AL: TORONTO (70-66) at BOSTON (82-55) <h3>Matsuzaka aims to get back on track for first-place Red Sox</h3> <div class="pre">Toronto (70-66) at Boston (82-55) 7:05 pm EDT</div> BOSTON (Ticker) - The Boston Red Sox are heading in the rightdirection. But rookie Daisuke Matsuzaka is not. Matsuzaka looks to win for the first time in nearly a month asthe first-place Red Sox open a three-game series with theToronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on Monday night. Boston won two out of three against the Baltimore Orioles thisweekend, highlighted by rookie Clay Buchholz's no-hitter onSaturday night. The series win helped the Red Sox hold on tothe best record in the major leagues and increase their bulge tosix games over the New York Yankees (76-61) in the AmericanLeague East. But Boston, which has won six out of its last 10, will look toget Matsuzaka back on track. In his first season from Japan, Matsuzaka (13-11, 3.88 ERA( washeralded as the one of the world's premier hurlers after winningthe the MVP of the World Baseball Classic in March 2006. Butthe righthander has only shown flashes of that brilliance in hisfirst major league season. He has not won since August 4 and has allowed 13 runs and 16hits in 18 1/3 frames while striking out 15 and walking 10 inhis last three starts. However, he is 2-1 with a 3.32 ERA inthree outings against the Blue Jays this season. Toronto will counter with fellow rookie Jesse Litsch (5-6,3.40), who tossed 6 2/3 effective innings in a 2-1 win againstthe Red Sox on July 15, allowing one run and nine hits whilestriking out two and walking one. He did not figure in the decision in his last start, yieldingtwo runs and four hits in six frames while striking out threeand walking one in a 5-4 loss at Oakland on Tuesday. The Blue Jays, who have won five out of six overall, completed athree-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners this weekend.
AL: TORONTO at BOSTON <div class="pre">TORONTO AT BOSTON -- LINEUPS TORONTO BOSTON AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Vernon Wells CF .254 15 74 Jacoby Ellsbury LF .391 1 4 Matt Stairs LF .302 18 50 Dustin Pedroia 2B .324 6 42 Alex Rios RF .309 22 71 David Ortiz DH .318 26 93 Frank Thomas DH .270 21 80 Mike Lowell 3B .329 17 97 Troy Glaus 3B .258 18 58 J.D. Drew RF .254 7 46 Lyle Overbay 1B .251 10 42 Jason Varitek C .259 12 57 Aaron Hill 2B .269 14 70 Coco Crisp CF .266 5 49 Gregg Zaun C .238 8 38 Eric Hinske 1B .213 5 20 John Mcdonald SS .252 1 27 Julio Lugo SS .237 6 64 Jesse Litsch RHP (5-6, 3.40) Daisuke Matsuzaka RHP (13-11, 3.88)</div>
AL: TORONTO at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON WARMUPS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH (5-6, 3.40) BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA (13-11, 3.88) UMPIRES: HP - MIKE EVERITT 1B - DANA DEMUTH 2B - KERWIN DANLEY 3B - DOUG EDDINGS WEATHER: 83 Degrees, clear WIND: 14 mph, left to right</div>
AL: TORONTO at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON STARTING BATS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH AND GREGG ZAUN BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA AND JASON VARITEK DUE UP FOR TORONTO: V WELLS (.254, 15 HR, 74 RBI) M STAIRS (.302, 18 HR, 50 RBI) A RIOS (.309, 22 HR, 71 RBI)</div>
AL: TORONTO at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY ALEX RIOS SCORED MATT STAIRS. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A RIOS ON SECOND, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 1 BOSTON 0 TOP, 1ST DUE UP FOR TORONTO: F THOMAS (.270, 21 HR, 80 RBI)</div>
AL: TORONTO at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TORONTO 1 1 2 0 BOSTON 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J ELLSBURY (.391, 1 HR, 4 RBI) D PEDROIA (.324, 6 HR, 42 RBI) D ORTIZ (.318, 26 HR, 93 RBI)</div>
AL: TORONTO at BOSTON <div class="pre">TORONTO (1) VS BOSTON (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 M Stairs lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .304 A Rios rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .311 F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .269 T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .257 L Overbay 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251 A Hill 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 G Zaun c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 J McDonald ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252 Totals 5 1 2 1 0 1 2 BATTING: 2B - M Stairs (25, D Matsuzaka). RBI - A Rios (72). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Glaus 1. Team LOB - 1. BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Ellsbury lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .391 D Pedroia 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324 D Ortiz dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318 M Lowell 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329 J Drew rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 J Varitek c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259 C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 E Hinske 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213 J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- TORONTO - 1 -- 1 BOSTON - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era J Litsch 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.40 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era D Matsuzaka 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.91 Pitches-strikes: D Matsuzaka 20-15. Ground balls-fly balls: D Matsuzaka 0-2. Batters faced: D Matsuzaka 5. UMPIRES: HP--Mike Everitt. 1B--Dana Demuth. 2B--Kerwin Danley. 3B--Doug Eddings. Weather: 83 degrees, clear. Wind: 14 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: TORONTO at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON CONFIRMED STARTERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA</div>
