The Boston Red Sox have had more success on the road than at home against the Toronto Blue Jays this season.
The trend continued Tuesday night when they defeated the Blue Jays 10-6 in the opener of a three-game series.
The Red Sox will be going for the series win Wednesday night when they send out left-hander Chris Sale (3-7, 3.82 ERA) against Blue Jays right-hander Jacob Waguespack (0-0, 4.50), who will be brought up from Triple-A Buffalo.
The Red Sox won three of four in their first series in Toronto this season from May 20-23.
The Blue Jays have won three of five games in Boston this season.
The Red Sox, led by a season-best six RBIs and two home runs by third baseman Rafael Devers on Tuesday, ended a three-game losing streak that was a bullpen nightmare.
They were outscored 37-28 over the three games — one at home with the Chicago White Sox and two in London against the New York Yankees — with the bullpen allowing 24 of those runs.
After David Price held the Blue Jays to two runs in six innings Tuesday, the bullpen allowed four runs in the final three innings. Three of the runs came in the ninth against Trevor Kelley, who was making his major league debut.
The Red Sox had Monday off after the trip to London, which was needed to adjust from the travel and time difference.
“For me personally — I haven’t followed the guys saying, ‘You have to do this’ — but I feel a lot better today than I did (Monday),” Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters Tuesday.
“I think a day off is what we needed,” Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts said. “Our bodies needed it. The flight was long. A nice day off to rest and come back at it (Tuesday).”
The Blue Jays continue to get some good hitting from their younger players. Catcher Danny Jansen, who has struggled at the plate most of the season, had three hits, including a homer, and two RBIs Tuesday.
“The last couple of days, he’s been swinging the bat good,” Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. “We knew sooner or later he was going to start hitting.”
And infielder/outfielder Cavan Biggio, a left-handed hitter, was 2-for-4 with both hits against left-handed pitchers. “His approach at the plate is so good, I don’t see any reason to give him a day off against left-handers,” Montoyo said.
When Sale last faced the Blue Jays, he allowed four runs (three earned), seven hits and two walks while striking out eight over five innings and did not factor in the decision, a 7-5 Boston win at Fenway Park on June 21.
He took the loss in his other start this season against Toronto. On April 9, he allowed five runs and seven hits in four innings in the Jays’ 7-5 victory.
Sale is 7-4 with a 2.81 ERA in 17 career games (14 starts) against the Blue Jays. He is 5-1 with a 1.60 ERA in nine outings (eight starts) at the Rogers Centre.
Sean Reid-Foley was to start for Toronto on Wednesday but he was pressed into action Tuesday — and retired all 10 batters he faced — when starter Trent Thornton lasted 2 2/3 innings.
Waguespack is 2-6 with a 5.30 ERA in 12 games (11 starts) with Buffalo. His one appearance with Toronto came in relief at Tampa Bay, when he went four innings and allowed three runs (two earned), three hits and one walk. He struck out seven.
