Red Sox at Blue Jays
Even with a six-run lead in the ninth inning, the Toronto Blue Jays were sweating the final three outs of their second home game of the season. Toronto evened this series with a 7-3 victory, picking up its fourth win over the Boston Red Sox in the previous six meetings. Boston scraped together two runs in the ninth inning, but is averaging just 4.2 runs after scoring an MLB-best 5.4 runs per game in 2011.
Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista is struggling to open the year. After a 3-for-4 performance on opening day, the reigning home run king is 1-for-16 in his last four outings. Former American League MVP Dustin Pedroia is punishing Toronto, hitting 5-for-9 with two doubles and a home run in the first two games of the series.
TV: 12:37 p.m. ET, RSPN (Toronto), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Jon Lester (0-0, 1.29 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Ricky Romero (0-0, 7.20 ERA)
Lester pitched a gem in the opener against Detroit. It just so happened he was going against reigning Cy Young winner and AL MVP Justin Verlander. The lefty is 10-4 with a 3.06 ERA versus the Blue Jays, including a 6-4 mark in Toronto.
Romero’s bloated ERA isn’t as bad as it looks. The southpaw gave up four runs in the second inning of the season opener with Cleveland before settling down. Romero has struggled versus Boston, going just 3-4 with a 7.12 ERA for his career, but was 8-3 with a 2.93 ERA inside the Rogers Centre last year.
WALK-OFFS:
1. Second baseman Kelly Johnson is thriving in his first full season in Toronto, going 7-for-16 with three walks and three RBIs.
2. Boston has four sacrifice flies on the season – tied with Detroit for the most in the majors.
3. The Red Sox will play their home opener against Tampa Bay on Friday. The Blue Jays welcome Baltimore to the Rogers Centre Friday.