All you need to know about the Red Sox' loss to Toronto, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Rodriguez not sharp in rout: Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez was pounded for 11 hits and five runs in just five innings. His velocity was up somewhat in the early going, but what soon became obvious was that Rodriguez couldn't command his pitches within the strike zone. Too many were left over the middle of the plate and the Blue Jays did the predictable amount of damage. They also had the right approach -- in attempting to take advantage of a strong gust that was blowing out to right, they constantly took the ball there. Rodriguez It's great that Rodriguez's fastball has exhibited more life, but that's more than cancelled out by his lack of command. And if the issue were just with his ability to spot his fastball better, the obvious fix would be to not throw it as hard in exchange for better command. But as Rodriguez himself noted, he had difficulty locating all of his pitches. His cutter was particularly ineffective -- in terms of spotting it and its shape -- with Alex Cora noting that it too often resembled a hanging slider. After a strong April, Rodriguez has a 4.70 ERA in May, with 33 hits allowed in 21 innings. Neither he nor Cora exhibited any panic, but clearly some adjustments have to be made in between starts that allow him to regain proper command.
Sox offense almost non-existent: Before the game, taking note of the smallish dimensions of TD Ballpark and noting the strong breeze blowing out to right, Alex Cora all but predicted this would be some sort of slugfest.
But he was only half right. The Sox had just five hits all night against Toronto starter Hyun Jin Ryu and a trio of relievers and even that number was somewhat deceiving, since one of the "hits'' was obviously an error by shortstop Bo Bichette and another was of the infield variety. The Sox got a hard-hit double by Alex Verdugo to lead off the fourth, and that was one of the very few balls that were hit well all night as Ryu masterfully kept the lineup off balance, working away from lefty hitters do they couldn't turn on balls and hit them to right. It's somewhat of a mystery as to how the Sox can have such a potent offense some nights and be among the leaders in so many categories, and still have games like this one.
TURNING POINT
In the fourth inning, when the game started to get away from the Red Sox, Rodriguez had two outs and No. 9 hitter Danny Jansen at the plate. If Rodriguez retired Jansen, the game would have gone into the fifth with the Blue Jays clinging to a 1-0 lead. Instead, Rodriguez walked the weak-hitting Jansen and a big inning followed, with three runs scoring.
ONE UP
Alex Verdugo: Most of the Red Sox lineup didn't seem to be able to do anything of note against Ryu, but in his first two at-bats, Verdugo pounded out a single and a double and was the only Sox hitter with a multi-hit night.
TWO DOWN
Hunter Renfroe: Renfroe had one of only five Boston hits, but he failed to cut a ball off in the gap and also made a costly throwing error that contributed to the three-run fourth inning.
Matt Andriese: Andriese ate up three innings so no one else in the bullpen had to work, but they were far from quality innings -- he allowed three runs on seven hits.
QUOTE OF NOTE:
"Today, I missed with a lot of fastballs on the plate, changeups, cutters. When you miss, everything changes. When you miss your spots, it doesn't matter what pitch you throw. If you miss, you miss.'' -- Eduardo Rodriguez.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The 18 hits represented a season high against the Red Sox.
* The shutout was the first suffered by the Red Sox since Opening Day.
* J.D. Martinez saw his five-game hitting streak snapped.
UP NEXT: The series continues Wednesday night at 7:37 with RHP Garrett Richards (3-2, 3.89) vs. RHP Ross Stripling (0-2, 5.91)