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Surging Red Sox shoot for another win at Toronto

Jun 11, 2011 - 3:16 PM (Sports Network) - The streaking Boston Red Sox try to improve on their lead in the American League East today as they play the second of three straight versus the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Boston, which had a record of 23-13 the last two years versus the Jays, is coming off a very successful three-game sweep of bitter rival New York and are now enjoying a seven-game win streak overall thanks to a 5-1 win versus Toronto in the opener on Friday.

Adrian Gonzalez went 2-for-4 with two RBI for the visitors yesterday, while Jacoby Ellsbury finished up 3-for-5 with three runs scored. After missing Thursday's game with a bruised right kneecap, Dustin Pedroia returned to the lineup to contribute three hits and a walk for the victors.

Starting pitcher Clay Buchholz logged his fifth win of the campaign as he worked through seven innings, allowing just one run on three hits and a couple of walks, while striking out six.

"I think (Buchholz) was crisp and he looked good," said Boston manager Terry Francona of his starter's performance.

Toronto starter Jo-Jo Reyes was tagged for his fifth loss in seven decisions on the season as he surrendered four runs on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings.

Offensively the Jays managed to produce a total of just four hits, two of those coming from Corey Patterson, who also worked in a walk during the team's second consecutive setback. Toronto, now 4-6 over the last 10 games, is sitting at .500 and in fourth place in the division, 5 1/2 games out of contention.

Taking the hill for the visiting Red Sox today is John Lackey, who is making his second appearance since coming off the DL with a right elbow strain. The 10-year veteran last threw on Sunday versus the struggling Oakland A's and managed to snap a personal three-game slide by limiting the visiting A's to just three runs on three hits and a couple of walks in 5 2/3 innings of action. The victory was just the third in eight decisions so far this season for the Texas native.

Against the Jays for his career, Lackey has a record of 4-6 with a 5.07 ERA after losing a decision earlier this season when he permitted nine runs on nine hits and five walks over 6 2/3 innings.

Brandon Morrow is slated to get the call for Toronto and is searching for his third win of 2011. The right-hander, who is 0-1 in his career versus Boston, last picked up a victory back on May 15 when he struck out eight and allowed just three runs in an 11-3 triumph versus Minnesota on the road.

More recently, the five-year hurler came out with a no-decision versus Kansas City earlier this week when he gave up one earned run on two hits and three walks, striking out five over six innings in a 3-2 road loss.

Jose Bautista, last year's AL home run champ and the leader in the majors right now with 20 through 194 at-bats, is still waiting for his first long ball in the month of June and has not taken a pitcher deep since May 28, a span of 12 games. Bautista also has just a single RBI in the last eight games as well.

Over on the other side, the Red Sox could not be happier with their acquisition of slugger Adrian Gonzalez, who leads the majors in RBI with 57 and is also second in the AL in batting with a .338 average, trailing only Bautista (.343) for the top spot in the league heading into the weekend.

Not to be overlooked is David Ortiz, who, despite going hitless yesterday and seeing his nine-game hit streak come to an end, is still one of the top hitters in the game himself with a .320 average.