Red Sox look to keep slim playoff hopes alive in Toronto
The visiting Boston Red Sox will have another chance to finally break through with at least a run against Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Bowden Francis on Tuesday night.
Francis (8-5, 3.47 ERA) has yet to allow a run in 9 2/3 innings over four career outings, including one start, against the Red Sox. He has faced them twice this season, defeating them in a start on Aug. 29 at Boston when he allowed one hit and no walks while striking out five over seven innings.
Boston is scheduled to start Brayan Bello (14-8, 4.49 ERA). The right-hander is 3-4 with a 5.58 ERA in eight career starts against the Blue Jays. He is 2-1 with a 4.96 ERA in three starts against Toronto this season.
He beat the Blue Jays on Aug. 28, allowing no runs on two hits and a walk with nine strikeouts over eight innings.
The Red Sox (79-78) won the opener of the three-game series 4-1 on Monday, taking advantage of 10 walks issued by the Blue Jays (73-84). Toronto starter Chris Bassitt issued seven free passes in 4 1/3 innings.
It was Toronto's fourth successive loss and Boston's third consecutive victory.
The Blue Jays, who were coming off a 1-5 road trip, are finishing their season with a six-game homestand.
Boston is still barely alive in the race for an American League wild-card spot, although manager Alex Cora said he does not know the mathematics. The Red Sox are 3 1/2 games behind both the Kansas City Royals and the Detroit Tigers, who hold the final two postseason positions.
"We've got to continue, win (Tuesday) and see where we are and finish strong," Cora said. "Very slim chance to make it. We just have to continue to play good baseball."
Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 0-for-4 on Monday to remain six hits short of 200 for the year. He has 30 homers, 100 RBIs and is batting .324.
Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk, after going 1-for-4, extending his hitting streak to 15 games. He is batting .286 (18-for-63) in that span.
He threw out one attempted base-stealer and also picked a runner off on Monday. Boston did steal two bases.
Kirk has thrown out 25 attempted base-stealers this season, the top total by a Toronto catcher since 2015, when Russell Martin threw out 25.
"I think he's in a good rhythm," Toronto manager John Schneider said. "His exchange in getting rid of the ball has been really, really good and his throws have been really, really accurate. So it's a pretty good recipe."
Boston's Jarren Duran hit his 14th triple of the season in the sixth inning after collecting his 47th double of the season in the fourth. Both figures lead the AL. He was picked off second after his double.
His 14 triples are the most by a Red Sox player since 1978, when Jim Rice had 15. In 11 games against Toronto this season, Duran is batting .327 (16-for-49) with four home runs and seven RBIs.
Boston's Nick Sogard has a six-game hitting streak after contributing a double on Monday. He is batting .467 (7-for-15) during his streak.
The Red Sox put right-hander Kenley Jansen (right shoulder inflammation) on the injured list on Monday and recalled right-hander Chase Shugart from Triple-A Worcester.
