Toronto @ Boston preview
Fenway Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 8, 2012 ) Toronto 9, Boston 2
Although Clay Buchholz has dropped his last two decisions, there's reason for optimism on Sunday when the Boston Red Sox right-hander takes the mound. The 28-year-old has won eight of 11 career decisions versus Toronto - including one this season. Buchholz will look to continue his mastery of the Blue Jays on Sunday and prevent a sweep when the struggling American League East rivals conclude their three-game set at Fenway Park.
Buchholz's record against Toronto is perhaps the only positive for Boston, which suffered its 10th loss in 11 outings after Saturday's 9-2 drilling. Anthony Gose homered and drove in five runs and Yunel Escobar went deep to highlight a five-run second inning as visiting Toronto weathered a pair of pronounced rain delays before cruising to victory. The Blue Jays have won three in a row to move past the Red Sox in the standings.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, NESN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Carlos Villanueva (7-5, 3.42 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Clay Buchholz (11-5, 4.47)
The bottom has fallen out of a once-promising season for Villanueva, who has dropped five of his last six decisions. The 28-year-old Dominican yielded six runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings in a 12-0 loss to Baltimore on Tuesday. Villanueva defeated the Red Sox for the second time in three career outings when he worked 6 1/3 innings in a 7-3 victory on July 21.
Buchholz yielded four runs and six hits over seven innings for the second straight outing - with the more recent one resulting in a loss. He did strike out eight in the 4-1 setback to Seattle on Monday. Buccholz permitted two runs in eight sizzling innings in a 7-2 triumph over Toronto on June 1.
WALK-OFFS
1. Gose, who is Toronto's No. 9 hitter, went 2-for-4 with five RBIs on Saturday. The rookie had two hits in his previous seven games combined - and just two RBIs in his first 31 contests.
2. Toronto will vie for its sixth straight victory at Fenway Park on Sunday. Should it be successful, it will mark the first time in 23 years that it has done so.
3. Boston C Jarrod Saltalamacchia sat out Saturday's tilt with back spasms. He is unlikely to play on Sunday.