Jerry Remy

NESN’s Jerry Remy talked with Dennis & Callahan Wednesday about Will Middlebrooks‘ lack of patience at the plate, David Ortiz‘ hitting and what went wrong in the Sox’ 9-7 loss to Toronto on Tuesday.

Jon Lester had his first rough outing of the year Tuesday, allowing six runs (five earned) over six innings, and Remy said it was the first time this season he simply hadn’t looked sharp.

“The thing that was missing mostly was the cut fastball, which is obviously his best pitch, and he didn’t have control of it all night, and they weren’t chasing it down in the zone,” Remy said. “One of those outings that he hasn’t had so far this season, and he had it last night. And I can tell you they’re facing a different lineup up here than they did the first time, because they got [Jose] Bautista in there and they got [Brett] Lawrie in there, so they’re a much better offensive ball club.”

On the positive side, Ortiz continued to hit as he’s done consistently since he returned to the lineup, with a double and a home run on Tuesday. He’s hitting .500 and slugging .917 over nine games.

“I’ve never seen anything like this in my life,” Remy said. “This guy goes basically with no spring training, did not play for half of last year, goes down to the minor leagues and has 18 at-bats, and is swinging the bat as good as you’ve ever seen him swing it. He’s on everything. He’s just amazing the way he’s swinging the bat right now. He made the adjustment a couple of years ago of using the opposite field — anytime he goes into a little bit of a dip, he finds left field. He’ll take that fastball away, and instead of trying to pull it through the shift he’ll drive one the other way, and this has been remarkable to watch him hitting it all over the ballpark. … I’ve never seen a guy with so few at-bats coming into the season, especially minor league at-bats, to come up to the big leagues and swing the bat the way he has.”

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Jarrod Saltalamacchia

TORONTO – In a game full of pivotal plays, it was one of the more notable ones.

With the bases-loaded, and the Blue Jays already carrying a 1-0 lead, Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia attempted a back-door pick-off play with first baseman Mike Napoli. The plan was to catch Jose Bautista cheating off first, a ploy hatched knowing the Toronto slugger liked to cheat a bit out in his leads.

But Saltalamacchia’s throw went well wide of first, sailing into right field, allowing two runs to score.

As it turned out, however, there might have been a reason for the errant toss.

“It looked like he got tied up with [home plate umpire] Clint [Fagan] behind the plate,” said Red Sox manager John Farrell. “He goes to cock his arm, had his hand hits the mask. After conferring with the umpire, he felt like it was after the ball was released. Physically, I don’t know how that could have happened after he released the ball. But in that case, that should have been a dead ball in the situation that it was, but they kept it as it was.”

It was an entanglement Saltalamacchia confirmed after the Red Sox’ 9-7 loss at Rogers Centre.

“I got it, went to go through it, elbow hit the umpire’s mask,” the catcher explained. “Which I’ve done in the past but no one’s ever said anything. But I didn’t really make a stink about it because I didn’t know the ruling on it. But now I know once it hits his mask it’s got to be a dead ball. It definitely, definitely hit. Part of the game.”

As for any subsequent conversations, Saltalamacchia said, “I did talk to him because he had told John that I hit him on the follow thru, which is kind of impossible. But I did tell him that, and he said, ‘Well, I thought you did.’ I told him that ‘when my arm is going back is when I felt it hit you.’ At that point I was already getting ready to go forward so I couldn’t hold up.”

Junichi Tazawa

TORONTO — Just when it looked like the Red Sox were going to will themselves to another win, Edwin Encarnacion got another at-bat.

Encarnacion gave the Blue Jays the lead for good with a two-run, seventh-inning homer off Sox reliever Junichi Tazawa, propelling Toronto to an 9-7 win over the Red Sox Tuesday night at Rogers Centre. It was Encarnacion’s second homer of the game.

The loss snaps a five-game Red Sox win streak, while also handing starter Jon Lester his first loss of the season. Lester, who drops to 4-1, allowed six runs on six hits over six innings, striking out five and walking two. The lefty’s ERA went from 2.27 to 3.11.

