Toronto @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 13, 2011 ) Toronto 6, Boston 18

THE STORY: The Red Sox snapped out of their long malaise with 18 runs Tuesday night to not only give Tim Wakefield his 200th career victory, but add to their lead over the hard-charging Tampa Bay Rays in the American League wild card race. Dustin Pedroia homered twice and had four hits as Boston snapped a five-game losing streak. Coupled with Baltimore’s win over Tampa Bay, the Red Sox lead the wild card by four games and quieted the panic in the streets of Boston. Things won’t be easy Wednesday, however, as host Boston and John Lackey square off against red-hot Toronto starter Ricky Romero.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Ricky Romero (14-10, 3.01 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH John Lackey (12-12, 6.30).

Romero has been on a roll for more than a month. He is 7-1 over his last nine starts, including a win over Boston a week ago when he went 6 2/3 innings and surrendered three runs on five hits. Boston had owned Romero prior to that outing as the lefty owns a 3-6 career mark and 7.63 ERA against the Red Sox. But Romero has been on fire since the All-Star break, going 7-2 with a 2.88 ERA and 1.08 WHIP over 11 outings. Lackey has the highest ERA in the majors among qualifying pitchers. He has lost three straight starts, allowing 16 runs in 15 innings. Lackey seemed to have things straightened out midway through the season when he won seven of eight decisions, but has regressed since. Lackey’s last outing against Toronto offered little promise as he yielded seven runs on nine hits in 2 1/3 innings.

ABOUT THE RED SOX (86-61): Pedroia had his second four-hit game of the season Tuesday as the Red Sox showed some resiliency. Boston handed Wakefield leads twice in the game only to watch the veteran knuckleballer immediately cough them up before he even got an out in the next inning. But Pedroia’s three-run homer gave the Red Sox breathing room and they exploded for seven more runs in the eighth inning to win 18-6. The Red Sox are 3-9 in their last dozen games and the starting pitching has allowed opponents to hit .289 over that stretch and average 6.58 runs per game.

ABOUT THE BLUE JAYS (74-74): Jose Bautista smacked his major league-leading 42nd homer Tuesday. Edwin Encarnacion, who was questionable for Tuesday’s game with a shoulder injury, went 1-for-3. The Jays are 7-10 against Boston this season and have won three of Romero’s last 12 starts against the Red Sox. Toronto placed righthander Jon Rausch on the 15-day disabled list with torn cartilage in his right knee, retroactive to Sept. 5. He will not pitch again this season. Colby Rasmus (wrist) continues to rehab in the minors and could return at the end of the week.

FINAL PITCH: David Ortiz was a surprise scratch with back spasms before getting to the plate Tuesday. Jed Lowrie took his spot in the lineup. Ortiz is questionable to play Wednesday.