BOSTON — The Red Sox dug themselves a big hole in the Wild Card standings by playing bad baseball all weekend against the Blue Jays.
It was an incredibly important series for both teams. Toronto came into Fenway Park and took care of business after the Red Sox had won the first seven meetings between the two teams this season.
The Blue Jays finished off a three-game sweep of Boston with a 13-1 win Sunday afternoon. Toronto (63-50) now leads the Red Sox (57-54) by five games for the final AL Wild Card spot. The Mariners and Yankees also are ahead of Boston and behind the Blue Jays.
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The Red Sox lost the seventh time in eight games. They have scored three or fewer runs in seven of their past nine games.
For a second straight game, the Red Sox used an opener (Brennan Bernardino). For a second straight day, their pitching plan crumbled. Bulk reliever Chris Murphy entered with a 1.59 ERA in nine outings (28 ⅓ innings). But he gave up six earned runs, seven hits (one homer) and two walks while striking out three in 2 ⅓ innings.
Jarren Duran missed a catchable fly ball in right-center field with two outs and a runner at first base in the third inning of a scoreless game. It turned into a ground-rule double for George Springer and a four-run inning for Toronto. The next hitter, Matt Chapman, crushed a two-run double. Cavan Biggio added an RBI double and Kevin Kiermaier delivered an RBI single.
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Righty Mauricio Llovera replaced Murphy. He allowed five runs on three hits and two walks while recording just four outs.
Triston Casas’ homer in the fourth was the lone highlight for Boston.
