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Apr 15, 2016 - 3:34 AM R.A. Dickey's knuckleballer certainly had good movement last weekend against the Boston Red Sox, although the results weren't as good as he wanted.

Rick Porcello had much more success in facing the Toronto Blue Jays, although not so much versus Jose Bautista.

These right-handers match up for the second time in seven days Friday night when the Red Sox and Blue Jays start a four-game series at Fenway Park.

Porcello got the best of Dickey in Saturday's 8-4 victory in Toronto. He gave up four runs over six innings in his season debut, although he allowed two homers to Bautista - who improved to 13 for 28 in this matchup with his only longballs of the season.

In addition, Josh Donaldson went 2 for 3 off Porcello to improve to 7 for 23 against him. Donaldson has hit safely in all 10 games with a .325 average.

"I gave up four hits to those two guys," said Porcello, who went 2-0 with a 2.51 ERA in two home starts versus the Blue Jays in 2015. "Obviously I didn't pitch to them very well, got into some really bad counts and Bautista does what he does with mistakes but I think the key was holding the other guys at bay and being able to pitch deep enough."

He had a better day than his counterpart since Dickey (1-1, 8.10 ERA) was charged with seven runs over five innings. That doesn't mean Dickey's knuckleball wasn't dancing at the plate as he struck out nine, uncorked a wild pitch and saw catcher Josh Thole charged with two passed balls.

"Believe it or not, that may be the best knuckleball I've ever seen him have," manager John Gibbons said. "It was everywhere."

Dustin Pedroia and Rusney Castillo each had two hits off Dickey, although Castillo has since been optioned to the minors. David Ortiz - a .265 hitter against Dickey - sat out but could be in the lineup for this one.

"If you wallow in it, it doesn't help anybody," Dickey said. "So if there's one thing that experience has taught me, it's that you've got to turn the page quickly."

The Blue Jays (5-5) have won four of six of Dickey's starts at Fenway Park, where he is 2-2 with a 3.29 ERA as a starter.

Thole will again be behind the plate over Russell Martin, who is in a 2-for-29 slump.

Donaldson hit a three-run homer and Troy Tulowitzki added a solo shot in Thursday's 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees as Toronto took two of three to split its six-game homestand. Marcus Stroman helped rest the bullpen by allowing both runs and three hits in eight innings.

Boston (4-4) dropped two of three to Baltimore to start this 10-game homestand. Mookie Betts went 7 for 14 with three extra-base hits and four RBIs in the series, improving to .453 over his last 19 home games while reaching safely each contest.

Xander Bogaerts has hit safely in six straight, going 9 for 25. He's a .367 hitter versus Dickey.

The Red Sox plan to activate a third catcher, Christian Vazquez, on Friday.






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