All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Blue Jays, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
RISP, RIP: It was bad Wednesday night when the Red Sox were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position in an extra-inning loss to Toronto. It was far worse Thursday, again resulting in a loss in 10 innings. The Red Sox were an unspeakably poor 3-for-20 with runners in scoring position. In the eighth inning, they put the leadoff man on third with no out...and failed to score. In the ninth, they had second-and-third with no out....and again failed to score. And, finally, they had the automatic runner at second base in the 10th inning with no out and not only failed to score, but couldn't even advance him 90 feet to third base. In all, the Sox stranded a dozen runners over the course of the game and in seven of the 10 innings, left at least one baserunner stranded in scoring position.
Crawford grinds: It wasn't exactly an artful outing by Kutter Crawford, but there were a few things to like. He allowed four runs over 4.2 innings, but he also had five strikeouts and on a couple of occasions, pitched himself out of bigger innings. But as was the case with Josh Winckowski the previous night, Crawford seemed to have difficulty putting the Jays away with two outs. The two runs in the first came after two were down, and so were two additional runs in the fourth. Crawford said after the game that these lapses aren't mental, but rather, a case of him not executing when he needed to. Whatever the reason, it's one area in which he needs to improve.
Other offensive issues pile up: Quite apart from the team's inability to get baserunners home from third base with less than two out, or deliver baserunners in scoring position in general, the Red Sox have other issues with their offensive approach. They once again failed to homer and had just one home run in 29 innings in this series. They also drew just two walks in 10 innings and occasionally chased pitches out of the zone, so eager were they to make something happen. And finally, as Alex Cora continues to emphasize, they're not using the whole field at the plate. Cora pointedly noted that the Jays pushed the winning run across the plate in the 10th without the benefit of a hit; two ground balls were enough to move baserunner Cavan Biggio from second to third and then to home. Admitted Cora: "We have to make a conscious effort of using the whole field. We haven't done that. That's on us. We've got to be better. Winning teams do that stuff.''
TURNING POINT
The Red Sox appeared on the verge of taking the lead in the ninth, loading the bases with no out. Franchy Cordero struck out for the first out before KikΓ© Henrandez hit a chopper to third. Most third basemen would have been focused on cutting down the potential go-ahead run at the plate by going home with the throw, but Toronto third baseman Matt Chapman, assessing how much time he had, stepped on third base for the force out, then fired across the diamond and nipped Hernandez.
TWO UP
Reese McGuire: The catcher continues to hit well, with a three-hit night - giving him five in the last two nights -- including his first career triple. He's hitting .415 since joining the Sox.
Xander Bogaerts: Bogaerts reached base three times (two hits and a walk) with a run scored and two RBI. He's looking more like himself at the plate.
TWO DOWN
Tommy Pham: Pham had a single and run scored, but he also fanned three times, including twice with runners in scoring position from the sixth inning on.
Matt Strahm: The lefty faced four batters in relief of Crawford, allowing a solo homer and a walk.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"It's got to be better. That's the bottom line. We see the difference with (the Blue Jays). They put the ball in play. -- Alex Cora on his team's continuing struggles with runners in scoring position.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The sweep was the fifth for the Red Sox this season, with four of them coming at home. It also marked the second time that Toronto swept them this year.
* For the eighth time this season, the Red Sox had at least 15 hits in a game.
* For the fifth time this season, all nine batters in the Red Sox lineup had at least one hit.
* The Sox are 1-3 in their last four extra-inning games.
UP NEXT: The Red Sox welcome the Tampa Bay Rays into town for the first of three. It will be RHP Michael Wacha (8-1, 2.28) vs. TBD at 7:10 p.m.