Music: {allcanada} Snider returns for Jays-Sox on Sportsnet

Monday, July 4, 2011

{allcanada} Snider returns for Jays-Sox on Sportsnet

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Jose Bautista -- the Toronto Blue Jays' lone all-star -- has carried the team offensively for most of the season.

But another bat returns to the Jays lineup Monday afternoon as Travis Snider will start in right field as the AL East rivals open a three-game at Fenway Park.

Watch the game live at 1:30 p.m. ET on Sportsnet, with Jays Connected at 1 p.m. ET.

The 23-year-old Snider was recalled from triple-A Las Vegas following Sunday's game and will suit up for Toronto for the first time since June 17, when he suffered a concussion after being hit by a pitch.

Snider went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a triple and two RBIs Saturday night in his final game with the 51s.

"With the adjustments he's made, the most encouraging thing is even after the 13 days he missed with the concussion, he stepped right back in and in these (past) three days he's executed those adjustments. He's had three very good nights at the plate (in Vegas) and we feel like it's time for him to get at-bats here," Farrell said Sunday, adding Snider could see some time in centre field later in the week when the Jays visit Cleveland.

When asked whether Snider remains in danger of another demotion should he struggle again, Farrell suggested he believes the outfielder is here to stay.

"We have to stick with him," he said. "He's got a chance to be a well above-average major leaguer."

In 49 games with the 51s, Snider batted .333 with two homers, 21 doubles and 29 RBIs.

Bautista, baseball's home run leader, went 2 for 4 and connected on his 27th long ball -- his third in as many games -- as Toronto (41-44) ended Cliff Lee's 34-inning scoreless streak and snapped a three-game skid with a 7-4 win over Philadelphia on Sunday.

Bautista's 7,454,753 All-Star votes are the most recorded in the history of fan balloting. He is just the ninth Blue Jay to be voted into the game and first since Carlos Delgado in 2003.

"Obviously, I got off to a good start, and having been through last year I knew I was going to be on everybody's radar," Bautista said. "But it has been great. It has been a fun year."

Adam Lind (16) and J.P. Arencibia (12) are the only other Blue Jays with at least 10 homers, but rookie outfielder Eric Thames may soon join them.

The promising 24-year-old, batting .410 over a nine-game hitting streak, went deep for the third time in five days and will look to carry over his momentum versus John Lackey (5-7, 6.81 ERA).

Lackey was tagged with the loss despite limiting Philadelphia to two runs and eight hits over 7 2-3 innings of Wednesday's 2-1 defeat at Citizens Bank Park. The right-hander, though, has struggled in six starts at Fenway, where his 7.88 ERA is the worst of any pitcher with at least 30 innings at home.

Bautista is 3 for 17 (.176) with two homers and five strikeouts lifetime versus Lackey, but Lind is 12 for 21 (.571).

Lackey, 2-3 with an 8.83 ERA over his last six starts against Toronto, will be opposed by fellow right-hander Brandon Morrow (4-4, 4.56), who has gone 2-0 with a 1.74 ERA over his three most recent outings.

Morrow, however, hasn't had much success against the Red Sox. He gave up career worsts of nine runs in 10 hits in just 4 1-3 innings of a 16-4 loss to Lackey on June 11, dropping to 0-2 with a 12.38 ERA in four career start versus Boston.