All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Blue Jays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Offense back in mothballs: After a brief breakout that saw them score a dozen runs in the previous two games, the Red Sox reverted to their recent struggles, shut out for the first time this season and collecting just four hits, all but one of them singles. There was some bad luck along the way, with Christian Arroyo lining out with the infield in and the potential tying run on third base in the seventh. A fine catch by outfielder Raimel Tapia, meanwhile, stole extra bases from Christian Vazquez to open the sixth inning. "There were some hard-hit balls,'' acknowledged Jackie Bradley Jr. "We can't control where the ball's going. We just have to continue to barrel them up, and hopefully, find some holes.'' All afternoon, the Red Sox managed just two baserunners in scoring position.
Whitlock in short start: For the second time on this road trip, Garrett Whitlock made a spot start for the Red Sox, and as happened the first time, he didn't allow an earned run. He did, however, allow an unearned run, as an infield error in the third, his final inning of work, led directly to the only run of the game for either team. The Blue Jays were successful in driving up his pitch count, making him throw 61 pitches in just three innings, cutting his afternoon short after just three innings. Whitlock said afterward that he didn't have his best stuff, and in particular, was unhappy with his slider. Still, he battled, and overcame some sporadic wildness, walking two in his brief outing. In each of his three innings, he had multiple baserunners with which to contend, but allowed just the one unearned run.
Red Sox claim OF: Shortly before gametime, the Red Sox made a waiver claim on outfielder Jaylin Davis from the San Francisco Giants. Davis was optioned to Triple-A Worcester. He's had little playing time in the big leagues (26 games with the Giants from 2019-2021), but has shown some pop in the minor leagues, with 90 homers over 488 career games. Particularly at the upper levels, the Red Sox don't have a lot in the outfield, so Davis could provide some important depth there. He has power and speed, though he's also had difficulty making consistent contact, even in the minors. He's a toolsy outfielder, whom the Sox hope might figure some things out and become more consistent with his hit tool.
TURNING POINT
The Red Sox' best chance at scoring a run came in the seventh inning. Kike Hernandez dropped a bloop double down the right field line, and a comebacker by Jackie Bradley Jr. moved Hernandez to third base, where a flyball to the outfield would tie the game. But Arroyo hit a hard line drive right at shortstop Bo Bichette, playing in, for the second out and Bobby Dalbec ended the threat, popping out to first, stranding Hernandez.
SECOND GUESS
Xander Bogaerts was out of the starting lineup, to give him a day of rest. In the eighth inning, Alex Cora brought him off the bench to pinch-hit for Travis Shaw to lead off the inning against reliever Adam Cimber. But if Bogaerts was going to be used as a pinch-hitter, why not use him in the previous inning and hit him for Dalbec with the tying run at third base?
TWO UP
John Schreiber: Pitching for the second straight day, Schreiber came on in the fourth and stranded a runner while getting Bo Bichette to ground out, then turned in a scoreless fifth inning, allowing just one hit along the way.
Ryan Brasier: There was more life to the reliever's fastball, with the velo hitting 95-96 mph, as he set down the Jays in order in the sixth inning.
TWO DOWN
Christian Arroyo: Arroyo offered a single and stolen base, but his misplay, on a backhand play at short, led directly to the only run of the afternoon, giving the Jays an unearned run.
Travis Shaw: Getting a start at DH with J.D. Martinez (adductor strain) sidelined, Shaw was 0-for-2 and is now without a hit in 20 at-bats this season.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"I'm not worried about our offense.'' -- Garrett Whitlock
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The Red Sox haven't hit a homer in the last six games and have just two homers in the last 12 games.
* Hansel Robles extended his streak of not allowing an earned run to 23 games.
* The 61 pitches by Garrett Whitlock represented a career high.
* Red Sox starters have posted a 2,72 ERA over the last 13 games.
* Matt Barnes made his 393rd career appearance, leaving him one behind Mike Timlin for fourth place in Red Sox history.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox leave Canada and head to Baltimore for the last series of their three-city road trip. It will be LHP Rich Hill (0-1, 4.85) vs. TBA at 7:05 p.m.