Boston Red Sox vs Toronto Blue Jays Live Streaming with Radio Commentary 5/11/2011 MLB Live Vide Feed Online Coverage Internet Broadcast Ticket Power Ranking Espn Experts Review: John Lackey gained some confidence with a solid effort in his first start since coming off the disabled list last weekend.
Clay Buchholz pitched seven strong innings while Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia each had three hits in Boston's 5-1 win at Toronto on Friday. The Red Sox (37-26), who own the AL's best record, have averaged 7.6 runs while winning seven in a row since a four-game skid.
Boston last won eight in a row during an 11-game run April 15-27, 2009.
The Red Sox turn to Lackey (3-5, 7.60 ERA) to help keep the streak alive.
In his first appearance since missing almost a month with an elbow strain, Lackey (3-5, 7.60 ERA) hit three batters but allowed three runs, three hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 6-3 win over Oakland on Sunday for his first victory since April 24.
"I felt pretty good," Lackey told the Red Sox official website. "My slider/cutter was a little harder, a little sharper than it has been. That was the biggest thing moving forward."
The right-hander hopes that continues as he tries to avoid a fourth straight loss to the Blue Jays. In last start prior to going on the DL, Lackey gave up a season-high nine runs and walked five in 6 2/3 innings of a 9-3 loss at Toronto on May 11. He's 0-3 with a 9.51 ERA in his last four outings against the Blue Jays.
Two of slugger Jose Bautista's three hits in 14 at-bats against Lackey have left the park, but the majors' home run leader with 20 has gone 12 straight games without hitting one. He went 1 for 4 as Toronto (32-32) dropped its second straight game Friday.
Bautista is hitting just .222 with a homer and two RBIs against the Red Sox this season.
Boston's Adrian Gonzalez drove in two runs Friday to extend his streak of seven straight games with an RBI. He's hit .414 with 11 RBIs during that span.
"It's just guys in front of me are getting on base and giving me opportunities every time," said Gonzalez, who ranks among the major league leaders with 57 RBIs. "RBIs are not a personal thing."
Batting .367 with three homers and seven RBIs versus Toronto this season, Gonzalez is 3 for 4 against scheduled starter Brandon Morrow (2-3, 4.50).
The right-hander is 0-1 with a 4.13 ERA in four starts since winning at Minnesota on May 15, but allowed an unearned run and two hits in six innings of a 3-2, 11-inning loss at Kansas City on Monday.
"I just kept working and working, (and) everything kind of came together," Morrow told the Blue Jays' official website.
That has not usually been the case for Morrow against the Red Sox. He's given up 13 earned runs and walked 10 over 11 2/3 innings to go 0-1 in three starts against Boston.
Pedroia, who returned after missing Thursday's game in New York so doctors could examine his sore right knee, is 4 for 8 with two doubles and a home run against Morrow.
Ellsbury is 1 for 4 with a homer versus Morrow, but batting .447 his last eight games.
1:07 PM ET, June 11, 2011
Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Starting PitchersThe right-hander looks to build on that outing while trying to help the visiting Red Sox to a season-high eighth straight victory Saturday afternoon against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Boston: Lackey (3-5, 7.60 ERA)
Toronto: Morrow (2-3, 4.50 ERA)
Gameday Lineups
Boston v. Toronto
J. Ellsbury, CF Y. Escobar, SS
D. Pedroia, 2B C. Patterson, LF
A. Gonzalez, 1B J. Bautista, RF
D. Ortiz, DH A. Lind, 1B
J. Lowrie, 3B E. Encarnacion, DH
C. Crawford, LF J. Molina, C
M. Scutaro, SS R. Davis, CF
J. Drew, RF J. Nix, 3B
J. Varitek, C M. McCoy, 2B
Clay Buchholz pitched seven strong innings while Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia each had three hits in Boston's 5-1 win at Toronto on Friday. The Red Sox (37-26), who own the AL's best record, have averaged 7.6 runs while winning seven in a row since a four-game skid.
