• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Red Sox-Blue Jays Preview

May 30, 2009 - 4:28 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Boston (28-20) at Toronto (27-23), 1:07 p.m. EDT

Boston can be credited for starting Toronto's lengthy losing streak and fall from the top of the AL East, but the Blue Jays weren't going to let the Red Sox add to their frustration.

The Blue Jays look to build off their first victory in nearly two weeks as they continue their three-game series against the Red Sox on Saturday at Rogers Centre.

After sweeping a four-game home series from the Chicago White Sox from May 15-18 to take a 3 1/2-game lead atop the East, Toronto (28-23) traveled to face Boston, Atlanta and Baltimore. The Blue Jays dropped all nine games and fell to third in the division.

Toronto managed just five runs in the three losses at Fenway Park, but plated five in the fifth inning in Friday's series-opening 6-3 victory.

"It's a relief to finally get (a win)," said Casey Janssen, who notched his first victory since May 24, 2007. "Against Boston, it's big for us."

Scott Rolen and Rod Barajas each had two RBIs for the Blue Jays, who won their fifth straight at home to improve to 17-6 there this year. Toronto is tied with Boston for the best home record in the AL.

The Red Sox (28-21), though, have lost seven of their last 10 on the road and five of eight overall.

Struggling slugger David Ortiz was hitless in four at-bats Friday, dropping to 2 for 27 (.074) with 11 strikeouts in his last seven games.

"All I can do about myself right now is laugh because I ain't gonna cry," said Ortiz, who hit sixth in the batting order for the fourth straight game. "Laugh, keep on swinging and wait for the good luck charm to show up, because there's nothing else I can do."

His only homer this season came against the Blue Jays on May 20.

Brad Penny (5-1, 5.96 ERA) looks to help the Red Sox get back in the win column. Although the right-hander's ERA is high, Penny's record is sharp thanks to a league-best 8.38 runs of support per game. In his nine starts, the Red Sox have scored 58 runs.

"It's a lot of fun with this team," he said "The breaks are going my way."

Pitching with a sinus infection that caused an upset stomach, Penny gave up three runs, six hits, struck out seven and walked none in 5 1-3 innings of a 6-5 win at Minnesota on Monday.

He picked up the win on May 20 against the Blue Jays, improving to 3-0 with a 1.67 ERA in four starts versus them since 2001.

The Blue Jays' Brian Tallet (2-3, 4.31) probably wishes he could get the kind of run support Penny has been receiving.

Tallet has allowed two runs in each of his last three starts, but has been backed by four total runs of support, leaving him winless in those games. On Monday, the left-hander gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings of a 4-1 loss at Baltimore.

Tallet was on the mound for the first game of Toronto's skid, yielding two runs and four hits in six innings of a 2-1 loss at Boston on May 19.