GAME #81, BOSTON RED SOX AT TORONTO BLUE JAYS

[Bear]

RED SOX V BLUE JAYS

SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017, 1 PM AT ROGERS CENTRE

TV:  NESN, MLBN (OUT-OF-MARKET ONLY) SNET

BOSTON, (45-35)....................................................................................TORONTO, (37-42)

BOSTON:

CHRIS SALE, LHP, 10-3, 2.77 ERA, 155K

The ace lefty continues to mow through just about every opponent.  With
nine K's in his last start, Sale increased his AL-leading total to 155.  Opponents
are hitting .200 against him this season.

TORONTO:

FRANCISCO LIRIANO, LHP, 4-3, 5.46 ERA, 54K

Liriano has been inconsistent all year, but there have been some positive
signs of late.  He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in four of is past
five starts.  Problem is, only two of those outings were six innings or more.

Sale aims to rack up more K's vs. Jays

Ian Browne

The Red Sox will send ace Chris Sale to the mound on Saturday to face fellow left-hander Francisco Liriano in a Canada Day matinee at Rogers Centre.

Sale has been the workhorse ace that Boston envisioned and is on pace to challenge his career highs in innings pitched and strikeouts. He's gone six innings or more in all but one start this season, and manager John Farrell has noticed his impact on the rotation between outings, too.

"I think the one thing that is on display every fifth or sixth day is the pace at which he pitches -- and we're seeing that start to flow through into other guys," said Farrell. "I think you're seeing it in Drew [Pomeranz] right now, who's maybe picked up his pace a little bit more. And I'm sure when they watch it and in the conversations that follow in between starts when Chris isn't pitching, it's tangible benefits."

Liriano also brings some electric movement from the left side, but the veteran has been inconsistent with his control. His walk rate of five batters per nine innings has cut some starts short, but he did look stronger in his last outing against Kansas City where he limited the Royals to two runs over six innings of work.

Toronto's offense has been battling some inconsistencies of its own. Between some unexpected slumps and injuries -- Troy Tulowitzki fits into both of those categories -- the Blue Jays entered this weekend's series ranked 26th in runs scored despite their wealth of power bats.

THREE THINGS TO WATCH IN THIS GAME

• Liriano's slider continues to be his best offering, but his fastball has been a completely different story. His two-seamer, which he's thrown almost as much as the slider, has given up a .304 average and .580 OPS. His four-seam fastball has an opponent's average of .346 with a .962 OPS, and all eight of his home runs allowed have come off those two pitches.

• Shortstop Xander Bogaerts had started every Red Sox game since April 22, a stretch of 62 straight games, before getting Friday night's series opener off. He will be right back in the lineup on Saturday.

• Though the Blue Jays are in last place in the American League East, Farrell is very mindful of the type of threat they are.
"This is always a dangerous lineup. We know that their offense is built around the home run," Farrell said. "They score a high number of runs based on home runs. You can never count them out. Once they get their pitching back to full strength, it's a good rotation."

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170630239708994/sale-aims-to-rack-up-more-ks-vs-jays/?game_pk=491309

[Bear]

Today in Toronto:

Betts RF,
Pedroia 2B,
Bogaerts SS,
Ramirez DH,
Bradley Jr. CF,
Young LF,
Travis 1B,
Leon C,
Marrero 3B,

Sale LHP.

[Bill-806]

So,  J F has the day off to watch his son in his MLB debut....  OK, but how does that effect our team ??

[Rob from Mass]

Kudos to Pedey in breaking his club record last night with 99 straight games without a E.

[Bill-806]

Kudos to Pedey in breaking his club record last night with 99 straight games without a E.

As  DAD would say,  "SON, lets not jinx him now" !!!! rofl

[Schloicka]

Good start to this game. Not leaving runners on so far today. Marrero gets another hit. 4 two out runs. Even a double steal like last night.

[ipot]

Early 4 run lead? Sweet 8)

[ipot]

6Ks thru 3.  Sale just doing his thing. 

[Rob from Mass]

This does not seem right. 4-0 lead only in the 4th and Sale on the hill.Just doesn't seem like a normal Sale outing.

[Schloicka]

Great job by Sale today. Can't ask for much more out of him.

[Sea Dog 23]

Not to be greedy, and I love small ball, but someone needs to go deep with all these base runners.

[Rob from Mass]

Sox need to find another old man like Boyer.The guy has pitched very good since being a Sox.

[Schloicka]

Sox need to find another old man like Boyer.The guy has pitched very good since being a Sox.

He has done a very good job and you can use him on consecutive days if needed.

[Schloicka]

Every game should be that easy. Score early and have Sale pitching. Good game recipe.

[Rob from Mass]

Not to be greedy, and I love small ball, but someone needs to go deep with all these base runners.

When you don't hav e nippers this is how you play.And this team does not have a LEGITpower guy.