Watch Toronto Blue Jays vs Boston Red Sox live streaming major league baseball sopcast internet tv radio commentary webcast audio video feed 18 april, 2011. Game Review: Daisuke Matsuzaka's last start was one of the worst of his career. A matchup with the team he has beaten more than any other could provide the perfect opportunity to bounce back.
Matsuzaka (0-2, 12.86 ERA) allowed seven runs in two innings of a 16-5 loss to Tampa Bay last Monday. He lasted two or fewer innings for the third time in his career and first since April 14, 2009.
The right-hander, however, has gone 6-1 with a 3.80 ERA in 11 starts against the Blue Jays for his highest win total against any team.
11:05 AM ET, April 18, 2011
Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Pitching Matchup
Toronto v Boston
Ricky Romero
1-1, 1.66 ERA
Last appearance:
4/12 at SEA
8.0 IP, 2 ER
Dec = Loss
Daisuke Matsuzaka
0-2, 12.86 ERA
Last appearance:
4/11 vs TB
2.0 IP, 7 ER
Dec = Loss
Lineups
NO. Toronto Boston
1. Y. Escobar, SS J. Drew, RF
2. C. Patterson, CF D. Pedroia, 2B
3. J. Bautista, RF A. Gonzalez, 1B
4. A. Lind, 1B K. Youkilis, 3B
5. A. Hill, 2B D. Ortiz, DH
6. J. Arencibia, C J. Lowrie, SS
7. T. Snider, LF C. Crawford, LF
8. E. Encarnacion, DH J. Varitek, C
9. J. Nix, 3B J. Ellsbury, CF
"I think he adapts very well to every situation he's been put in. We're looking forward to Monday morning," Boston pitching coach Curt Young told MLB.com. "He's shown his velocity in the low 90s, which can be very effective if it's in good spots, and ... he's trying to get a point where he's changing speeds enough in the strike zone to get hitters off his fastball."
Matsuzaka will look to follow up a strong performance by Jon Lester, who pitched six innings in an 8-1 victory Sunday. Boston (4-10) is finally showing signs of life after an 0-6 start, and can take the four-game set Monday.
The Red Sox have scored 18 runs in the first three games, with Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Jacoby Ellsbury each driving in three runs Sunday. Jed Lowrie had at least one RBI for the fourth straight game and has gone 11 for 19 in his last six.
"Once it starts to go all together, it'll be scary," Saltalamacchia said. "A couple of good days isn't good enough. We've got to put it all together."
Ricky Romero (1-1, 1.66) will take the ball for Toronto looking to continue his outstanding start. The left-hander pitched eight innings and gave up two earned runs but lost 3-2 to Seattle on Tuesday.
Romero has received three total runs of support in his last two starts, and he may need a good deal more Monday. He has gone 2-4 with a 7.42 ERA in nine starts against Boston.
Five of the seven current Red Sox players with at least 10 at-bats versus Romero are hitting .400 or better against him. Kevin Youkilis is 4 for 10 with two home runs, while David Ortiz, J.D. Drew and Dustin Pedroia each have homered off him.
Toronto (7-8) leads the majors with 21 stolen bases, but the Blue Jays scored one run for the second straight day Sunday. They have lost six of eight.
"Lester was his usual self, tough to really generate multiple baserunners or a chance to really tack on any runs after the steal attempt in the second inning," said manager John Farrell, whose team's only run came in the second when Juan Rivera broke for second, stopped and was tagged out in a rundown for the third out after Aaron Hill raced home from third.
Hill, 6 for 10 in the first three games of the series, is 5 for 25 with two home runs against Matsuzaka.
The Red Sox's Carl Crawford went 0 for 4 one day after being benched, dropping his average to .127 with 10 strikeouts and one extra-base hit.
Blue JaysMatsuzaka looks to help the Boston Red Sox earn their season-high third straight victory as they host the Toronto Blue Jays in the annual Patriots Day game Monday.
(7-8, 3-6 away)
Red Sox
(4-10, 4-4 home)
Matsuzaka (0-2, 12.86 ERA) allowed seven runs in two innings of a 16-5 loss to Tampa Bay last Monday. He lasted two or fewer innings for the third time in his career and first since April 14, 2009.
The right-hander, however, has gone 6-1 with a 3.80 ERA in 11 starts against the Blue Jays for his highest win total against any team.
11:05 AM ET, April 18, 2011
Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Toronto v Boston
Ricky Romero
1-1, 1.66 ERA
Last appearance:
4/12 at SEA
8.0 IP, 2 ER
Dec = Loss
Daisuke Matsuzaka
0-2, 12.86 ERA
Last appearance:
4/11 vs TB
2.0 IP, 7 ER
Dec = Loss
Lineups
NO. Toronto Boston
1. Y. Escobar, SS J. Drew, RF
2. C. Patterson, CF D. Pedroia, 2B
3. J. Bautista, RF A. Gonzalez, 1B
4. A. Lind, 1B K. Youkilis, 3B
5. A. Hill, 2B D. Ortiz, DH
6. J. Arencibia, C J. Lowrie, SS
7. T. Snider, LF C. Crawford, LF
8. E. Encarnacion, DH J. Varitek, C
9. J. Nix, 3B J. Ellsbury, CF
"I think he adapts very well to every situation he's been put in. We're looking forward to Monday morning," Boston pitching coach Curt Young told MLB.com. "He's shown his velocity in the low 90s, which can be very effective if it's in good spots, and ... he's trying to get a point where he's changing speeds enough in the strike zone to get hitters off his fastball."
Matsuzaka will look to follow up a strong performance by Jon Lester, who pitched six innings in an 8-1 victory Sunday. Boston (4-10) is finally showing signs of life after an 0-6 start, and can take the four-game set Monday.
The Red Sox have scored 18 runs in the first three games, with Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Jacoby Ellsbury each driving in three runs Sunday. Jed Lowrie had at least one RBI for the fourth straight game and has gone 11 for 19 in his last six.
"Once it starts to go all together, it'll be scary," Saltalamacchia said. "A couple of good days isn't good enough. We've got to put it all together."
Ricky Romero (1-1, 1.66) will take the ball for Toronto looking to continue his outstanding start. The left-hander pitched eight innings and gave up two earned runs but lost 3-2 to Seattle on Tuesday.
Romero has received three total runs of support in his last two starts, and he may need a good deal more Monday. He has gone 2-4 with a 7.42 ERA in nine starts against Boston.
Five of the seven current Red Sox players with at least 10 at-bats versus Romero are hitting .400 or better against him. Kevin Youkilis is 4 for 10 with two home runs, while David Ortiz, J.D. Drew and Dustin Pedroia each have homered off him.
Toronto (7-8) leads the majors with 21 stolen bases, but the Blue Jays scored one run for the second straight day Sunday. They have lost six of eight.
"Lester was his usual self, tough to really generate multiple baserunners or a chance to really tack on any runs after the steal attempt in the second inning," said manager John Farrell, whose team's only run came in the second when Juan Rivera broke for second, stopped and was tagged out in a rundown for the third out after Aaron Hill raced home from third.
Hill, 6 for 10 in the first three games of the series, is 5 for 25 with two home runs against Matsuzaka.
The Red Sox's Carl Crawford went 0 for 4 one day after being benched, dropping his average to .127 with 10 strikeouts and one extra-base hit.
