GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TORONTO (44-45) at BOSTON (54-35)

AL: TORONTO (44-45) at BOSTON (54-35)

<h3><font size="5"><font color="#3366ff">BLUE JAYS</font> @ <font color="#ff0000">RED SOX</font></font>
</h3>

Matsuzaka looks to bounce back from rough outing</p>

Toronto (44-45) at Boston (54-35), 7:05 pm EDT
</p>

BOSTON (Ticker) - Daisuke Matsuzaka was in the process of dominating major league hitters when the Detroit Tigers exposed the Japanese righthander during a series sweep prior to the All-Star break.
</p>

Matsuzaka (10-6, 3.84 ERA) will get a chance to bounce back when he takes the mound on Saturday in the third game of the Boston Red Sox's four-game set against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park.
</p>

A much heralded signing in the offseason, Matsuzaka looked to be settling in nicely when he ripped off a six-start string from June 5 to July 3 which yielded a 3-2 record with a 1.29 ERA and 51 strikeouts. But the Tigers jumped on the 26-year-old for six runs and 10 hits in five innings.
</p>

In two starts against the Blue Jays this season, Matsuzaka owns a 1-1 record with a 2.08 ERA.
</p>

If he wants to improve that record, Matsuzaka will have to figure out a way to slow right fielder Alex Rios, who is 6-for-8 in the first two games of the series and has dominated the Red Sox in his career with a .372 average (63-for-169), his second-best mark against all American League opponents. </p>

Taking the mound in support of Rios will be Dustin McGowan (5-4, 4.65). The 25-year-old righthander is coming off a four-hit gem at Oakland, where he earned a win with seven scoreless innings.
</p>

McGowan has allowed three earned runs or less seven of his last nine outings, posting a 5-3 record with a 3.67 ERA over that stretch.
</p>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">TORONTO AT BOSTON -- LINEUPS

TORONTO BOSTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Vernon Wells CF .252 13 50 Coco Crisp CF .261 5 28
Reed Johnson LF .260 1 8 Dustin Pedroia 2B .312 3 25
Alex Rios RF .304 18 55 David Ortiz DH .318 14 54
Frank Thomas DH .255 14 44 Manny Ramirez LF .288 12 51
Troy Glaus 3B .280 11 37 Kevin Youkilis 1B .324 9 45
Lyle Overbay 1B .256 8 28 Mike Lowell 3B .302 14 66
Aaron Hill 2B .268 9 49 Jason Varitek C .278 8 36
Gregg Zaun C .241 3 20 Eric Hinske RF .191 3 11
John Mcdonald SS .278 1 13 Julio Lugo SS .202 5 40

Dustin Mcgowan RHP (5-4, 4.65) Daisuke Matsuzaka RHP (10-6, 3.84)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON
WARMUPS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN (5-4, 4.65)
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA (10-6, 3.84)

UMPIRES: HP - WALLY BELL
1B - BILL WELKE
2B - LAZ DIAZ
3B - JOHN HIRSCHBECK

WEATHER: 70 Degrees, partly cloudy</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON
STARTING BATS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN AND GREGG ZAUN
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA AND JASON VARITEK

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: V WELLS (.252, 13 HR, 50 RBI)
R JOHNSON (.260, 1 HR, 8 RBI)
A RIOS (.304, 18 HR, 55 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 1 0
BOSTON 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: C CRISP (.261, 5 HR, 28 RBI)
D PEDROIA (.312, 3 HR, 25 RBI)
D ORTIZ (.318, 14 HR, 54 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">TORONTO (0) VS BOSTON (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .254
R Johnson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .255
A Rios rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .304
F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .254
T Glaus 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
L Overbay 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
A Hill 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
G Zaun c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
J McDonald ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 3

BATTING: 2B - V Wells (23, D Matsuzaka). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - F Thomas 1. Team LOB - 1.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
D Pedroia 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
D Ortiz dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318
M Ramirez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
K Youkilis 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
E Hinske rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .191
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .202

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 0 -- 0
BOSTON - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
D McGowan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.65

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.80

Pitches-strikes: D Matsuzaka 11-8. Ground balls-fly balls: D Matsuzaka 0-3.
Batters faced: D Matsuzaka 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Wally Bell. 1B--Bill Welke. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--John Hirschbeck.

Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON
CONFIRMED STARTERS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY DAVID ORTIZ (15) TO RIGHT WITH 2 OUT IN
THE 1ST OFF DUSTIN MCGOWAN.
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 0, BOSTON 1

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M RAMIREZ (.288, 12 HR, 51 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 1 0
BOSTON 1 1 1 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: T GLAUS (.280, 11 HR, 37 RBI)
L OVERBAY (.256, 8 HR, 28 RBI)
A HILL (.268, 9 HR, 49 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">TORONTO (0) VS BOSTON (1) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .254
R Johnson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .255
A Rios rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .304
F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .254
T Glaus 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
L Overbay 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
A Hill 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
G Zaun c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
J McDonald ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 3

BATTING: 2B - V Wells (23, D Matsuzaka). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - F Thomas 1. Team LOB - 1.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
D Ortiz dh 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .320
M Ramirez lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .288
K Youkilis 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
E Hinske rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .191
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .202

Totals 4 1 1 1 0 1 0

BATTING: HR - D Ortiz (15, 1st inning off D McGowan 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - D Ortiz
(55). 2-out RBI - D Ortiz. Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 0 -- 0
BOSTON - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
D McGowan 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 4.71

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.80

Pitches-strikes: D McGowan 13-8; D Matsuzaka 11-8. Ground balls-fly balls: D
McGowan 2-0; D Matsuzaka 0-3. Batters faced: D McGowan 4; D Matsuzaka 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Wally Bell. 1B--Bill Welke. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--John Hirschbeck.

Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 0 3 0
BOSTON 1 1 1 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: K YOUKILIS (.324, 9 HR, 45 RBI)
M LOWELL (.302, 14 HR, 66 RBI)
J VARITEK (.278, 8 HR, 36 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">TORONTO (0) VS BOSTON (1) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .254
R Johnson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .255
A Rios rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .304
F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .254
T Glaus 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .284
L Overbay 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .256
A Hill 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .270
G Zaun c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .239
J McDonald ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .276

Totals 8 0 3 0 1 0 7

BATTING: 2B - V Wells (23, D Matsuzaka). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - F Thomas 1, J McDonald 1. Team LOB - 3.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
D Ortiz dh 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .320
M Ramirez lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .288
K Youkilis 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
E Hinske rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .191
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .202

Totals 4 1 1 1 0 1 0

BATTING: HR - D Ortiz (15, 1st inning off D McGowan 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - D Ortiz
(55). 2-out RBI - D Ortiz. Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - C Crisp (T Glaus at 2nd base).


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 00 -- 0
BOSTON - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
D McGowan 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 4.71

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 2 3 0 0 1 0 0 3.77

Pitches-strikes: D McGowan 13-8; D Matsuzaka 38-26. Ground balls-fly balls: D
McGowan 2-0; D Matsuzaka 1-4. Batters faced: D McGowan 4; D Matsuzaka 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Wally Bell. 1B--Bill Welke. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--John Hirschbeck.

Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 0 3 0
BOSTON 1 0 1 1 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: V WELLS (.254, 1-FOR-1)
R JOHNSON (.255, 0-FOR-1)
A RIOS (.304, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">TORONTO (0) VS BOSTON (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .254
R Johnson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .255
A Rios rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .304
F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .254
T Glaus 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .284
L Overbay 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .256
A Hill 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .270
G Zaun c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .239
J McDonald ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .276

Totals 8 0 3 0 1 0 7

BATTING: 2B - V Wells (23, D Matsuzaka). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - F Thomas 1, J McDonald 1. Team LOB - 3.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
D Ortiz dh 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .320
M Ramirez lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .288
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
J Varitek c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .277
E Hinske rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .191
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .202

Totals 7 1 1 1 0 2 0

BATTING: HR - D Ortiz (15, 1st inning off D McGowan 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - D Ortiz
(55). 2-out RBI - D Ortiz. Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - C Crisp (T Glaus at 2nd base).


