The Boston Red Sox lost to the Toronto Blue Jays 7-3 on Friday, Aug. 4 at Fenway Park. This was game one of a massive three-game series between the Red Sox and the Blue Jays as they are chasing the wild card standings. Red Sox starter James Paxton got roughed up by a potent Jays offense, and the Red Sox bats could not give themselves a chance. The Red Sox are now three games back in the wild-card race but still have an opportunity to gain ground this series.

Paxton had one of his worst starts as a Red Sox. From the very first pitch, the Blue Jays were all over Paxton. Second baseman Whit Merrifield sent the first pitch of the night into the Monster Seats, giving the Blue Jays an early 1-0 lead. After a flyout from right fielder George Springer, first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a home run, giving the fans in the Monster Seats their second souvenir of the night and making it 2-0, Blue Jays.

In the second inning, with one out, second baseman Davis Schneider launched a 377-foot homer in his first major league at-bat, extending the Blue Jays’ lead to 3-0.

Paxton ended up giving up another run and exited after only five innings. The game was all about Paxtons control, or lack thereof. The home runs were all against pitches located in the middle of the zone. Against a lineup like Toronto’s, they will make you pay for missing your spot, as they did this game.

The Red Sox offense simply was not up for the challenge created by the pitching staff’s struggles. Catcher Connor Wong led off the third inning with a strikeout. In his first Red Sox at-bat, second baseman Luis Urias walked. Shortstop Yu Chang then lined out sharply, keeping Urias at first with two outs. The next batter, center fielder Jarren Duran, then hit an opposite-field home run, making the score 3-2, Blue Jays.

Unfortunately for the Sox, they would not score again until the seventh inning, unlike the Blue Jays, who scored in the next inning. After shortstop Paul DeJong struck out to begin the inning, center fielder Daulton Varsho singled. Merrifield struck out before Springer doubled off the wall in center to bring Varsho home and make it 4-2, Jays. Varsho once again impacted the game when he led off the sixth inning with a home run.

The Blue Jays cruised to an easy win, with the final score being 7-3. With the Red Sox dropping game one of the series, it is even more important for them to bounce back the next game. The Red Sox will have a bullpen game starting with reliever John Schreiber. Schreiber will look to bounce back from his last pitching appearance which saw him allow four runs in just one inning against the Mariners. The Jays will start Jose Berrios. Berrios last start was against the Angels and he went six innings, allowing only one run. The Red Sox look to snap their two-game losing streak and even this huge series against the Blue Jays.

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