In Tuesday's night game versus the Toronto Blue Jays, the Boston Red Sox forced Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada out of the game after 2 1/3 innings, touching him for four runs in Boston's 4-3 victory. Wednesday afternoon, the Blue Jays returned the favor.
Toronto smacked three home runs off of Boston starter Rick Porcello, knocking him out after two innings, a season-low for the former Detroit Tiger. The Blue Jays added two more home runs off Boston relievers and took the third game of a four game set, 11-2.
Wednesday's pitching matchup saw two starters heading in opposite directions. Porcello, thought to be the ace that the Sox badly needed heading into the season, had lost six straight decisions, his last win coming on May 16. His ERA has been above 5.00 since May 22.
Meanwhile, Mark Buehrle entered the game having won three straight decisions. He hadn't lost since May 23 and has seen his ERA lower in every start since May 1. Buehrle was brilliant in winning his fourth straight decision, going seven innings, giving up a single run, and striking out a season-high seven batters.
After being held to one run last time they faced Porcello, it took the Blue Jays just four batters to strike in a big way on Wednesday. Jose Reyes singled and Josh Donaldson reached on a bunt single. After striking out Jose Bautista, Porcello (4-9) served up a changeup over the heart of the plate on a 3-1 count to Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion who deposited the ball into the second level in the left field stands.
Two batters later, Rick Porcello left another changeup over the plate and Toronto first baseman Justin Smoak crushed it, a two-run shot to right field, making it 5-0 after the first inning. Toronto added two more in the second inning when Jose Bautista turned on a fastball, sending it well into the left field seats for a 2-run home run. Porcello got out of the inning but that would be it for him, forcing Boston to dip into its bullpen early.
Porcello also became the first American League starter with an ERA over 6. Wednesday's disaster bumped him to a horrendous 6.08 mark.
Meanwhile, Buehrle gave Blue Jays manager John Gibbons exactly what he needed after he taxed his bullpen the day before. Buehrle scattered four hits, his lone blemish coming in his final inning of work when he surrendered a lead-off triple to Hanley Ramirez who scored on Pablo Sandoval's RBI ground out. His fastball and changeup were spectacular as he struck out seven different Red Sox hitters.
The one piece of good news for Red Sox manager John Farrell was that he did not have to use many members of his bullpen. Robbie Ross Jr. and rookie Jonathan Aro gave Farrell three innings apiece, saving many of his top arms. Ross gave up a single run, coming on Justin Smoak's solo home run. Smoak became the sixth player in Blue Jay history to have home runs from both sides of the plate in the same game.
The Blue Jays added three runs off of Aro, whose major-league struggles continued. Bautista knocked in another run with a sacrifice fly and Josh Donaldson smoked a 2-run home run in the eighth inning. Donaldson finished a triple shy of the cycle. The Red Sox managed just one other run -a solo shot in the eighth inning by Mookie Betts- and never contended in the blowout.
Despite the loss, the Red Sox do have a chance to win the four-game series tomorrow afternoon when Wade Miley (7-7, 4.38) takes the hill for Boston, opposing fellow left-hander Matt Boyd (0-1, 5.40).