Regular Season Series Comparison"We've got to show up (Saturday) after a quick turnaround and play good again," manager Terry Francona said.
Boston leads 4-3 (as of Sat 6/11)
Fri 4/15 TOR 7, @BOS 6 Recap
Sat 4/16 @BOS 4, TOR 1 Recap
Sun 4/17 @BOS 8, TOR 1 Recap
Mon 4/18 @BOS 9, TOR 1 Recap
Tue 5/10 @TOR 7, BOS 6 Recap
Wed 5/11 @TOR 9, BOS 3 Recap
Fri 6/10 BOS 5, @TOR 1 Recap
Jun 11, 2011 BOS (Lackey) @ TOR (Morrow) 1:07 PM ET
Jun 12, 2011 BOS (Lester) @ TOR (Drabek) 1:07 PM ET
Jul 4, 2011 TOR @ BOS 1:35 PM ET
Jul 5, 2011 TOR @ BOS 7:10 PM ET
Jul 6, 2011 TOR @ BOS 7:10 PM ET
Sep 5, 2011 BOS @ TOR 1:07 PM ET
Sep 6, 2011 BOS @ TOR 7:07 PM ET
Sep 7, 2011 BOS @ TOR 7:07 PM ET
Sep 8, 2011 BOS @ TOR 7:07 PM ET
Sep 13, 2011 TOR @ BOS 7:10 PM ET
Sep 14, 2011 TOR @ BOS 1:35 PM ET
Boston last won eight in a row during an 11-game run April 15-27, 2009.
The Red Sox turn to Lackey (3-5, 7.60 ERA) to help keep the streak alive.
In his first appearance since missing almost a month with an elbow strain, Lackey (3-5, 7.60 ERA) hit three batters but allowed three runs, three hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 6-3 win over Oakland on Sunday for his first victory since April 24.
"I felt pretty good," Lackey told the Red Sox official website. "My slider/cutter was a little harder, a little sharper than it has been. That was the biggest thing moving forward."
The right-hander hopes that continues as he tries to avoid a fourth straight loss to the Blue Jays. In last start prior to going on the DL, Lackey gave up a season-high nine runs and walked five in 6 2/3 innings of a 9-3 loss at Toronto on May 11. He's 0-3 with a 9.51 ERA in his last four outings against the Blue Jays.
Two of slugger Jose Bautista's three hits in 14 at-bats against Lackey have left the park, but the majors' home run leader with 20 has gone 12 straight games without hitting one. He went 1 for 4 as Toronto (32-32) dropped its second straight game Friday.
Bautista is hitting just .222 with a homer and two RBIs against the Red Sox this season.
Boston's Adrian Gonzalez drove in two runs Friday to extend his streak of seven straight games with an RBI. He's hit .414 with 11 RBIs during that span.
"It's just guys in front of me are getting on base and giving me opportunities every time," said Gonzalez, who ranks among the major league leaders with 57 RBIs. "RBIs are not a personal thing."
Batting .367 with three homers and seven RBIs versus Toronto this season, Gonzalez is 3 for 4 against scheduled starter Brandon Morrow (2-3, 4.50).
The right-hander is 0-1 with a 4.13 ERA in four starts since winning at Minnesota on May 15, but allowed an unearned run and two hits in six innings of a 3-2, 11-inning loss at Kansas City on Monday.
"I just kept working and working, (and) everything kind of came together," Morrow told the Blue Jays' official website.
That has not usually been the case for Morrow against the Red Sox. He's given up 13 earned runs and walked 10 over 11 2/3 innings to go 0-1 in three starts against Boston.
Pedroia, who returned after missing Thursday's game in New York so doctors could examine his sore right knee, is 4 for 8 with two doubles and a home run against Morrow.
Ellsbury is 1 for 4 with a homer versus Morrow, but batting .447 his last eight games.
