Bard, Bullpen Falter As Red Sox Lose 7-3 To Blue Jays

Daniel Bard's first Major League start had its positive moments, but he was ultimately tagged with the loss as the offense continued to sputter and reliever Justin Thomas was unable to contain the Blue Jays in a 3-run Toronto 6th inning.

Bard was charged with 5 runs in 5 plus innings; he allowed 8 hits and 2 walks while striking out 6. He threw 96 pitches, 65 of which were strikes.

Justin Thomas came on in relief of Bard in the bottom of the 6th. He walked the first batter he saw, and gave up a two-run single; a sacrifice fly plated another run. Toronto added another run on a solo blast off reliever Michaek Bowden by Edwin Encarnacion.

What it means is yet another loss in the early goings of the 2012 season which looks an awful lot like the end of the 2011 season.


NOTES - Kevin Youkilis doubled in the top of the 2nd off Blue Jays starter Kyle Drabek for his first hit of the 2012 season. He added a single in the top of the 8th.

Most of Bard's strikeouts came on off-speed pitches. He did a decent job of mixing his pitches up after going through the Toronto lineup the first time.

The Red Sox offense was mostly ineffective. Boston managed 9 hits off four Toronto pitchers; Dustin Pedroia had 3. The only Boston runs scored on a sacrifice fly in the 6th and a 2-RBI double in the 9th by Adrian Gonzalez.

Nick Punto started at short over Mike Aviles (ankle).

Anyone keeping tabs on Ryan Lavarnway's season in Pawtucket? Jarrod Saltalamacchia had another painful night a the plate.

Hopefully, the sting of the 4th Red Sox loss of the season was lessened by the Celtics 115-107 win over the Heat in Miami.