BSJ Game Report: Blue Jays 28, Red Sox 5 - A new low

All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Blue Jays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Beatdowns continue: And you thought last weekend at Yankee Stadium was bad? Remember, when the Red Sox lost consecutive games to New York by a combined score of 27-3. Yes, that was bad. But could you have imagined the Sox allowing more runs than that in a single game? That's exactly what happened at Fenway to kick off the start of the second half. The Sox fell behind 1-0 in the first, 3-0 in the second, 10-0 in the third and 14-0 in the fourth before they managed to get on the board. And it got worse from there, with 11 runs scored in the fifth -- each one of them after the first two Toronto hitters were retired. It wasn't until the seventh inning that the Sox pitching staff recorded a scoreless inning. By then, of course, the game had long been decided as the Sox went on to lose for the seventh time in the last eight games and 11th time in their last 14. "Very tough,'' said a glum Alex Cora. "We didn't execute pitches, we didn't play good defense. Overall, not a great night. We've got to make adjustments, find a way. We've just got to be better, bottom line

Eovaldi racked again: Nathan Eovaldi was hopeful that the All-Star break would allow him some time to figure out some things mechanically after he returned from the IL last weekend and was hit hard by the Yankees. But this was worse. Eovaldi lasted just 2.2 innings and was charged with nine runs on eight hits in his second-shortest start of the season. Eovaldi maintained that his hip and back, which sent him to the IL in early June, are fully healed, but he hasn't figured things out with his delivery after the layoff. "Obviously, I'm still working on a few things,'' said Eovaldi. "I feel built up, but I just don't feel like I'm getting the best extension on my fastball. There's still something a little bit wrong with my mechanics.'' That was evidenced by the diminished readings on the radar gun for his fastball, as well as the reaction of the Jays hitters, who squared him up well. The Sox had a rested bullpen coming into the second half, but with Eovaldi knocked out in the third inning, that didn't last long.

Duran loses ball: Several weeks ago, makeshift outfielder Christian Arroyo was helpless in right field as he lost a ball in the twilight, unable to pick the ball out of the sky as dusk settled at Fenway. Now, Jarren Duran knows how he feels. With the bases loaded in the third inning, Raimel Tapia hit the ball to straightaway center. Duran froze in mid-center, and the ball fell in 40 feet behind him, near the warning track. That resulted in Tapia circling the bases for an inside-the-park grand slam as Fenway turned hostile. Worse, when he realized how far the ball had fallen behind him, Duran barely moved, instead waiting for left fielder Alex Verdugo, who came over to back up the play, to retrieve the ball on the warning track. Cora said several players spoke to Duran about his lack of hustle, but after the game, Duran seemed to dispute this and was borderline hostile in answering questions from reporters.

TURNING POINT

It could be argued that this one was over from the first pitch of the night, but let's be generous and focus instead on the fifth inning. Kaleb Ort retired the first two hitters of the inning, then watched as the next 12 Blue Jays reached base in succession reached base, with 11 of them scoring. The 10 hits allowed by Ort and Darwinzon Hernandez were the most hits allowed by the Red Sox in an inning since 2015.

TWO UP

Christian Vazquez: Vazquez, playing first base for a change, had three hits including two homers, in his third career multi-homer game.

Kevin Plawecki: Plawecki has scuffled at the plate most of the season, but had a season-high three hits, his most in a game since Aug. 8 of last season.

TWO DOWN

Jeter Downs: In four plate appearances, he struck out three times and was hitless for the night.

Kaleb Ort: There were plenty of poor pitching performances Friday night, but Ort's was arguably the worst, as he was battered around for eight runs without being able to close out the fourth inning after retiring the first two hitters he faced.

QUOTE OF NOTE

"It's the most helpless feeling you could feel. Until you guys catch a ball in the twilight, let me know.'' Jarren Duran, on misplaying a ball to center that turned into an inside-the-park grand slam.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

* In the last two games, the Red Sox have struck out 32 times without drawing a single walk.

* The 28 runs allowed set a franchise record for most scored against the Sox in a single game.

* The 30 hits by the Jays are tied for second for most hits allowed by the Red Sox in a game.

* The 11 runs in the fifth were the most scored against the Sox since 2016.

* Yolmer Sanchez became the third Red Sox position player to pitch this season.

* Rob Refsnyder is batting .436 at Fenway this season.

UP NEXT

The Red Sox host the Blue Jays Saturday in the second game of the series at 4:10 p.m. with RHP Kutter Crawford (2-2, 4.50) vs. RHP Alek Manoah (10-4, 2.28)