Red Sox, Lester hope to break the brooms out on Blue Jays
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jon Lester tries to win for the fifth time in his last six decisions on Sunday when the Boston Red Sox aim for a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Red Sox, who are just one percentage point ahead of the last-place Blue Jays in the AL East, will be attempting their first three-game win streak since a four-gamer from July 28-31. Also, Boston is going after just its second road sweep of the season and its first since taking all three games from April 23-25 at Minnesota.
Lester walked a career-high seven in Tuesday's victory over the Yankees, but he didn't get a decision. He's 11-6 with a 3.86 ERA in 21 games against Toronto.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Brandon Morrow has losses in three of his last five starts and is coming off a defeat to the Mariners on Tuesday when he gave up 11 hits and four runs over 4 2/3 innings. Morrow is 1-3 with a 9.53 ERA in 15 games (7 starts) versus Boston.
On Saturday, Pedro Ciriaco's RBI double in the ninth lifted the Red Sox to a 3-2 win. Cody Ross homered and scored twice, while Jarrod Saltalamacchia added two hits and drove in a run.
"It's always a good sign when we keep on fighting. It's not like we're going to lay down and die," Saltalamacchia said. "Even though we're as far out as we are, it shows a lot about the character of the club."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Craig Breslow (1-0) tossed a scoreless eighth and Andrew Bailey followed suit in the ninth for his fourth save and second in as many games.
Yunel Escobar and Adam Lind each drove in a run for the Blue Jays, who have dropped four of five overall.
Steve Delabar (4-2) surrendered the deciding run over his 1 1/3 relief frames.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}If the Red Sox lose the finale they'll clinch their first non-winning season since 1997.
Toronto, which has lost eight of its last 10 home games overall, holds a 10-7 lead in the season series.