Things have gotten so bleak in Red Sox Nation in recent days that Saturday afternoon’s 4-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays counted as a bright spot. Yes, Boston once again lost to an AL East opponent and fell further away from an increasingly unlikely playoff spot, but at least this time it wasn’t the most embarrassing regular season loss in franchise history.
It wasn’t just that the Red Sox did something they had never done before on Friday night, namely give up 28 runs in nine innings. No, it was the manner in which it happened. Their 28-5 loss to the Blue Jays was a clinic in how not to play baseball. It came complete with a starting pitcher getting knocked out early, an overworked bullpen failing to get outs and fielders brutally botching defensive plays.
