Red Sox rock Blue Jays pitching, 16-4

Share

By Sean McAdam
CSNNE.com Red Sox InsiderFollow @sean_mcadam
TORONTO -- Before Saturday's game, manager Terry Francona and his coaching staff were worried about the team's energy level, fearing that the real impact of the team's early morning travel would come a day later.

By the end of the afternoon, the only thing tiring for the Red Sox was circling the bases.

The Sox busted out with 18 hits and every member of the starting lineup collected at least one RBI in a 16-4 thumping of the Toronto Blue Jays, good for Boston's eighth consecutive win, a season best.

Three times, the Sox scored multiple runs in an inning, plating four in the third, seven in the fifth as both David Ortiz and Jason Varitek cranked three-run homers in that inning, and three more in the eighth.

The 16 runs marked a season high for the Red Sox. Six different players had multi-hit games, led by Marco Scutaro who had four.

The game marked the fifth time in the last 21 games -- and fourth time in the last 10 road games -- that the Sox reached double figures in a game.

John Lackey, pitching at Rogers Centre for the first time since his famous post-game meltdown exactly a month ago, picked up his second straight win, allowing four runs
over six innings.

STAR OF THE GAME: Jason Varitek
After a brutal start at the plate in the first month, Varitek has come around. Saturday, he was 2-for-3 with a three-run homer, two runs scored and a total of four RBI.

The Red Sox catcher went almost a full calendar year without a homer, but has hit three since May 24.

HONORABLE MENTION: Dustin Pedroia
The Red Sox predicted that Pedroia would return from the exam and scope of his ailing right knee with peace of mind -- and he has.

In the two games since, he's 6-for-10 with two walks and helping to spark the offense by getting on base at the top of the lineup.

GOAT OF THE GAME: Brandon Morrow
Morrow has great stuff, but he didn't show much of it Saturday, getting rocked for nine runs on 10 hits in just 4 13 innings.

Morrow's poor outing forced John Farrell to empty his bullpen, using five relievers and infielder Mike McCoy to close out the rout.

TURNING POINT: Varitek's three-run homer in the fifth turned a comfortable 5-2 lead into an 8-2 laugher -- and the rout was on.

BY THE NUMBERS: In their five wins against the Blue Jays this season, the Red Sox have outscored Toronto 42-7.

QUOTE OF NOTE: "That's the whole idea -- you don't want to give anybody any easy innings.'' Terry Francona on the entire lineup coming together of late.

Sean McAdam can be reached at smcadam@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Sean on Twitter at http:twitter.comsean_mcadam

Contact Us