The Sox struck first right off the bat against Castillo in the top of the first inning as Darren Lewis walked to start. Lewis was thrown out trying to steal and Jeff Frye took strike three, but Trot Nixon launched his 8th home run of the year to put Boston on top. Nomar Garciaparra flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.
The Jays looked to answer in the bottom of the first when Shannon Stewart walked to start. Alex Gonzalez struck out but Jason Varitek airmailed a throw to second that allowed Stewart to swipe second and advance to third. Raul Mondesi popped up to first and Carlos Delgado flied out to left to end the inning.
The Sox struck again when Carl Everett pounded his 23rd home run of the season to start the top of the second. Brian Daubach grounded back to the mound but Jason Varitek drew a walk. Manny Alexander singled to center but Wilton Veras struck out swinging. Lewis grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox up 2-0.
The Jays pounced in the bottom of the second as Brad Fullmer hit a home run all the way to Winnipeg to cut the lead instantly. Tony Batista took strike three and Jose Cruz Jr grounded out to second but Alberto Castillo doubled to right. Homer Bush singled in Castillo to tie the game before swiping second. Stewart flied out to center to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.
Castillo settled down in the top of the third as Frye grounded out to short to start. Nixon got a base hit to right but Nomar forced him at seconds and Everett popped up to third to end the inning. The Jays took command in the bottom of the third as Gonzalez singled to center and Mondesi cracked a home run all the way to Montreal to put the Jays up for good. Delgado flied out to center, Fullmer grounded out to first and Batista struck out swinging to end the inning with the Jays up 4-2.
The Sox failed to respond in the top of the fourth as Daubach whiffed to start. Varitek grounded out to second and Alexander grounded out to third to end the inning. The Jays finished off Wasdin in the bottom of the fourth as Cruz Jr belted a home run all the way to Ottawa to start. Castillo grounded back to the mound, Bush grounded out to short and Stewart singled to center. Stewart tried to stretch a double but was thrown out at second to end the inning with the Jays up 5-2. "Way Back" Wasdin lived up to his billing as he allowed 3 homers and 5 runs in his spot start.
Castillo cruised in the top of the fifth inning as Veras grounded back to the mound to begin. Lewis grounded out to second and Frye lined out to second to end the inning. Bryce Florie came in for the bottom of the fifth and Gonzalez grounded out to short to start. Mondesi grounded back to the mound but Delgado and Fullmer stroked back to back base hits. Batista popped up to first to end the inning.
The Sox mustered nothing in the top of the sixth as Nixon flied out to center to start. Nomar flied out to right and Everett popped up to third to end the inning. Tim Wakefield took over for the bottom of the sixth and Cruz Jr popped up to third to start. Castillo took strike three and Bush grounded out to short to end the inning.
Castillo dominated the top of the seventh as Daubach hit one up the elevator shaft to start. Varitek flied out to left and Alexander went down hacking to end the inning. Wakefield returned for the top of the seventh and Stewart grounded out to third to start. Gonzalez flied out to center and Mondesi popped up to second to end the inning.
The Sox finally sprung to life in the top of the eighth although Veras flied out to center to start. Lewis and Frye stroked back to back doubles to cut the lead and chase Castillo from the game. Pedro Borbon Jr came in and Frye got himself thrown out at third on a grounder by Nixon. Jays closer Billy Koch came in for the four out save with Curtis Pride now running for Nixon. Nomar walked and Everett doubled Pride home to make himself the go-ahead run at second base. Daubach walked to load the bases but Varitek popped up to left to end the inning. Still, the Sox had clawed back within a run to make it 5-4.
Wakefield held the fort in the bottom of the eighth although Delgado walked to start. Fullmer flied out to right but Batista banged into a double play to end the inning.
The Sox went quietly in the top of the ninth as Alexander grounded out to third to start. Scott Hatteberg pinch hit for Veras and struck out swinging. Lewis grounded out to second to end the game. The Jays had held off the Sox to take over first place 5-4.
Jackass of the Night is John Wasdin. "Way Back" allowed 5 runs in 4 innings and put the Sox in a hole they couldn't climb out of.
The Good:
Trot Nixon was 2 for 4 with a home run.
Curtis Pride scored a run as a pinch runner.
Bryce Florie pitched a scoreless 5th inning.
Carl Everett was 2 for 4 with 2 total rbis and a solo home run.
Tim Wakefield tossed 3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Wilton Veras was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Scott Hatteberg struck out as a pinch hitter.
The Ugly:
Darren Lewis was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored a run.
Jeff Frye was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Nomar Garciaparra was 0 for 3 but walked.
Brian Daubach was 0 for 3 but walked.
Jason Varitek was 0 for 3 with an error but walked.
Manny Alexander was just 1 for 4.
Final Thoughts:
Too bad the Sox couldn't overcome the lousy spot start by Wasdin in this one. They had their chances in the 8th and 9th inning but just couldn't deliver the knockout punch. Kudos to Wakefield and Florie for holding the fort after Wasdin was sent packing. The Sox need to do something offensively as well as in the rotation because the bottom of the order is a black hole. If Troy O'Leary can get his head in the game when he comes off the DL, that will help big time since Darren Lewis is coming back to earth. The Toronto offense is for real and they can bop with the New York Yankees. Maybe its time to consider them a serious threat. The loss dropped the Sox to 37-32, 0.5 games behind the Jays for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow afternoon the Sox look to bounce back against the Jays when they send Brian Rose (3-4) up against Roy Halladay at 4:05 PM at the Skydome.
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