“Edwin is a very good hitter,” said Red Sox manager John Farrell.“Obviously he’s been very productive here the last couple of years. He gets a cutter that doesn’t get to the spot off Lester for the first two-run homer, and then a 2-1 fastball that leaked back towards the middle of the plate after we score the three runs in that seventh inning. I thought we did a great job of fighting back into this. We staked them to a 4-0 lead. We fight back, take the lead with a four-run seventh and then give it right back. But they’ve got a quick-strike offense, and they swung the bat very well tonight.”

Earlier in the seventh, it appeared as though the Red Sox were going to be able to keep their win streak going when David Ortiz ripped a bases-loaded double into the right-center field gap, scoring three and giving the visitors a one-run lead. With the hit off of Blue Jays’ reliever Steve Delebar, Ortiz is now 15-for-25 against right-handed pitching this season.

“It was a good game, everybody did what they were supposed to,” Ortiz said. “They ended up scoring a couple of runs against us at the end of the game. it was a good game. just come back tomorrow and have the same attitude.”

But after retiring his first two batters, Tazawa ran into trouble. The reliever first issued a free pass to Jose Bautista after going to a full-count. He then went to 2-and-1 on Encarnacion before the Jays’ first baseman deposited the pitcher’s 94 mph fastball over the center field fence.

The Jays added an insurance run against newly-activated Joel Hanrahan in the eighth when Colby Rasmus singled in J.P. Arencibia, who had led off the inning with a single of his own.

“It felt good. I felt like I made some decent pitches that got hit,” Hanrahan said. “Any time you get that leadoff guy on, it makes it a little harder. Overall, my health felt good. It’s a step in the right direction. Unfortunately gave up that run right there. Want to keep it to one run. I felt good – obviously it could’ve been better. I’m not going to be down about this outing. For me, it’s a step in the direction.”

Here is what went wrong (and right) for the Red Sox in their eighth loss of the season:

WHAT WENT WRONG

With the count 3-and-1 on Encarnacion and the bases-loaded with nobody out, Jarrod Saltalamacchia attempted to pick off Jose Bautista at first. But the throw went well wide of first baseman Mike Napoli, resulting in a pair of runs scoring, giving the Jays a 3-0 lead in the third. The Jays had initially jumped out to a 1-0 lead thanks to Bautista’s RBI double in the first. The throw went awry in part because Saltalamacchia’s throwing hand glanced home plate umpire’s Clint Fagan’s mask.

“It looked like he got tied up with Clint behind the plate,” Farrell said. “He goes to cock his arm, had his hand hits the mask. After conferring with the umpire, he felt like it was after the ball was released. Physically, I don’t know how that could have happened after he released the ball. But in that case, that should have been a dead ball in the situation that it was, but they kept it as it was.”

With two outs and Jacoby Ellsbury representing the potential game-tying run at second, Brandon Morrow caught the outfielder leaning, picking him off to end the inning and the threat.

“Not a real good heads-up play given the game situation, the fact that it looked like Morrow was starting to fatigue a little bit and with Napoli and Ortiz coming behind him,” Farrell said. “Just trying to be aggressive, and it didn’t work out this time.”

After the Red Sox cut their deficit to one run with a score in the fifth, the Blue Jays responded with two more of their own with Encarnacion’s two-run blast, coming on a 3-and-1 offering from Lester. The blast reached Roger Centre’s 500 Level, only the 14th time it has been done.

Napoli struck out four times, the second time he has managed the feat. (The only other occasion came June 11, 2010.)

WHAT WENT RIGHT

Ortiz and Mike Carp helped bring the Red Sox back with two runs with a pair of solo home runs in the fourth inning. Ortiz’ blast, clearing the center field wall, was his third of the season, while improving his average against right-handers to .636 (14-for-22). Carp, meanwhile, had seen eight of his 11 hits go for extra-bases with the homer.