AL: TORONTO at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY MIKE LOWELL (18) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT IN THE 1ST OFF JESSE LITSCH SCORED JACOBY ELLSBURY AND DUSTIN PEDROIA. CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 1, BOSTON 3 DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J DREW (.254, 7 HR, 46 RBI)</div>
AL: TORONTO at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL TORONTO AT BOSTON NOTE: BOSTON THIRD BASEMAN MIKE LOWELL HOMERED IN THE FIRST INNING TO EXTEND HIS HITTING STREAK TO 16 GAMES.</div>
AL: TORONTO at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TORONTO 1 1 2 0 BOSTON 3 3 3 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA DUE UP FOR TORONTO: L OVERBAY (.251, 10 HR, 42 RBI) A HILL (.269, 14 HR, 70 RBI) G ZAUN (.238, 8 HR, 38 RBI)</div>
AL: TORONTO at BOSTON <div class="pre">TORONTO (1) VS BOSTON (3) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 M Stairs lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .304 A Rios rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .311 F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .269 T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .257 L Overbay 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251 A Hill 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 G Zaun c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 J McDonald ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252 Totals 5 1 2 1 0 1 2 BATTING: 2B - M Stairs (25, D Matsuzaka). RBI - A Rios (72). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Glaus 1. Team LOB - 1. BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Ellsbury lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .417 D Pedroia 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .325 D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .317 M Lowell 3b 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 .331 J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 J Varitek c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .258 C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 E Hinske 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213 J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 Totals 6 3 3 3 0 2 2 BATTING: HR - M Lowell (18, 1st inning off J Litsch 2 on, 1 Out). RBI - M Lowell 3 (100). Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- TORONTO - 1 -- 1 BOSTON - 3 -- 3 ---------------------------------------------------- TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era J Litsch 1 3 3 3 0 2 1 3.70 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era D Matsuzaka 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.91 Pitches-strikes: J Litsch 25-17; D Matsuzaka 20-15. Ground balls-fly balls: J Litsch 1-0; D Matsuzaka 0-2. Batters faced: J Litsch 6; D Matsuzaka 5. UMPIRES: HP--Mike Everitt. 1B--Dana Demuth. 2B--Kerwin Danley. 3B--Doug Eddings. Weather: 83 degrees, clear. Wind: 14 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 1 0 1 2 0 BOSTON 3 3 3 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA DUE UP FOR BOSTON: C CRISP (.266, 5 HR, 49 RBI) E HINSKE (.213, 5 HR, 20 RBI) J LUGO (.237, 6 HR, 64 RBI)</div>
AL: TORONTO at BOSTON <div class="pre">TORONTO (1) VS BOSTON (3) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 M Stairs lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .304 A Rios rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .311 F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .269 T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .257 L Overbay 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .250 A Hill 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 G Zaun c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 J McDonald ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252 Totals 8 1 2 1 0 2 2 BATTING: 2B - M Stairs (25, D Matsuzaka). RBI - A Rios (72). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Glaus 1. Team LOB - 1. BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Ellsbury lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .417 D Pedroia 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .325 D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .317 M Lowell 3b 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 .331 J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 J Varitek c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .258 C Crisp cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 E Hinske 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213 J Lugo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 Totals 6 3 3 3 0 2 2 BATTING: HR - M Lowell (18, 1st inning off J Litsch 2 on, 1 Out). RBI - M Lowell 3 (100). Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- TORONTO - 10 -- 1 BOSTON - 3 -- 3 ---------------------------------------------------- TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era J Litsch 1 3 3 3 0 2 1 3.70 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era D Matsuzaka 2 2 1 1 0 2 0 3.89 Pitches-strikes: J Litsch 25-17; D Matsuzaka 27-22. Ground balls-fly balls: J Litsch 1-0; D Matsuzaka 1-3. Batters faced: J Litsch 6; D Matsuzaka 8. UMPIRES: HP--Mike Everitt. 1B--Dana Demuth. 2B--Kerwin Danley. 3B--Doug Eddings. Weather: 83 degrees, clear. Wind: 14 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 1 0 1 2 0 BOSTON 3 0 3 3 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA DUE UP FOR TORONTO: J MCDONALD (.252, 1 HR, 27 RBI) V WELLS (.254, 0-FOR-1) M STAIRS (.304, 1-FOR-1)</div>
