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Blue Jays, Overbay destroy Red Sox
By MIKE RUTSEY, QMI Agency
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Blue Jays first baseman Lyle Overbay follows through on a three-run home run against the Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts on August 20, 2010. (ADAN HUNGER/Reuters)


BOSTON -- In his only other prior start at Fenway, Brett Cecil felt cursed.

This night though, it was the Jon Lester and the Red Sox who left cursing.

Thanks to a 20-hit attack that featured a pair of three-run home runs by Lyle Overbay and one by John McDonald, Cecil was able to exorcise his Fenway demons as the Jays blasted the Red Sox 16-2.

The 16 runs are the most the Jays have ever scored against Boston.

Most of the damage was inflicted by Overbay with the ninth multi-homer game of his career and his second of the season. It was also just the third time he has managed two homers in the same game against a left-hander.

It was the third and fourth time this season that Overbay has produced three-run homers while his seven RBIs -- he added a RBI single in the eighth -- were the most in his career.

"I wish this game was that easy but he (Lester) left a couple of pitches up and that's not typical of him," said Overbay, who is up to 15 homers and 54 RBIs. "It's something that you've got to make him pay for and we were able to do that."

Overbay said he didn't feel that locked in during batting practice but then came the game.

"I think that first homer kind of relaxed me a little bit," he said. "I didn't really get that ball. Any other ballpark it's probably an out (it landed in the first row atop the Green Monster). But it kind of gave me a little confidence and I think that's what got me going."

Overbay and his inside-out swing is built for Fenway and with Lester struggling he took advantage.

"It was just good to put a good swing on him a couple of swings and be able to use the element, use that wall," he said.

For Cecil, the game was more like a re-visit to his own personal Nightmare on Yawkey Way.

Last season on May 20, Cecil came to Fenway having gone 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in his first three big-league starts.

What followed was the most blistering and decisive beating of the young left-hander's career.

That game, Cecil lasted 4 2/3 innings in which time the Red Sox pounded him for eight runs on 11 hits including five home runs with four of them being launched in the fifth inning alone.

But not this game.

With the win Cecil moved to 10-6 to give the Jays three starters with double figures in wins -- Shaun Marcum at 11-6 and Ricky Romero at 10-7 being the others.

The victory was the first for Cecil over Boston in four career starts. Leading 5-0 after the first and 9-0 after the third, Cecil was able to cruise and he lasted 6 2/3 innings.

"I've got wins against all three of the biggest teams in our division," he said. "It means a lot to me just because I know I can go out there and pitch my game and not have to worry about 'God the last time these guys really hit me hard." I still have those memories from last year, I don't think anybody forgets that but it does a lot for me being able to come out here at their own place and beat these guys."

With the win the Jays record against Boston this season increased to 4-9 and evened them at 2-2- at Fenway.

"We'd like to do it a couple more games just because they've been kicking our butt," Overbay said of the offensive blitzkrieg. "We've been struggling really bad against these guys. So hopefully this will bring some confidence because I think everybody had good at-bats and good swings so it's something we can hopefully continue."

Lester, meanwhile, came into the game 13-7 with a 2.80 ERA and in two previous outing against the Jays had gone 2-0 while holding them to just two earned runs over 13 innings.

Go figure.













Do you think Jesse Litsch will bounce back and pitch for the Blue Jays again?
  Yes, the bullpen needs help
  No, his injury was too severe
  I don't want him back


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