“In 2011 I felt like I got a hit every day between Triple-A and the big leagues. It was a good run. But not like this,” Carp said. “Not when playing time is sporadic, where you’re getting two at-bats or pinch-hitting. It’s definitely something to hold on and try to keep going.”

Stephen Drew finished off an all-round well-executed scoring play for the Sox in the fifth. Dustin Pedroia ripped Brandon Morrow’s 0-2 pitch back up the middle, sending Drew home. The Sox’ shortstop narrowly beat the throw from center fielder Colby Rasmus thanks to a slide that allowed his right hand to just catch the plate. It brought the Red Sox to within a run at the time.

Pedroia momentarily saved a run in the third when he made a nifty back-hand of a Melky Cabrera one-hopper with the infield drawn in. The second baseman was able to bounce up, look Bautista back at third and get the out at first. Unfortunately for the Red Sox, on the next at-bat Arencibia rifled a double down the left field line to make it 4-0 Toronto.

Jonny Gomes made Red Sox manager John Farrell’s move to pinch-hit the right-handed hitter for Carp – who had already homered – look good in the sixth inning. It was the first pinch-hit home run for the Red Sox since Will Middlebrooks’ managed one Aug. 7, 2011 against Ryan Dempster. It also snapped Aaron Loup’s stretch of 44 straight appearances without giving up a home run, the longest such streak by any Blue Jays to start a career.

Shane Victorino

TORONTO – The Red Sox are still banking on Shane Victorino getting better.

While the outfielder was out of the lineup for a fifth straight game due to back spasms, the Sox were still hoping his ailment takes a turn for the better before their series at Rogers Centre is done.

“He’s showing some improvement. He went out and hit in the cage off the tee. He threw. He went through some not only treatment but other exercises in the gym, and while he’s not unavailable tonight, there is some improvement continuing to be made,” said Red Sox manager John Farrell.

Asked about a possible stint on the disabled list, the Red Sox manager said, “We’re hopeful there’s a chance. As we get through the end of this series, though, we may have to consider some roster change. But based on the improvement that he’s shown, we’re still hopeful.”

The Red Sox are 14-5 with Victorino in the lineup, with the right fielder hitting .292 with a .677 OPS, three stolen bases and 12 runs.

“We stated before that it would be great if we could get him to the point that he was ready go and then maybe give him one more day to ensure that,” Farrell added. “While he’s making progress, we’ve got to be cautious at the same time that it flared up twice in an eight-day period. Every step along those lines are being taken.”

- With their 9-17 start, Toronto manager John Gibbons came under a pointed line of questioning prior to the series opener.

Regarding the Jays’ attitude: “Let me tell you, the attitude of the team is great. That’s not a problem. We’re just not winning games. We’re playing a lot of close games, we’re just not winning them. As far as the attitude, sure, they’re pressing a lot. But there’s absolutely nothing wrong with our attitude.”

Does the team have enough swagger?: “I’ve got no problem with that. What does swagger get you? It’s making a pitch, getting a big hit, making a defensive play. That’s what wins it for you. Swagger? I swagger but I was born that way. It’s bad genetics.”

Can the Jays still make the playoffs?: “Yes, otherwise we wouldn’t be here. I don’t know if you ever concede anything. You have to remember when guys get to this level they’re a little bit different now. They’re at the top of the game. They play to win. You take your knocks along the way just getting here. You don’t expect it to be easy. We’ll see. We definitely have to play better.”

Regarding the heat he might be taking: “I’ve been here before, now. Let’s be honest. That’s just the way it goes. I can deal with it. I totally understand the frustration. Like I said before, they’re not near as frustrated as we are. That’s the point. But a few wins can cure a lot of things, so hopefully we get those.”

Curt Schilling

In the wake of Jason Collins‘ announcement on Monday, former Red Sox ace Curt Schilling was asked Tuesday about the idea of playing alongside a gay teammate.

