BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox were unable to solve the puzzle that is the Toronto Blue Jays' bullpen on Wednesday night as they fell 3-0 in game two of the three-game set at Fenway Park. 

Just hours before Wednesday night's win, Toronto placed projected starter Max Scherzer on the 15-day injured list with back spasms, leaving the Blue Jays bullpen, which entered the day with a 3.93 ERA, to cover the entirety of the game.

Like Tuesday night's 6-1 loss, the Red Sox offense had opportunities early and often, beginning in the first inning against Toronto opener Braydon Fisher. Catcher Mickey Gasper worked a lead-off walk before center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela and right fielder Wilyer Abreu flew out to right and center field, respectively. First baseman Willson Contreras kept the inning alive, working another walk, setting up left fielder Jarren Duran to give Boston the early lead. Duran ripped a first-pitch fastball right to shortstop Andres Gimenez, who flipped it over to second base to retire Contreras and end the Boston threat. 

The Red Sox offense once again threatened in the second inning, this time against bulk reliever Simeon Woods-Richardson. Third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa worked a one-out walk before stealing second base. With Kiner-Falefa on second and only one out, second baseman Andruw Monasterio and shortstop Marcelo Mayer saw a combined six pitches, with both flying out to once again end the threat. 

The spotlight once again found Monasterio and Mayer in the bottom of the fourth inning with the Red Sox trailing 1-0, as the middle infield duo stepped to the plate with men on first and second and only one out. Woods-Richardson got Monasterio to chase a 2-2 fastball well above the zone to strike out, leaving it up to Mayer to cash in on the opportunity. Mayer, like Monasterio, chased a high-and-inside fastball, popping it up into foul territory where Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made the catch to end the inning. 

The Red Sox' best opportunity of the night came in the bottom of the sixth inning, still trailing 2-0, when Kiner-Falefa led off with a sharply hit single to center field before once again stealing second base. Monasterio's rough night continued as he was caught looking at a perfectly placed sinker at the top of the zone for the first out of the inning. Mayer again stepped to the plate with a chance to cash in, working a seven-pitch walk to turn the lineup over for Gasper. 

Gasper, however, was unable to capitalize on the opportunity with men on first and second with only one out, hitting a lazy fly ball to center. It was not deep enough to advance Kiner-Falefa, which left it up to Rafaela to bring the Red Sox closer. Instead, Rafaela softly ground out to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to end the inning and keep the deficit at two. 

Toronto added an insurance run in the top of the eighth inning when Guerrero hit a bloop single to shallow right field to score Gimenez and extend the Toronto lead to 3-0. Boston is 0-31 when facing a three-run deficit in 2026. 

Those were the words from NESN's Dave O'Brien as Toronto closer Louis Varland struck out the side to seal the series victory for Toronto. Like Tuesday night, Boston stranded 13 men on base, going 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position. The struggles with men in scoring position have been a problem all season for the Red Sox, particularly at home, where the team is now a shocking 62-for-296 (.209 batting average) with runners in scoring position, stranding 256 runners. 

The shutout loss marks the 10th time in 36 home games that Boston has been held to one or fewer runs as the team fell to a league-worst 12-24 at home. 

The Red Sox will look to salvage the series finale on Thursday afternoon when Sonny Gray (8-1, 3.03 ERA) takes the mound for Boston opposite Trey Yesavage (3-3, 3.78 ERA) for Toronto. First pitch from Fenway set for 1:35 p.m. ET. 

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