Mired in a five-game losing streak, the Boston Red Sox will look to stir up some offense Friday night when they open a three-game series against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays in a matchup of American League East teams.
After losing to the Los Angeles Angels 3-2 in 10 innings on Tuesday, Boston was held to two unearned runs Wednesday when the Angels completed a three-game sweep with a 5-2 victory.
The Red Sox scored twice in the first inning, but had only two baserunners after that — on a two-out single from Carlos Narvaez in the third and a one-out walk to pinch hitter Roman Anthony in the eighth.
Angels starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi struck out 12 in seven innings and retired 19 of the final 20 batters he faced.
“(Kikuchi) barely threw fastballs,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “He kept us off-balance. They were a little bit short today, bullpen-wise, but we were unable to put him away.
“He nibbles, and we have to be better offensively. This has happened since early in the season — we score early, and then the starters hang on until the sixth or seventh, and then they go to the bullpen. That’s how it works.”
Boston struck out 33 times in the three-game series, including 14 times during Wednesday’s loss.
“If you follow us, we’ve been striking out since day one, so we need to make adjustments,” Cora said.
Boston averaged 4.84 runs per contest this season in its 73 games before trading Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. In nine games since that trade, the Red Sox are batting .188 and averaging 3.11 runs per game.
Boston hasn’t been getting much help from its bullpen — or the defense — recently, either. Red Sox relievers surrendered five runs Sunday, four on Monday, three Tuesday, and three on Wednesday. Four of the runs were unearned.
Toronto, meanwhile, is coming off a 6-0 road victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday, a result that gave the Blue Jays two wins in the three-game series. Kevin Gausman led the way by tossing eight scoreless innings in the finale, and outfielder Nathan Lukes had a two-run single.
“Playing outfield is really easy when you got stuff like that going on the mound for you,” Lukes said. “We’re grinders. We’re not going to be easy outs. … It was a fun series.”
Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. left the game Thursday after being hit by a pitch on his right forearm, but X-rays came back negative for any fractures. Manager John Schneider said Guerrero lobbied to remain in the game, but added that Guerrero could not grip a bat as tightly as he normally does.
“We’ll see how he is [Friday],” Schneider said. “It’s a forearm contusion. Just wanted him to be careful with his grip strength.”
Right-hander Brayan Bello (3-2, 3.31 ERA) is scheduled to start for Boston on Friday. Over his past four starts, he has a 2.49 ERA and has pitched at least six innings in each outing.
Bello is 3-4 with a 5.48 ERA in nine career starts against the Blue Jays.
Right-hander Jose Berrios (3-3, 3.51) is Toronto’s scheduled starter. He is 5-6 with a 3.60 ERA in 17 career appearances (all starts) against Boston.
The Blue Jays are 5-2 against Boston this season.
–Field Level Media
