Red Sox look to continue hitting display in opener vs. Jays

As a new series begins, the Boston Red Sox hope to keep the good times rolling.

After recording a walk-off and an 18-run outburst in Sunday's doubleheader to finish a three-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals, Boston will focus on a four-game series against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays beginning Monday night.

Winners of five games in a row, the Red Sox have hit .336 in their last six games after a .194 start. Leading a 22-hit outburst in Sunday's 18-7 nightcap victory, Alex Bregman (homer, two doubles, six RBIs) and Rafael Devers both had four hits, and Wilyer Abreu continued his torrid start (14-for-29, 12 RBIs) with two hits, including one of the team's nine doubles.

Abreu had the walk-off RBI and Devers also hit his first home run of the season in a 5-4, 10-inning win earlier in the day. Devers is on a five-game hit streak and is 10-for-19 since starting 0-for-19.

"We know that he started the year slow, but we know that he's going to have a monster year, as he always does," Abreu said of Devers. "So we were very happy for him that he got the first one (on Sunday)."

Red Sox manager Alex Cora is seeing Devers' progress right before his eyes.

"The at-bats are really good. They've been good for a while now," Cora said. "Little by little, the swing is back to normal."

Right-hander Richard Fitts (0-1, 4.50 ERA) will start Monday for Boston, which shifted its rotation due to the Sunday twinbill. As a result, Hunter Dobbins was recalled as the 27th man and made his MLB debut with five innings of two-run ball in the second game.

Fitts, who was scheduled to start Saturday's game, which was postponed because of rain, kept the Texas Rangers scoreless for five innings in his season debut March 30, but he was saddled with the loss after allowing a pair of home run balls in the sixth. Boston fell 3-2.

"He's throwing excellent," Cora said. "Like I said before the game, he earned a spot (in the rotation)."

Fitts, 25, made the last of his four starts last season at Toronto, allowing four runs over five innings in a loss on Sept. 25.

The Blue Jays' offensive start has not been nearly as potent. A 2-1 Sunday loss to the New York Mets marked their third consecutive setback, and all with two or fewer runs scored.

There certainly has been no pitching problem. Left-hander Easton Lucas (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will look to continue that trend in his second major league start after Bowden Francis worked 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball on Sunday.

A turnaround will have to start at the plate. Two of just four Toronto hits on Sunday -- all but one a single -- belonged to Alejandro Kirk.

"We need our offense to step up," outfielder Anthony Santander said. "We have to stay confident, because it's still early, and find a way to score runs."

As manager John Schneider sees it, the Jays cannot sit around and wait for the long ball, of which they have had just five all season. Andres Gimenez has three of them.

"I think the at-bats are good. We're doing a good job against starting pitchers," Schneider said. "Until the home runs come, you've got to get the big hit. Whether that's with two outs, one out, whatever it is. Those will come, those will definitely come."

Lucas, 28, had an outstanding first career start on Wednesday, limiting the Washington Nationals to one hit across five shutout innings in a 4-2 win. He made one relief appearance (1 2/3 innings) against Boston last season, giving up two runs.