Brayan Bello allowed eight hits as the Red Sox were blown out by the Blue Jays at Fenway. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)Getty Images
BOSTON — Instant reactions as Brayan Bello is hit around and the Red Sox (40-43) are blown out, 9-0, by the Blue Jays and lose their season-high sixth straight game Friday night at Fenway:
1) Bello had one of the least quality “quality starts” you’ll see in the big leagues this year. He only allowed three earned runs in six innings… but the hits came early and often, totaling eight. Bello also walked three and needed 104 pitches to get 18 outs.
Bello had been more efficient in recent outings but Friday was a step back. He needed 30 pitches to get through the first inning and was at 52 in two innings, running into traffic in the first, second and third.
2) Continuing an alarming recent trend in the post-Rafael Devers era, Boston’s bats were quiet. The Sox totaled just four hits — all against José Berríos in his seven shutout innings. Roman Anthony’s first-inning ground-rule double marked Boston’s only extra-base hit. Boston walked just twice in the defeat and left three on base the entire game.
The Red Sox have now scored 28 runs in 10 games (2.8 runs per game) since trading Devers and have a total of four runs in their last three defeats.
3) The Red Sox’ six-game losing streak marks their longest such skid since September 2022 (Sept. 21-26). Boston had five-game losing streaks in 2023 (three times), 2024 (once) and earlier this season, from May 24-28). They haven’t lost seven or more in a row since a nine-game losing streak in August 2020.
Friday’s loss was the team’s first home shutout of 2025 — and the third overall.
4) Abraham Toro was a nice story early on. However, he’s now in a prolonged slump. Toro entered Friday — when he hit second — hitting just .171 (6-for-35) with a .416 OPS in an 11-game span dating back to June 13. He then went 0-for-4 and made an error in the field, too.
Boston has employed the Toro/Romy Gonzalez band-aid at first base with more success than many would have thought when Triston Casas went down in early May. But at some point, a better option will emerge. Kristian Campbell is obviously one option.
5) Reliever Luis Guerrero had another poor outing, allowing two runs and two hits (while also issuing a walk) and recording a single out in the seventh. Guerrero had an 0.93 ERA in his first six MLB outings of 2025 but has now walked 11 in 10 innings dating back to June 4.
The Red Sox will soon need a bullpen spot for Jordan Hicks when he returns from the injured list. At that point, they could decide Guerrero needs a reset at Triple-A.
6) Brennan Bernardino didn’t paint himself in glory, either. He walked four batters in relief of Guerrero and allowed four runs. His ERA rose from 3.34 to 4.40 in his 36th appearance of 2025.
It was Bernardino’s second appearance with three or more walks this year. In total, Boston’s staff issued eight walks and struck out just two batters. Toronto had 16 hits.
The Red Sox have handed out 8+ walks in three of their last seven games after doing that just once in the first 76 games of the year.
7) Utility man Nate Eaton pitched a scoreless ninth inning. It was the second time a Red Sox position player has tossed an inning this year; Toro did it in a blowout win over Baltimore on May 23.
8) Right-hander Lucas Giolito (3-1, 4.53 ERA) will be tasked with trying to right the ship for the Red Sox on Saturday. Veteran Chris Bassitt (7-3, 3.61 ERA) will pitch for the Blue Jays. First pitch is at 4:10 p.m. ET.
Giolito, who took a no-decision in his last outing in San Francisco, has gone six innings in his last three starts. He owns a 1.00 ERA (2 ER in 18 innings) with 19 strikeouts in that span.