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Red Sox hope to shake off slow start vs. Blue Jays

Apr 15, 2011 - 2:32 PM (Sports Network) - The Boston Red Sox have matched their worst start in team history. Hopefully an extra day of rest gets them on the winning track tonight when they kick off a four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway park.

After taking two of three from the New York Yankees, the Red Sox lost two straight games to the Tampa Bay Rays before Wednesday's finale was postponed by rain.

At 2-9 the Red Sox own the worst record in the majors and the awful beginning has matched the 1925, 1927 and 1996 clubs for the worst start in team history.

"Justifiably, we're all answering the questions we have to," manager Terry Francona said, "but to be able to step away for a day, hopefully that'll help."

Starting pitching has been the Red Sox' biggest problem. Boston owns a 6.77 ERA, worst in the majors and nearly a run higher than the second-to-worst Diamondbacks. The Red Sox have also allowed a major league-high 21 homers, while posting just three quality starts through the first 11 games, two of which have come in the last three games.

Tonight Boston faces someone who is quite familiar with its pitching staff in Toronto manager John Farrell, who served as the Red Sox' pitching coach from 2007-10 before taking his first managerial job with the Blue Jays this past offseason.

Farrell will see one of his prized pupils on the hill tonight in 26-year-old right-hander Clay Buchholz, who has gotten off to an 0-2 start following a 17- win campaign in 2010. Buchholz' latest loss came on Saturday against the New York Yankees, who battered him for five runs (four earned) and eight hits in just 3 2/3 frames, ballooning his ERA to 7.20.

"We're going to be fine," said Buchholz. "We're in a little bit of a rough patch right now, but it's the first couple of weeks of the season. We have a lot of guys on this team that have been on this team for a long time and been through rough patches for us. Nobody planned on it starting this way, but you have to battle through it and get through it somehow."

Buchholz has faced the Blue Jays 10 times (nine starts) and is 6-3 against them with a 2.50 ERA.

Farrell, meanwhile, brings his Jays into Fenway sporting a 6-6 mark. Toronto snapped a four-game losing streak on Wednesday against Seattle, as Jose Bautista's three-run homer fueled a six-run eighth inning, helping the Blue Jays to an 8-3 win.

"It's always good to win any game, but knowing that we had four losses in a row, definitely a good comeback win," Bautista said. "With the day off (Thursday) and going into the Boston series with them struggling a little bit, hopefully we can take advantage and keep our wins coming."

Jays starter Kyle Drabek went 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out five and walking four. Marc Rzepczynski (1-0) got the win after allowing one run over two innings of relief.

Hoping to keep that momentum going for the Jays tonight will be left-hander Brett Cecil, who is coming off a poor outing his last time out. After losing his season debut to Minnesota, Cecil was even worse on Saturday in Anaheim, as the Angels reached him for five runs and 10 hits in five innings. However, he did not get a decision in his team's 6-5 loss that night.

Cecil has faced the Red Sox five times and is 2-3 with a 6.51 ERA in those outings.

The Red Sox were 12-6 against the Blue Jays last season.