Blue Jays at Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox slogged through an 11-game road trip to open the season and finally returned to pick up their championship rings Tuesday, only to suffer a similar fate on the scoreboard. The Red Sox (3-9) will take another swing at turning things around when they host the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday in the finale of a two-game set.
Boston gave ace Chris Sale an early lead Tuesday only to watch their ace last only four innings and fall to 0-3 as the team's rotation - a projected strength - dropped to 0-8 with an 8.78 ERA. "It's very easy to just throw (this one) on top of the pile and say we're not playing good," Sale told reporters. "This wasn't us not playing good. This was me sucking today. That's frustrating. Today was the day we were going to turn it around. We were back home, ceremony, playing in front of our home fans for the first time. Everyone did what they had to do except for me, and that's a frustrating spot to be in." The Blue Jays (4-8) snapped a four-game slide with Tuesday's victory and scored seven runs against the Red Sox staff after managing a total of six over the previous four contests. Toronto on Thursday will try to keep the bats productive against Boston right-hander Nathan Eovaldi while countering with righty Aaron Sanchez.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One (Toronto), NESN Plus (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Aaron Sanchez (1-1, 1.64 ERA) Vs. Red Sox RH Nathan Eovaldi (0-0, 8.10)
Sanchez was a tough-luck loser last time out, allowing two runs on five hits in six innings at Cleveland in a game Toronto went onto lose 4-1. The 26-year-old California native scattered three hits over five scoreless frames in his season debut against Detroit on March 30 and owns 11 strikeouts in as many innings. Sanchez went 0-2 with a 4.70 ERA in four starts against Boston last season, serving up four home runs in 23 total innings.
Eovaldi got the start in two of Boston's three victories but did not stick around long enough or pitch well enough to earn a win in either outing. The 29-year-old Texan was reached for three home runs in his season debut at Seattle on March 29 and gave up another at Oakland while issuing four walks in five innings April 3. Eovaldi made one appearance against Toronto last season and allowed two runs on three hits in 3 2/3 innings of relief without factoring in the decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia (knee) made his season debut Tuesday and went 1-for-4.
2. Blue Jays 3B Brandon Drury is up to 19 strikeouts in 43 at-bats on the season.
3. Toronto 1B Justin Smoak (neck) sat out Tuesday and is day-to-day.