Streaking Red Sox resume set with Blue Jays

(SportsNetwork.com) - The Boston Red Sox go after a sixth straight win on Tuesday when they continue a four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Boston's bats exploded in Monday's opener, as David Ortiz belted a pair of two-run homers, Stephen Drew homered and drove in four runs and the Red Sox pummeled the Blue Jays, 14-1.

Mike Napoli went 3-for-5 with a solo homer and three runs scored, while Jackie Bradley Jr. and Christian Vazquez each had two RBI for the surging Red Sox, winners in eight of their last nine.

"We had a good offensive approach up and down the lineup," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "It was a well played game in all phases."

Boston's season-high output overshadowed a terrific outing from John Lackey (11-6), who did his part with seven innings of one-run, two-hit ball.

The Blue Jays, fresh off a series win against the Texas Rangers, only produced one run via consecutive doubles from Erik Kratz and Juan Francisco in the third inning.

Drew Hutchison (6-9) did not make it out of the top half of the third en route to his fifth loss in his last six starts.

"It was a bad night," Hutchison said. "I didn't give us a chance to win."

Hoping for similar support tonight the Red Sox will rely on righty Jake Peavy, whose only win this season came against the Jays. He's dropped eight decisions since that win back on April 25 and is a miserable 1-8 on the year with a 4.59 ERA.

"You kind of put that aside. He's worked deep into games. He's pitched low-run games. A number of days he's pitched on the wrong day, and days we haven't supported him with a lot of offense," Farrell said. "But more importantly, he's done a very good job of separating some tough luck situations ... and not letting it affect his performance."

Toronto, meanwhile, will hand the ball to lefty J.A. Happ, who is 7-5 with a 4.91 ERA. Happ hasn't started since giving up five runs over 4 1/3 innings in a loss to the Los Angeles Angels back on July 7, but pitched in relief on July 12 against Tampa, surrendering two runs in just two-thirds of an inning.

Happ is 2-2 in six games (5 starts) versus the Red Sox with a 5.33 ERA.

Despite Monday's shellacking Toronto has won four of its seven meetings with the Red Sox this season.