Currently: - Game info: 7:05 pm EDT Thu Aug 26, 2004
- TV: YES, RSN
The Boston Red Sox used the Toronto Blue Jays to gain some ground on the New York Yankees. The AL East leaders will try to pad their lead again when they open a four-game series at SkyDome.
The Blue Jays lost two of three to the Red Sox, and have dropped 14 of 18 meetings with Boston overall this season. Wednesday’s 11-5 win moved the Red Sox within 5 1/2 games of the Yankees in the East—an unexpected climb up the standings considering Boston was 10 1/2 behind on Aug. 15.
Toronto, which was expected to be competitive in the East this season before getting off to a brutal start and firing manager Carlos Tosca earlier this month, has lost seven of nine meetings to New York this year.
Tosca was fired after an 8-2 loss in New York on Aug. 8. Interim skipper John Gibbons hasn’t had much more luck, going 6-10 since taking over.
However, the Blue Jays can still play a vital role in the division race as they have 10 more games against the Yankees this season, beginning with this week’s four-game set.
After dropping six of its previous seven games, New York appeared to put an end to its sudden slide by taking two straight from Cleveland. However, setup man Tom Gordon squandered a one-run lead in the eighth inning for the second straight night Wednesday as the Yankees suffered a 4-3 loss to the Indians.
“I’m disappointed because I didn’t get the job done,” said Gordon, who appeared in his fourth straight game. “The team fought back to get the lead. I felt fine. I just didn’t make all the pitches.”
Alex Rodriguez was hitless, going 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position, including hitting into a double play. The reigning AL MVP has only six RBIs this month, two in his last 14 games and none since Aug. 19.
In the last meeting between these teams, the Yankees dropped a 5-4 decision in the Bronx on Aug. 9 as the Blue Jays gave Gibbons a victory in his managerial debut.
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