Red Sox Lose to Blue Jays 4-2 Despite Houck's Strong Start

The Boston Red Sox suffered back-to-back losses against the Toronto Blue Jays, with both defeats marked by late-game bullpen collapses that squandered excellent starts from their pitchers. On Thursday, Tanner Houck delivered his best outing of the season, pitching seven strong innings with career-high velocity and allowing only one run, but a crucial misplay by right fielder Wilyer Abreu and a three-run homer surrendered by reliever Justin Slaten in the eighth inning turned a 2-1 lead into a 4-2 loss. The night before, the bullpen had also blown a lead, resulting in a walk-off loss after a solid start by Lucas Giolito. Slaten, who took losses both nights, now faces questions regarding his role in high-leverage bullpen situations. Offensive struggles and a lack of run support further compounded the Red Sox's woes, as the team dropped the series and continued its poor record against Toronto this season. Manager Alex Cora acknowledged the frustration, emphasizing the quality of the starting pitching performances despite the disappointing outcomes.