Final: Blue Jays 3, Red Sox 2 (10)

Failing to capitalize on several late-inning opportunities to go ahead in a tie game, the Red Sox eventually ran out of time and dropped a 3-2 decision in 10 innings to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Sox' third straight loss.

George Springer doubled home the automatic runner in the top of the 10th to push ahead the game-winning run.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox left the bases loaded in he seventh and eighth and had a leadoff baserunner quickly erased in the ninth.

Franchy Cordero accounted for the only two runs of the night with a two-run homer in the second.

Brayan Bello turned in his best start yet, allowing two runs over five innings while fanning seven and walking one.

WHO: Red Sox Sox (60-63) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (66-55)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
SERIES TO DATE: TOR 1-0
SEASON SERIES TO DATE: TOR 11-3
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Brayan Bello (0-3, 8.47) vs. RHP Jose Berrios (9-5, 5.39)
TV/RADIO: NESN; WEEI-FM 93.7

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Refsnyder RF
Verdugo LF
Martinez DH
Devers 3B
Hernandez 2B
Cordero 1B
Dalbec SS
McGuire C
Duran CF

BLUE JAYS

Springer DH
Guerrero Jr. 1B
Gurriel Jr. LF
Kirk C
Hernandez RF
Bochette SS
Chapman 3B
Merrifield 2B
Bradley Jr. CF

WHAT'S UP: The Red Sox are have lost each of their last 2 games...They are 4-4 in their last 8 games, 6-5 in their last 11, and 12-18 since the All-Star break. The Sox have won 3 of their last 4 series: 1-0 vs. BAL, 2-1 vs. NYY, 2-1 at PIT, 1-2 at BAL. Tonight continues the Sox’ 6-game homestand against TOR (0-1) and TB (3 games)...They have won 3 of their last 5 games at Fenway Park. ....35 of the Red Sox’ final 50 games of the season are against AL East opponents (6-5 so far)...They are 2-12-1 in series against AL East teams (14-6-4 vs. all others)....The Red Sox entered today 7.0 games out of the 3rd and final AL Wild Card position. 30 of the Red Sox’ 39 remaining games are against teams ahead of them in the AL East or Wild Card standings...In addition to 27 games against AL East teams, the Sox also will play 3 at MIN from 8/29-31. SOX & JAYS: The Red Sox are 3-11 against the Blue Jays this season, including 1-6 at Fenway Park. This marks just the 6th time the Red Sox have lost as many as 11 games to the Blue Jays in a season...The most they have lost against the club is 12, doing so in 2006 and 2014. The Blue Jays have won the teams’ season series for the 1st time since 2016 (10-9). This 3-game series is the clubs’ 2nd-to-last meeting of 2022...The Sox will play a 3-game set in Toronto from 9/30-10/2 before returning home for 3 games against the Rays to finish the regular season from 10/3-5. ....The Sox lead MLB in doubles this season (277) and lead the AL in XBH (401)...The only other teams with at least 400 XBH this year are LAD (439) and ATL (432). They also rank among the top 5 in the AL in runs (4th, 551), hits (3rd, 1,076), RBI (4th, 526), AVG (3rd, .254), SLG (5th, .405), OPS (5th, .720), and total bases (4th, 1,076). The Sox have scored 5+ runs in a game 55 times, tied for 3rd most in the AL (NYY-59, TOR-56, BAL-55). ....The Red Sox have committed just 4 errors in their last 22 games (beginning 7/30), fewest in MLB during that span (next: 6 errors; LAA, MIA)...They lead the majors with a .995 fielding % in that time (798 TC). The Sox have induced 92 double plays grounded into, tied for 4th in the AL (KC-100, BAL-96, DET-93, LAA-92). Red Sox 2nd basemen rank 2nd in the AL and 4th in the majors with 9 defensive runs saved in 2022. ....Sox starters have thrown 5.0+ innings and allowed 3 runs or fewer in 9 of the club’s last 12 games. The Sox are 25-13 (.659) when their starting pitcher throws at least 6.0 innings this season...They have won 3 of the last 4 such games and 5 of the last 8. Nick Pivetta has a 3.41 ERA (13 ER/34.1 IP) in his last 6 starts, beginning 7/25, after posting a 13.50 ERA (20 ER/13.1 IP) in his previous 3. Michael Wacha has made 2 scoreless starts since being reinstated from the IL on 8/14: 7.0 scoreless IP on 8/14 vs. NYY, 5.2 scoreless IP on 8/20 at BAL. ....Alex Cora ranks 10th in franchise history with 344 wins as manager of the Red Sox, only 1 shy of tying Eddie Kasko for 9th on the list (345). Among the 10 people to manage 600+ games for the Red Sox, Cora ranks 3rd in winning percentage (.565, 344-265) behind Don Zimmer (.575, 411-304) and Terry Francona (.574, 744-552). Cora has also led the Red Sox to a 17-8 (.680) record in 25 Postseason games, winning the 2018 World Series and advancing to the 2021 ALCS.: MLB today announced its master 2023 regular season schedule...The 2023 season will mark the 1st to feature a balanced schedule for all 30 Clubs since Interleague play began was introduced in 1997. The Red Sox will play at least 1 series against every team in the National League and 2 fewer series against their division opponents. The Red Sox will host Opening Day on Thursday, March 30, against the Baltimore Orioles. The Red Sox will play at home on Patriots Day as part of a 4-game series against the Los Angeles Angels.

NOTES: 

* The Red Sox had an unusual defensive alignment with Bobby Dalbec at shortstop and Kike Hernandez at second. The Sox were without three everyday players -- Outfielder Tommy Pham (back), shortstop Xander Bogaerts (back) and infielder Christian Arroyo (knee, back). Dalbec has just four innings of experience at short, but said playing on that side of the second base bag -- rather having Dalbec at second and Hernandez at short -- would make it easier on double plays. "He's playing on that side because of the shift (from third base),'' said Cora. "He'll be OK. Bobby's got good hands. He's a good defender at third base. And it's a lot easier for him throwing everything to his left.''

* The nagging injuries experienced by the three regulars leaves the Red Sox very short on the bench, with only backup catcher Kevin Plawecki fully healthy among the four position players. Cora said he expects Pham, Bogaerts, Arroyo to be back soon, perhaps as soon as Thursday, with no IL stints in store for any of them.

* Trevor Story began his rehab assignment at Double A Portland. "I don't know how slow the process is going to be,'' said Cora. "But the fact that (it's underway is positive).''

* Cora said Rich Hill will start Saturday vs. Tampa Bay, with Nick Pivetta set for the series finale Sunday.