Blue Jays at Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox looked like the defending champions when overcoming a deficit on Friday but looked like a non-playoff team when squandering a similar advantage on Saturday. The Red Sox will try to bounce back from a tough setback when they host the Toronto Blue Jays in the rubber match of a three-game series on Sunday.
Boston overcame a 5-1 deficit to win in extra innings on Friday and built up an early 6-0 lead on Saturday, only to watch the Blue Jays chip away before taking the lead during an eighth-inning meltdown that saw Matt Barnes and Ryan Brasier combine to walk four straight batters. The loss marked the 15th blown save for the Red Sox bullpen and ended a solid stretch in which the team won eight of nine. The Blue Jays are winners of two of their last three and scored five or more runs in six of the last seven contests. Boston right-hander Rick Porcello will try to slow the surging Toronto offense and keep the ball away from the bullpen while the Blue Jays send righty Marcus Stroman to the mound on Sunday.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Toronto), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Marcus Stroman (4-9, 3.23 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (5-6, 4.31)
Stroman posted a quality start last time out, allowing three runs on four hits - two homers - against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday but suffered the loss in a 3-1 final. The Duke product surrendered three or fewer earned runs in seven of his last eight turns but also served up seven homers in that span. Stroman issued a season-high six walks against Boston on May 21 but limited the damage to one run - a solo homer by Mitch Moreland - in six innings to earn a win.
Porcello is coming off a dominant outing at Minnesota on Monday, when he scattered four hits and struck out eight over seven scoreless innings to earn a win. The former Cy Young Award winner owns 23 strikeouts and three walks in 24 1/3 innings this month and turned in a quality start in five of his last seven outings. Porcello had little trouble at Toronto on May 22, allowing one run and three hits in six innings without factoring in the decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. Red Sox SS Xander Bogaerts doubled in his seventh straight game on Saturday, tying an American League record.
2. Toronto RHP Ken Giles had a string of 17 straight scoreless appearances come to an end when he allowed one run in the ninth on Saturday.
3. Boston INF Michael Chavis has hit safely in each of the last 11 games.