Toronto @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 4, 2011 ) Toronto 9, Boston 7

THE STORY: The Toronto Blue Jays try for their third straight win Tuesday when they take on the Boston Red Sox in the second of their three-game series at Fenway Park. Toronto All-Star Jose Bautista had his three-game homer streak snapped in Monday's series opener but still leads the majors with 27. Bautista has reached base safely in 73 of his 78 games this season. Boston had its four-game winning streak snapped and fell to 20-13 in its last 33 at home.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Rogers Sportsnet (Toronto), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Brett Cecil (1-3, 7.24 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Jon Lester (10-4, 3.43 ERA).

Cecil will be making his sixth start of the season and second at Boston. The 25-year-old held the Red Sox to three runs over six innings in a victory on April 15 but lost each of his next two outings, including one against Pittsburgh on Thursday in which he yielded six runs in 6 1/3 frames. Cecil is 3-3 with a 6.15 ERA in six career starts vs. Boston.

Lester halted his personal two-game losing streak last time out, notching a road win by limiting Philadelphia to two hits over seven scoreless innings on Thursday. He has allowed three earned runs or less in each of his last five starts, including a one-run, eight-inning outing at Toronto on June 12. Lester is 9-4 lifetime against the Blue Jays, with two of those victories coming in three starts this season.

ABOUT THE RED SOX (49-35): Boston is hoping to have 3B Kevin Youkilis back in the lineup Tuesday. Youkilis was hit in the upper back with a pitch by Toronto's Brandon Morrow in the fourth inning Monday and left the game. CF Jacoby Ellsbury has recorded multi-hit performances in three of his last four games. OF Darnell McDonald could be in the lineup Tuesday as he is 5-for-7 lifetime against Cecil.

ABOUT THE BLUE JAYS (42-44): Travis Snider made a successful return to the lineup Monday, collecting three doubles and two RBIs. Snider was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas following Sunday's win over Philadelphia after being sent down on April 29. OF Juan Rivera, who hit .246 with six homers and 28 RBIs in 70 games, was designated for assignment to make room for Snider. 2B Aaron Hill's solo blast in the second inning Monday extended Toronto's streak of games with a home run to 12. Hill may get the night off Tuesday as he is just 2-for-32 lifetime against Lester.

FINAL PITCH: Toronto already has produced more runs that it did during a three-game series against Boston at home in June. The Blue Jays scored a total of six runs in that set while allowing a whopping 35.