AL: TORONTO at BOSTON <div class="pre">TORONTO (1) VS BOSTON (3) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 M Stairs lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .304 A Rios rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .311 F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .269 T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .257 L Overbay 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .250 A Hill 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 G Zaun c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 J McDonald ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252 Totals 8 1 2 1 0 2 2 BATTING: 2B - M Stairs (25, D Matsuzaka). RBI - A Rios (72). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Glaus 1. Team LOB - 1. BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Ellsbury lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .417 D Pedroia 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .325 D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .317 M Lowell 3b 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 .331 J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 J Varitek c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .258 C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265 E Hinske 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211 J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 Totals 9 3 3 3 0 2 2 BATTING: HR - M Lowell (18, 1st inning off J Litsch 2 on, 1 Out). RBI - M Lowell 3 (100). Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- TORONTO - 10 -- 1 BOSTON - 30 -- 3 ---------------------------------------------------- TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era J Litsch 2 3 3 3 0 2 1 3.65 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era D Matsuzaka 2 2 1 1 0 2 0 3.89 Pitches-strikes: J Litsch 36-25; D Matsuzaka 27-22. Ground balls-fly balls: J Litsch 2-2; D Matsuzaka 1-3. Batters faced: J Litsch 9; D Matsuzaka 8. UMPIRES: HP--Mike Everitt. 1B--Dana Demuth. 2B--Kerwin Danley. 3B--Doug Eddings. Weather: 83 degrees, clear. Wind: 14 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 1 0 0 1 3 0 BOSTON 3 0 3 3 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J ELLSBURY (.417, 1-FOR-1) D PEDROIA (.325, 1-FOR-1) D ORTIZ (.317, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: TORONTO at BOSTON <div class="pre">TORONTO (1) VS BOSTON (3) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg V Wells cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253 M Stairs lf 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .307 A Rios rf 2 0 1 1 0 1 1 .310 F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .269 T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .257 L Overbay 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .250 A Hill 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 G Zaun c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 J McDonald ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251 Totals 12 1 3 1 0 3 3 BATTING: 2B - M Stairs (25, D Matsuzaka). RBI - A Rios (72). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Glaus 1. Team LOB - 2. BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Ellsbury lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .417 D Pedroia 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .325 D Ortiz dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .317 M Lowell 3b 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 .331 J Drew rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 J Varitek c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .258 C Crisp cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265 E Hinske 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211 J Lugo ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 Totals 9 3 3 3 0 2 2 BATTING: HR - M Lowell (18, 1st inning off J Litsch 2 on, 1 Out). RBI - M Lowell 3 (100). Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- TORONTO - 100 -- 1 BOSTON - 30 -- 3 ---------------------------------------------------- TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era J Litsch 2 3 3 3 0 2 1 3.65 BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era D Matsuzaka 3 3 1 1 0 3 0 3.86 Pitches-strikes: J Litsch 36-25; D Matsuzaka 38-32. Ground balls-fly balls: J Litsch 2-2; D Matsuzaka 1-5. Batters faced: J Litsch 9; D Matsuzaka 12. UMPIRES: HP--Mike Everitt. 1B--Dana Demuth. 2B--Kerwin Danley. 3B--Doug Eddings. Weather: 83 degrees, clear. Wind: 14 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: TORONTO at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE SACRIFICE FLY BY DAVID ORTIZ SCORED JACOBY ELLSBURY. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, D PEDROIA ON THIRD, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 1 BOSTON 4 BOTTOM, 3RD DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M LOWELL (.331, 1-FOR-1, HR, 3 RBI)</div>
AL: TORONTO at BOSTON <div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - SCORING UPDATE SACRIFICE FLY BY J.D. DREW SCORED DUSTIN PEDROIA. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M LOWELL ON FIRST, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 1 BOSTON 5 BOTTOM, 3RD DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J VARITEK (.258, 0-FOR-1)</div>