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 00 -- 0
BOSTON - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
D McGowan 2 1 1 1 0 2 1 4.64

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 2 3 0 0 1 0 0 3.77

Pitches-strikes: D McGowan 25-15; D Matsuzaka 38-26. Ground balls-fly balls:
D McGowan 3-1; D Matsuzaka 1-4. Batters faced: D McGowan 7; D Matsuzaka 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Wally Bell. 1B--Bill Welke. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--John Hirschbeck.

Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 0 0 3 0
BOSTON 1 0 1 1 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: E HINSKE (.191, 3 HR, 11 RBI)
J LUGO (.202, 5 HR, 40 RBI)
C CRISP (.260, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">TORONTO (0) VS BOSTON (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .254
R Johnson lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .250
A Rios rf 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .304
F Thomas dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .253
T Glaus 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .284
L Overbay 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .256
A Hill 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .270
G Zaun c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .239
J McDonald ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .276

Totals 11 0 3 0 2 1 8

BATTING: 2B - V Wells (23, D Matsuzaka). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - F Thomas 2, J McDonald 1. Team LOB - 4.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
D Pedroia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
D Ortiz dh 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .320
M Ramirez lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .288
K Youkilis 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
J Varitek c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .277
E Hinske rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .191
J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .202

Totals 7 1 1 1 0 2 0

BATTING: HR - D Ortiz (15, 1st inning off D McGowan 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - D Ortiz
(55). 2-out RBI - D Ortiz. Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - C Crisp (T Glaus at 2nd base). PB - J Varitek.



----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 000 -- 0
BOSTON - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
D McGowan 2 1 1 1 0 2 1 4.64

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 3 3 0 0 2 1 0 3.74

Pitches-strikes: D McGowan 25-15; D Matsuzaka 53-33. Ground balls-fly balls:
D McGowan 3-1; D Matsuzaka 2-5. Batters faced: D McGowan 7; D Matsuzaka 13.

UMPIRES: HP--Wally Bell. 1B--Bill Welke. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--John Hirschbeck.

Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
TRIPLE BY COCO CRISP SCORED JULIO LUGO.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C CRISP ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 0
BOSTON 2 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D PEDROIA (.311, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND RULE DOUBLE BY DAVID ORTIZ SCORED COCO CRISP.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, D ORTIZ ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 0
BOSTON 3 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M RAMIREZ (.288, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 0 0 3 0
BOSTON 1 0 2 3 4 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: T GLAUS (.284, 1-FOR-1)
L OVERBAY (.256, 0-FOR-0, BB)
A HILL (.270, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">TORONTO (0) VS BOSTON (3) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .254
R Johnson lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .250
A Rios rf 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .304
F Thomas dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .253
T Glaus 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .284
L Overbay 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .256
A Hill 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .270
G Zaun c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .239
J McDonald ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .276

Totals 11 0 3 0 2 1 8

BATTING: 2B - V Wells (23, D Matsuzaka). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - F Thomas 2, J McDonald 1. Team LOB - 4.


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Crisp cf 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 .263
D Pedroia 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .310
D Ortiz dh 2 1 2 2 0 0 0 .322
M Ramirez lf 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 .288
K Youkilis 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .322
M Lowell 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
J Varitek c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .277
E Hinske rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .189
J Lugo ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .205

Totals 13 3 4 3 1 2 3

BATTING: 2B - D Ortiz (31, D McGowan). 3B - C Crisp (4, D McGowan). HR - D
Ortiz (15, 1st inning off D McGowan 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - D Ortiz 2 (56), C Crisp
(29). 2-out RBI - D Ortiz 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K
Youkilis 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - C Crisp (T Glaus at 2nd base). PB - J Varitek.



----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 000 -- 0
BOSTON - 102 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
D McGowan 3 4 3 3 1 2 1 4.82

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
D Matsuzaka 3 3 0 0 2 1 0 3.74

IBB - M Ramirez (by D McGowan). Pitches-strikes: D McGowan 49-28; D Matsuzaka
53-33. Ground balls-fly balls: D McGowan 5-2; D Matsuzaka 2-5. Batters faced: D
McGowan 14; D Matsuzaka 13.

UMPIRES: HP--Wally Bell. 1B--Bill Welke. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--John Hirschbeck.

Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, out to center.</div>