Gagne blows up again as Jays beat Sox <h3>TORONTO 4, BOSTON 3</h3><div class="pre">TORONTO (Ticker) -- Jon Lester helped put to rest recent</div>concerns involving the Boston Red Sox's starting rotation. ButEric Gagne didn't do anything to limit concerns over the formerCy Young winner. Gagne continued his struggles, surrendering three runs in theeighth inning, as the Red Sox dropped a 4-2 decision to theToronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. A.J. Burnett pitched well into the ninth inning for the Jays(76-75), who crept back over .500. Meanwhile, Boston (90-62)lost for its fourth time in five games. Lester, who didn't get out of the fourth inning in his laststart against Tampa Bay, yielded a run-scoring double to thethird batter he faced - Alex Rios - and escaped a bases-loadedmess in the first by striking out Gregg Zaun. But the young lefthander settled down thereafter, yielding justa third-inning walk, a fourth-inning single and aseventh-inning walk before leaving with two outs in the seventh. Lester allowed three hits and four walks and struck out five.It couldn't have come at a better time, as the Red Sox startersother than Josh Beckett were a combined 0-4 with a 7.94 ERAsince September 7. But Lester's positive performance quickly was lost in theeighth, when Gagne (3-2) was tagged for three runs afterretiring the first two batters. Gagne loaded the bases on two walks sandwiched around a base hitby Aaron Hill before losing Zaun on five pitches. Russ Adamsfollowed by lining a 3-2 offering over the outstretched leap ofJ.D. Drew in right field for a two-run double and a 4-2 edge. Gagne has yielded 14 runs in 14 innings since joining the Sox atthe trade deadline. Burnett (9-7), who had dominated the Sox in three previousstarts, going 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA, allowed three runs and ninehits in 8 2/3 innings. He left after yielding a two-out homerto Julio Lugo, but Scott Downs got the last out for his firstsave. Burnett walked three and struck out 11 for his fifthdouble-digit strikeout effort of the season. The Red Sox were able to break through against Burnett in thefourth. After an infield single to Mike Lowell and a walk toDrew, Jason Varitek doubled to the gap in left-center, scoringLowell. Boston struck again with two outs in the fifth to take a 2-1lead. Rookie of the Year candidate Dustin Pedroia singled andDavid Ortiz followed by lining a double to left-center, scoringPedroia. Ortiz had struck out in his previous four at-bats.
Gagne blows up again as Jays beat Sox <h3>TORONTO 4, BOSTON 3</h3>TORONTO (Ticker) -- Jon Lester helped put to rest recentconcerns involving the Boston Red Sox's starting rotation. ButEric Gagne didn't do anything to limit concerns over the formerCy Young winner. Gagne continued his struggles, surrendering three runs in theeighth inning, as the Red Sox dropped a 4-2 decision to theToronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. A.J. Burnett pitched well into the ninth inning for the Jays(76-75), who crept back over .500. Meanwhile, Boston (90-62)lost for its fourth time in five games and had its lead over theNew York Yankees (87-64) drop to 2 1/2 games. Lester, who didn't get out of the fourth inning in his laststart against Tampa Bay, yielded a run-scoring double to thethird batter he faced - Alex Rios - and escaped a bases-loadedmess in the first by striking out Gregg Zaun. But the young lefthander settled down thereafter, yielding justa third-inning walk, a fourth-inning single and aseventh-inning walk before leaving with two outs in the seventh. Lester allowed three hits and four walks and struck out five. Itcouldn't have come at a better time, as the Red Sox startersother than Josh Beckett were a combined 0-4 with a 7.94 ERAsince September 7. But Lester's positive performance quickly was lost in theeighth, when Gagne (3-2) was tagged for three runs afterretiring the first two batters. Gagne loaded the bases on two walks sandwiched around a base hitby Aaron Hill before losing Zaun on five pitches. Russ Adamsfollowed by lining a 3-2 offering over the outstretched leap ofJ.D. Drew in right field for a two-run double and a 4-2 edge. Gagne has yielded 14 runs in 14 innings since joining the Sox atthe trade deadline. Burnett (9-7), who had dominated the Sox in three previousstarts, going 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA, allowed three runs and ninehits in 8 2/3 innings. He left after yielding a two-out homerto Julio Lugo, but Scott Downs got the last out for his firstsave. Burnett walked three and struck out 11 for his fifthdouble-digit strikeout effort of the season. The Red Sox were able to break through against Burnett in thefourth. After an infield single to Mike Lowell and a walk toDrew, Jason Varitek doubled to the gap in left-center, scoringLowell. Boston struck again with two outs in the fifth to take a 2-1lead. Rookie of the Year candidate Dustin Pedroia singled andDavid Ortiz followed by lining a double to left-center, scoringPedroia. Ortiz had struck out in his previous four at-bats.
