Sox's streak ends as Jays pounce on Paxton

BOSTON -- A big AL Wild Card showdown started at Fenway Park on Friday night, and the Red Sox were hoping to set the tone for the weekend with a strong opening act.

Instead, the Blue Jays were the tone-setters from the very first pitch, which Whit Merrifield hammered off James Paxton for a homer that caromed off a sign behind the Green Monster seats. Two batters later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. smashed a solo shot that soared over the wall in left.

Those early salvos -- which were followed by others in a five-homer night for Toronto -- led the Jays to a 7-3 victory over the Red Sox.

Boston fell to three games behind Toronto (two in the loss column) for the third American League Wild Card spot.

It was the fifth loss in the last six games for the Red Sox (57-52). The defeat also snapped the 7-0 run Boston had against Toronto this season entering Friday.

“It’s always tough, but it’s just one game,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “Let’s not make a big deal out of it. At one point, they were going to beat us.”

After his name swirled in trade rumors for days, Paxton stayed put, but he didn’t turn in the type of strong outing that he has made commonplace this season.

The lefty went five innings, giving up nine hits and four runs, walking two and striking out four.

“Whit is swinging the bat great. He was ready to swing first pitch, and that happened,” Cora said. “I think the next pitch to Vlad was a cutter that wasn't in enough. I think location-wise, [Paxton] was off. He didn’t have a secondary pitch. The breaking ball wasn’t great today.

“So he had to be creative and give us as much as possible, which he did, right? It was a 4-2 game when he came out. So you got to tip your hat to him, because without his best stuff, he was able to give us a chance to win the game.”

This was just the third time in Paxton’s 14 starts he’s allowed more than three earned runs. For just the third time in his career, he gave up three home runs or more.

“Yeah, I left some balls over the middle of the plate and they did damage,” Paxton said. “They’re good hitters. My rhythm felt fine. The ball just wasn’t jumping out of my hand very well tonight. Really had to work hard in those last two innings to keep it close.”

With bullpen games lined up for the final two games of the series, the Red Sox had hoped for a lengthier outing from Paxton.

Jarren Duran, who is having a breakout season after a tough initiation to the Major Leagues in 2021-22, brought some electricity to Fenway when he smashed a two-run homer over the Monster against Alek Manoah in the third inning.

“I'm just sticking with my approach, what we talk about in the hitters’ meeting," Duran said. "Trying to stay dialed in with what [hitting coach Peter Fatse] and everyone is talking about, plus guys like [Justin Turner], I just listen to them talk and put their two cents into my game plan.”

As for Paxton’s game plan, he never quite got into a groove with it.

Given Paxton’s injury history in recent years, Cora has tried to give him extra rest as much as possible. Paxton still had one extra day of rest on Friday. But it marked the first time he pitched on less than six days' rest since June 30.

“My body felt great,” Paxton said. “I don't think that has anything to do with it. Just get back to work this week and get ready for the next one."

With the Sox playing 10 games in 10 days on this homestand, there’s a chance Paxton will make his next start on four days' rest, something he’s done just twice this season.

The Red Sox are looking forward to the chance on Saturday to wipe away the sour taste of the series opener.

“It’s one game,” Duran said. “It’s over and done with. We’re gonna flush it. It’s baseball, it happens. They came out swinging and they got some good swings off early and we put up a couple of runs, but it’s baseball, it happens. You’re going to win some and lose some, but we have confidence in ourselves.”