to the 40-man roster and don't want to have to take a second player off the 40.