(Sports Network) - The Boston Red Sox try to continue their recent mastery of the Toronto Blue Jays this afternoon when they go for a sweep in their three- game series at Rogers Centre,
Boston won for the ninth time in 11 chances against its American League East foes on Wednesday. Bill Hall hit a pair of homers and drove in four runs, as Boston used the long ball to support Clay Buchholz in a 10-1 pounding of Toronto up north.
Hall finished 3-for-5, Adrian Beltre hit a three-run home run and Mike Lowell contributed three hits, an RBI and run scored. Buchholz (13-5) had superb movement on his pitches Wednesday, surrendering one unearned run on five hits with four strikeouts and two walks over eight frames for the Red Sox, winners of three in a row.
"It's a fun game to be a part of because as the game rolls on you always have something going on," Buchholz said. "It wasn't a boring game by any means. Fortunately I was able to throw eight innings and keep the team in the game for a win."
Shaun Marcum (10-6) was hit hard for eight runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and three walks over four-plus frames. He gave up four home runs as well in the losing effort. Adam Lind finished with three hits for the Blue Jays, who have dropped two straight.
"Marcum certainly didn't have his good stuff tonight," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said. "They kind of beat up on us."
Despite the two losses to start this series, Toronto has still won 11 of its last 14 games against the AL East.
Getting the call for the Red Sox this afternoon will be right-hander John Lackey, who has lost his last two starts and four of his past five decisions. He fell to 10-7 on Saturday in New York, as the Yankees reached him for five runs and eight hits in six innings.
Lackey has allowed 11 runs in his last two starts and has seen his earned run average rise to 4.60.
He was hit hard for seven runs in 4 2/3 innings in a loss to Toronto back on July 10 and is 4-4 lifetime against them with a 4.29 ERA in 13 starts.
Toronto will counter with young lefty Brad Mills, who will be making his third start of the season. After winning his season debut, Mills did not get a decision on Saturday against Tampa Bay, which hit him for five runs and five hits in four innings of a wild 17-11 Blue Jays' win.