Day one of the post-Kevin Youkilis era (the only time I’ll say this by the way) didn’t go so well for the Boston Red Sox.
Felix Doubront got in some early trouble in which the Toronto Blue Jays got to him for four runs early. But despite the best efforts from the offense, Doubront couldn’t keep the game tied as the Red Sox would eventually fall 9-6 in game that finished up just after midnight after a one hour 56 minute rain delay.
With the win, the Blue Jays moved into a tie for fourth place in the AL East with the Red Sox. Both teams are 38-35 and are two games behind the third place Tampa Bay Rays.
It was obvious from the start that Doubront didn’t have the same stuff that had helped him to eight wins on the season. He allowed the first four batters of the game to reach although one was on Will Middlebrooks error. But three of those four scored with Edwin Encarnacion, the man who drove in the third run of the game after Colby Rasmus had homered two batters before him, came around to score later in the 1st.
Doubront gave up another run in the 2nd inning when Rasmus drove in his third run of the game with a single. After getting Jose Bautista to ground into an inning-ending double play that inning, Doubront settled down allowing two hits and a walk until the 6th. In that inning, he had gotten the first two outs before Ben Francisco doubled for the second time in the game. J.P. Arencibia followed that with a two-run moon shot that put the Jays out front for good at 7-5.
Certainly not the best effort from Doubront on the night but given how he’s pitched this season, I’m sure this was just an aberration. He’s been probably the most consistent starter up to this point for the Red Sox this season. I’d expect him to make the adjustments from this start and be much better the next time on the bump.
Doubront should thank the offense for keeping the game close.
After he had given up those four runs in the 1st, David Ortiz got two of them back with a long two-run homer over the Red Sox bullpen that brought in Dustin Pedroia who had tripled. They then put together a two-out rally in the 3rd that narrowed the gap to 5-4.
The Red Sox wasted no time in the 4th inning tying the game up as Cody Ross led off with a double and came in to score on a Ryan Kalish single. But that would the last time the Red Sox would score until Big Papi’s second homer of the game in the 8th.
Whether or not this was just a hangover effect from Sunday’s events remains to be seen. Hopefully it was just one of those nights and the Red Sox continue this good stretch of baseball that pulled them back over the .500 mark. They still have two more games against the Jays before making a trip to the left coast.
Two wins would go a long way right given how competitive this AL East is and probably will be for the rest of the season.
We’ll be back later with today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. So for now, let’s take at look at the overnight links from the media by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
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Red Sox belted by Jays [boston globe]
Certainly Youk was unique [boston globe]
The hot corner is now all his [boston globe]
Ortiz now the last link left [boston globe]
Sox can’t recover [boston herald]
Brent Lillibridge game to play anywhere [boston herald]
No end in sight to David Ortiz’ power surge [boston herald]
A need for right blend [boston herald]
David Ortiz deals with reality [boston herald]
Kevin Youkilis has answers [boston herald]
Doubront, Sox tagged by Jays in rain-soaked Fenway, 9-6 [csn new england]
Farrell: Short, frequent stints allowed Bard to succeed [csn new england]
Obama thanks Boston for trading Youkilis to White Sox [csn new england]
Doubront looks to move forward after disappointing start [csn new england]
Youk: ‘Seems like I can’t escape the Red Sox’ [csn new england]
State of the Sox: Our weekly Red Sox notebook [csn new england]
Youk: I can’t thank Boston fans enough [espn boston]
Ortiz has 20 HRs, on rare pace for his age [espn boston]
Rapid Reaction: Blue Jays 9, Red Sox 6 [espn boston]
Will Middlebrooks now in clear at third for Boston Red Sox [espn boston]
SOSH charity fundraiser under way [extra bases]
Closing Time: Felix Doubront shelled as Red Sox fall to Blue Jays [full count]
Kevin Youkilis on trade uncertainty: ‘It was not an easy time for me’ [full count]
Will Middlebrooks Now Has Peace of Mind With Consistent Playing Time At Third Base [nesn.com]
Jackie Bradley Jr. Quickly Becoming One of the Most Dynamic Prospects in Baseball (Video) [nesn.com]
David Ortiz to Release New Brand of Health-Conscious Big Papi’s Kitchen Salsa (Photo) [nesn.com]
Bobby Valentine Says Adrian Gonzalez Will Play Outfield Again in World Series [nesn.com]
David Ortiz Continues to Set Pace for Red Sox, Team Must Follow Slugger’s Example to Catch Fire [nesn.com]
Josh Beckett Nears Return From Disabled List, Could Pitch For Red Sox On Friday [nesn.com]
Felix Doubront Learning to Adapt to Increased Workload Through June Struggles [nesn.com]
Adrian Gonzalez Must Regain Power Stroke to Form Two-Headed Monster With David Ortiz [nesn.com]
Cody Ross Makes Sure to Keep Active Even When Sidelined With Foot Injury [nesn.com]
Buchholz still ailing, but Beckett nears return [redsox.com]
Lillibridge turns page, eager to contribute in Boston [redsox.com]
As he defies age and history, can David Ortiz hit 500 homers? [alex speier – weei.com]
Kevin Youkilis: One of the 25, one of a kind [touching all the bases]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSN New England, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.
And if you must check out the enemy news, head over to the Toronto Star and Toronto Sun websites.
Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.
photo credit: Getty Images