Gagne blows up again as Jays beat Sox <h3>TORONTO 4, BOSTON 3</h3>TORONTO (Ticker) -- Jon Lester helped put to rest recentconcerns involving the Boston Red Sox's starting rotation. ButEric Gagne didn't do anything to limit concerns over the formerCy Young winner. Gagne continued his struggles, surrendering three runs in theeighth inning, as the Red Sox dropped a 4-2 decision to theToronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. A.J. Burnett pitched well into the ninth inning for the BlueJays (76-75), who crept back over .500. Meanwhile, the Red Sox(90-62) lost for its fourth time in five games and had its leadover the New York Yankees (87-64) drop to 2 1/2 games. Lester, who didn't get out of the fourth inning in his laststart against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, yielded a run-scoringdouble to the third batter he faced - Alex Rios - and escaped abases-loaded mess in the first by striking out Gregg Zaun. But the young lefthander settled down thereafter, yielding justa third-inning walk, a fourth-inning single and a seventh-inningwalk before leaving with two outs in the seventh. Lester allowed three hits and four walks and struck out five. Itcouldn't have come at a better time, as the Red Sox startersother than Josh Beckett were a combined 0-4 with a 7.94 ERAsince September 7. "He (Lester) got himself into a little bit of bind in the firstinning and worked himself out of it. And then really, reallydid a good job," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "He's amaturing young pitcher that's for sure." But Lester's positive performance quickly was lost in theeighth, when Gagne (3-2) was tagged for three runs afterretiring the first two batters. "I felt good. I felt good physically," Gagne said. "I walkedThomas and after that just didn't throw strikes. I got to goout there and stop thinking. I don't know, it's frustrating andI don't know what to tell you." Gagne loaded the bases on two walks sandwiched around a base hitby Aaron Hill before losing Zaun on five pitches. Russ Adamsfollowed by lining a 3-2 offering over the outstretched leap ofJ.D. Drew in right field for a two-run double and a 4-2 edge. Gagne has yielded 14 runs in 14 innings since joining the Sox atthe trade deadline, but Francona says he's going to let theformer National League saves leader work himself out of it. "I know he (Gagne) doesn't have any quit in him," Francona said."He works hard and he listens. We just have to get it right. Ithink that's easier said then done, but there's not really analternative that we really want. We got to just get it right." Catcher Jason Varitek was quick to echo Francona's comments. "There's still some newness to work through," Varitek said."That's not an excuse, but we need him (Gagne), and we need himto pitch well." Burnett (9-7), who had dominated the Sox in three previousstarts, going 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA, allowed three runs and ninehits in 8 2/3 innings. He left after yielding a two-out homer toJulio Lugo, but Scott Downs got the last out for his firstsave. Burnett walked three and struck out 11 for his fifthdouble-digit strikeout effort of the season, a new career high. "Ever since I came back I've felt good mechanically," Burnettsaid. "I don't let the little things bother me anymore. I couldcareless if I give up a hit, I could careless if I walk a guy,I just have to make a pitch to get out of it and everything willtake care of itself. I just make the pitches." The Red Sox were able to break through against Burnett in thefourth. After an infield single to Mike Lowell and a walk toDrew, Jason Varitek doubled to the gap in left-center, scoringLowell. Boston struck again with two outs in the fifth to take a 2-1lead. Rookie of the Year candidate Dustin Pedroia singled andDavid Ortiz followed by lining a double to left-center, scoringPedroia. Pedroia knows the Yankees are inching closer, but says the RedSox have to worry about themselves first and foremost. "I don't think anybody is thinking about that," Pedroia said."We need to play better then what we have been, that's aboutit." Ortiz had struck out in his previous four at-bats before his RBIdouble.
