All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Blue Jays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Sox can't generate offense: For the past few weeks, the Red Sox lineup has underachieved and Wednesday night represented a study in that ineptitude as the Sox were limited to just two runs on nine hits. The Sox, as is their custom, didn't lack for scoring chances. But once again, the situational hitting was poor, with Sox hitters going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, while stranding 10 baserunners. From the third inning through the sixth, starter Jose Berrios faced the minimum number of hitters before the Sox began to put runners on base. But in both the seventh and eighth inning, the Red Sox left the bases loaded. "Offensively, we haven't done much in a while,'' bemoaned Cora. "The swing-and-miss, chasing....if you start looking at where we rank since June 27, it's not pretty. It's late August, it's the same at-bats.''
Bello turns in best start yet: Rookie righthander Brayan Bello, returning from an IL stint and rehab assignment at the minor league level, turned in what was easily his best major league outing to date, limiting a dangerous Toronto lineup to two runs on six hits over five innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts. He was more aggressive in his approach, attacking the Blue Jays hitters and expertly mixing and matching his sinker and changeup. His fastball was regularly 95-96 mph and he occasionally flashed 98 mph, while his changeup tempted the Jays into swinging pitches that were well out of the strike zone. After the game, Cora said that Bello would remain in the rotation and would make his next scheduled start Monday in Minnesota.
Dalbec handles the job at short: More than a few eyebrows were raised when Bobby Dalbec was listed as the Red Sox' starting lineup Wednesday afternoon. With Xander Bogaerts and Christian Arroyo both banged up and unavailable, the Sox had piece together a makeshift infield, with Dalbec at short and Kike Hernandez at second. Cora explained that he preferred Dalbec at short rather than second -- where he had recently filled in -- because the throws were easier for him, having played lots of third base on the left side of the infield. His faith wasn't misplaced. Dalbec recorded five assists at short and handled every chance flawlessly, including starting a 6-4-3 double play in the second inning.
TURNING POINT
Before the Jays pushed a run across in the top of the 10th off Ryan Brasier, the Sox had some opportunities to win the game themselves. The best came in the eighth when a leadoff single by Alex Verdugo and a one-out single by Rafael Devers, who took second on the throw, gave the Sox firs-and-third with one out. All they needed was a flyball to the outfield from Kike Hernandez to score the go-ahead run, but Hernandez fanned, and after an intentional walk to Franchy Cordero, Dalbec did, too.
TWO UP
Garrett Whitlock: Whitlock was lights out in the seventh and eighth innings, allowing just one baserunner to reach over those two frames while racking up two strikeouts. He has a 1.60 ERA and a 0.60 WHIP since coming off the IL in mid-July.
Franchy Cordero: For the second time in the last three games, Cordero flashed his opposite-field power, swatting a two-run homer in the second inning to account for the only Red Sox runs for the night.
TWO DOWN
Kike Hernandez: After drawing a walk and scoring the first Red Sox run in the second inning, it was downhill from there for Hernandez, who was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts subsequent to that.
Rob Refsnyder: Inserted into the top of the lineup for the night, the outfielder failed to get on base in any of his five plate appearances.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"Slowly but surely, he's turning into a guy.'' Alex Cora on Brayan Bello.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The Blue Jays are 12-3 vs. the Red Sox this season.
* After winning six straight extra-inning games, the Red Sox have lost two of their last three.
* Reese McGuire is hitting .378 (14-for-37) since joining the Red Sox.
* Alex Verdugo enjoyed his fifth multi-hit game in his last 10.
* Matt Barnes has compiled a 2.16 ERA over his last nine outings.
UP NEXT: The two teams close out their series Thursday night at 7:10 p.m. with RHP Kutter Crawford (3-5, 5.14) vs. RHP Kevin Gausman (9-9, 2.99)