The Red Sox collected eighteen hits, six walks, two homers, and sixteen runs.
Yes, they won the game, 16-4.
Clearly not happy with their paltry 5-1 win on Friday, the Red Sox kicked it into another gear on Saturday. They scored four times in the third inning with the top of the lineup providing three straight hits to score the first before an intentional walk and a bases loaded hit batter (Jed Lowrie) brought in another. Carl Crawford and Marco Scutaro finished the job with a sacrifice fly and a single.
But that wasn't the big inning. No, that came in the fifth. After John Lackey had let the Blue Jays back in the game a bit in the fourth by giving up a two-run double to Rajai Davis, the Sox quickly went about putting it back away. Again the Sox picked up three straight hits--though from the six-through-eight men--but this time, they got their big hit: a three-run bomb from Jason Varitek. It was one of two they would receive in the fifth, as David Ortiz launched one of his own against reliever Jason Frasor just a few batters later.
It just was not a very difficult day for Red Sox batters. Jacoby Ellsbury notched his fifth straight multi-hit game, Dustin Pedroia had three of his own for the second straight game, and Marco Scutaro picked up four base knocks in his fourth game back from injury.
Also reasonably impressive was John Lackey. While he would give up four runs thanks to a sixth-inning bomb from Edwin Encarnacion, he was able to hit the strike zone with some regularity, and got his fair share of swings-and-misses en route to an eight strikeout performance. An encouraging sign where any are readily appreciated.
The Sox are on their longest winning streak of the year and finally playing 96-win ball 64 games into the season. Jon Lester will have the chance to make it nine-in-a-row tomorrow against Kyle Drabek.