The Red Sox were gunning for a doubleheader on a Saturday in July 1923 when Cleveland racked up runs in every frame, with the biggest margin coming in a 13-run sixth, en route to a 27-3 thrashing in Game 1.
The number of runs allowed was the highest in Red Sox franchise history, prior to Friday night.
The Blue Jays set franchise records in runs and hits to win the series opener at Fenway Park with a 28-5 score in the first game following the All-Star break, ending the Red Sox’s drought.
With Toronto leading by two games for the third American League Wild Card berth, Boston was aware of the significance of this three-game series against the Blue Jays.
The Red Sox used their summer break to consider how to stay in playoff contention in an AL East where they had not yet won a series after dropping 10 of their final 13 games.
The starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi gave up nine runs in 2 2/3 innings, which is a season-high for earned runs.
However, that was not his shortest appearance; that occurred on May 17 against the Astros, when he surrendered nine runs (six earned) in just one and a third innings.
The second inning saw all nine runs scored, making it the most runs Boston had given up in a single inning this year.
In the fifth inning, the Blue Jays outdid themselves by scoring 11 runs on six singles and two doubles. Their progress and the subsequent win were aided by Red Sox,
