Boston @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 10, 2010 ) Boston 7, Toronto 5

A much-needed offensive outburst led the Boston Red Sox to victory Monday night.

They might have a difficult time duplicating that performance on Tuesday.

Toronto starter Shaun Marcum looks to continue his career dominance over the division-rival Red Sox as the teams continue their three-game series at the Rogers Centre. Boston enters have won four of its last six games, while the Blue Jays have victories in five of their last seven.

The Boston bats were alive in Monday's series curtain-raiser, as the Red Sox used a balanced attack and timely hitting to earn a 7-5 victory. Eight players had at least one hit – including third baseman Mike Lowell, whose tiebreaking solo home run in the eighth inning was the difference.

The seven-run, 11-hit attack came as a relief to a Boston team that had managed just six runs in its previous three games. The Red Sox hadn't scored more than six runs in a game since a July 28 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

A repeat effort may prove elusive against Marcum (10-5), who has enjoyed more success against Boston than any other major-league team. The 28-year-old has a 5-2 career mark against the Red Sox, with a 2.91 ERA over 55 2/3 innings.

Marcum has been especially stingy against Boston this season, sporting a 1-0 record with a 0.71 ERA in two outings. He was masterful in his previous showdown with the Red Sox on May 12, allowing just two hits over seven shutout innings while striking out six. The Jays went on to win 3-2.

The veteran right-hander struggled last time out, tagged for five runs in six innings of a 5-1 loss to the New York Yankees.

The Red Sox counter with electric righty Clay Buchholz (12-5). The 26-year-old made out better than Marcum in his previous outing, allowing three runs over 7 1/3 innings to beat the Yankees 6-3. He has been tremendous away from Fenway Park this season, going 7-2 with a 2.52 ERA.

Buchholz is 4-3 lifetime against the Blue Jays, with a 3.30 ERA over 43 2/3 innings. He last faced them April 27, surrendering a lone run in eight innings to earn a 2-1 victory.

He'll be facing a Blue Jays lineup that continues to mash. Toronto added three home runs in defeat Tuesday, led by Jose Bautista's major league-leading 35th of the campaign. The Jay now have 178 on the season, 29 more than the runner-up Red Sox.

Despite the power chasm, Boston continues to dominate where it counts. Monday's victory improved the Red Sox to 8-2 against Toronto this season, including a 6-1 mark at the Rogers Centre.