Final: Blue Jays 3, Red Sox 2 -- Offensive struggles continue

The Red Sox offense stirred awake in the ninth inning, but it was too little, too late.

Shutout for the first eight innings, the Sox got one run in the ninth on a double by Xander Bogaerts and another on a groundout from Alex Verdugo and had the tying run at third but two groundouts stranded Bogaerts there in a 3-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Tanner Houck allowed two runs in the third and was lifted after five and just 71 pitches.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox had only baserunner in scoring position through the first eight innings. Starter Kevin Gausman was brilliant and needed just 88 pitches until he was lifted after allowing a leadoff single in the ninth, Of the 88 pitches he threw, 70 were strikes.

WHO: Red Sox (6-6) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (7-5)
WHEN: 1:35 p.m
WHERE: Fenway Park
SERIES TO DATE: 1-1
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Tanner Houck ( ) vs. RHP Kevin Gausman
TV/RADIO: NESN; 93.7 FM

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Story 2B
Devers DH
Bogaerts SS
Verdugo LF
Dalbec 3B
Bradley Jr. CF
Vazquez C
Shaw 1B
Arroyo RF

BLUE JAYS

Tapia LF
Bichette SS
Guerrero Jr. 1B
Collins C
Gurriel Jr. DH
Chapman 3B
Biggio RF
Katoh 2b
Zimmer CF