“How other people want to live their life, that’s their choice,” said Schilling while appearing with WEEI’s “Salk & Holley” Tuesday afternoon. “I played with gay players. I played against gay players. For me, the litmus test is: Can you drive in runs? Can you get an out in the eighth inning? I don’t care who you’re sleeping with, unless it’s my wife. I don’t care. And I would tell you I think most players don’t care.

“I’m glad and sad that this had to happen. I commend him for being the first guy to do it,” he added. “[But] we live in a world of unbelievable double standards. How many lesbian athletes do we know of? Many. Do we care? No. We’ve never cared. Why is a gay man so different?”

Schilling acknowledged he didn’t always feel this way, and added that baseball is occasionally more problematic.

“I would be naive — I think I would be lying, if I said there was probably a time in my career when I wouldn’t have been comfortable, where it would have been awkward,” he said. “Becoming a father, I think, changed everything for me, because the first thing that goes through my head is, That’s somebody’s son. Don’t you always do this? Go back and say, ‘What if that was my kid?’”

“I played with some guys who were gay who didn’t come out. And when I think back to those clubhouses, it was probably a wise decision that they didn’t, because the places they were and where I was, it would have been awkward.”

Joel Hanrahan

TORONTO – Red Sox manager John Farrell met with Joel Hanrahan Tuesday afternoon to let the reliever know he would be filling the set-up role for the time being, having just returned from the 15-day disabled list (right hamstring).

“I had a talk with Farrell for a little bit today and obviously I’ve been out of the game for 15 days so he’s going to kind of work me back in,” Hanrahan said. “[Andrew] Bailey has been doing a heck of a job. I told him I’m comfortable with whatever you want to do. The way the team is playing right now I just want to fit in and do my part to help. I’m just excited to be back.”

According to Hanrahan and Bailey, no long-term plans regarding the closers role has been identified by Farrell.

“We didn’t get that far down the road,” said Hanrhan, who turned in three scoreless outings before struggling in his next three while pitching with a sore hamstring. “Obviously we’re just trying to work back in and see where it plays out. Whatever their decision is is going to be their decision. I’m just trying to help out.”

Bailey is 5-for-6 in save opportunities, carrying a 1.46 ERA while having struck out 20 batters and walked four. Opponents are hitting .140 against the reliever.

Hanrahan has served as a regular closer since the beginning of the 2011 season, having finished the fourth-most games (120) during that span.

“There’s nothing different. My job is to go out there and put a zero,” Hanarhan said. “It doesn’t matter what inning it is. Your job is to go out there and get three people out and put up a zero. You can see how it started out the year with Bziley. He was a closer for a long time, took the eighth inning role, was doing really well and he’s continued that with the ninth. The biggest thing is to go out there and hold the ring, or keep the lead where it’s at, or put up a zero.”

Hanrahan pitched the eighth inning for the Red Sox in their 9-7 loss Tuesday, giving up a run on two hits.

“It felt good. I felt like I made some decent pitches that got hit,” Hanrahan said. “Any time you get that leadoff guy on, it makes it a little harder. Overall, my health felt good. It’s a step in the right direction. Unfortunately gave up that run right there. Want to keep it to one run. I felt good – obviously it could’ve been better. I’m not going to be down about this outing. For me, it’s a step in the direction.”

Daniel Nava will continue his work as the Red Sox’ right fielder and No. 2 hitter with Shane Victorino remaining out of the lineup for a fifth straight game due to his stiff lower back. The Sox will be facing Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow, against whom they’ve enjoyed considerable success, with Jacoby Ellsbury (.444/.474/1.111 with three homers in 20 plate appearances), Dustin Pedroia (.500/.542/1.000 with two homers in 24 plate appearances) and David Ortiz (.429/.556/.929 with two homers in 18 plate appearances) all owning huge numbers against the hard-throwing right-hander.

Sox starter Jon Lester will throw to catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia as he looks to sustain a start that has seen him negotiate a 4-0 record and 2.27 ERA through four starts.

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RED SOX LINEUP

Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Daniel Nava, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
Mike Carp, LF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Stephen Drew, SS

Jon Lester, SP