Gagne blows up again as Jays beat Sox <h3>TORONTO 4, BOSTON 3</h3>TORONTO (Ticker) -- Jon Lester helped put to rest recentconcerns involving the Boston Red Sox's starting rotation. ButEric Gagne didn't do anything to limit concerns over the formerCy Young winner. Gagne continued his struggles, surrendering three runs in theeighth inning, as the Red Sox dropped a 4-2 decision to theToronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. "I know he (Gagne) doesn't have any quit in him," Boston managerTerry Francona said. "He works hard and he listens. We justhave to get it right. I think that's easier said then done, butthere's not really an alternative that we really want. We gotto just get it right." A.J. Burnett pitched well into the ninth inning for the BlueJays (76-75), who crept back over .500. Meanwhile, the Red Sox(90-62) lost for its fourth time in five games and had its leadover the New York Yankees (87-64) drop to 2 1/2 games. Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia knows the Yankees areinching closer, but says the Red Sox have to worry aboutthemselves first and foremost. "I don't think anybody is thinking about that," Pedroia said."We need to play better then what we have been, that's aboutit." Lester, who didn't get out of the fourth inning in his laststart against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, yielded a run-scoringdouble to the third batter he faced - Alex Rios - and escaped abases-loaded mess in the first by striking out Gregg Zaun. "He (Lester) got himself into a little bit of bind in the firstinning and worked himself out of it. And then really, reallydid a good job," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "He's amaturing young pitcher that's for sure." But the young lefthander settled down thereafter, yielding justa third-inning walk, a fourth-inning single and a seventh-inningwalk before leaving with two outs in the seventh. Lester allowed three hits and four walks and struck out five. Itcouldn't have come at a better time, as the Red Sox startersother than Josh Beckett were a combined 0-4 with a 7.94 ERAsince September 7. But Lester's positive performance quickly was lost in theeighth, when Gagne (3-2) was tagged for three runs afterretiring the first two batters. "I felt good. I felt good physically," Gagne said. "I walkedThomas and after that just didn't throw strikes. I got to goout there and stop thinking. I don't know, it's frustrating andI don't know what to tell you." Gagne loaded the bases on two walks sandwiched around a base hitby Aaron Hill before losing Zaun on five pitches. Russ Adamsfollowed by lining a 3-2 offering over the outstretched leap ofJ.D. Drew in right field for a two-run double and a 4-2 edge. Gagne, who has missed some time with a sore shoulder, hasyielded 14 runs in 14 innings since joining the Sox at the tradedeadline, but Francona says he's going to let the formerNational League saves leader work himself out of it. Catcher Jason Varitek was quick to echo Francona's comments. "There's still some newness to work through," Varitek said."That's not an excuse, but we need him (Gagne), and we need himto pitch well." Burnett (9-7), who had dominated the Sox in three previousstarts, going 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA, allowed three runs and ninehits in 8 2/3 innings. He left after yielding a two-out homer toJulio Lugo, but Scott Downs got the last out for his firstsave. Burnett walked three and struck out 11 for his fifthdouble-digit strikeout effort of the season, a new career high.He too has spent some time on the DL. "Ever since I came back I've felt good mechanically," Burnettsaid. "I don't let the little things bother me anymore. I couldcareless if I give up a hit, I could careless if I walk a guy,I just have to make a pitch to get out of it and everything willtake care of itself. I just make the pitches." The Red Sox were able to break through against Burnett in thefourth. After an infield single to Mike Lowell and a walk toDrew, Jason Varitek doubled to the gap in left-center, scoringLowell. Boston struck again with two outs in the fifth to take a 2-1lead. Rookie of the Year candidate Dustin Pedroia singled andDavid Ortiz followed by lining a double to left-center, scoringPedroia. Ortiz had struck out in his previous four at-bats before his RBIdouble.
