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BOSTON – Its only May. May means its still early in the big league baseball season. Teams still have more than 100 games to play. Nothing will be sorted out in the next few weeks, let alone the next couple of days. Still, there are benchmark series and often times those come when a club squares off against a divisional rival. In this case, its the Blue Jays trying to emerge from the drudgery and disappointment of 2013 taking on last years surprising world champions, the Boston Red Sox, in their old, fabled barn called Fenway Park. Toronto opened the three-game series with a 7-4 victory, a win built on slugging offence and just enough pitching to keep a big early lead from evaporating. Closer Casey Janssen picked up his fourth save but not without bringing up David Ortiz as the tying run with two on and nobody out in the ninth inning. Not without Ortiz smacking a 2-1 pitch to Providence, Rhode Island, which landed foul and gave Janssen another life and a 2-2 count. He struck out Ortiz on the next pitch. "They won the World Series last year and if we want to be for real weve got to beat these teams," said Janssen. "Were not scared of them or anything like that. We respect them but we want to beat them. The distance we can separate ourselves from them and any other team in our division is important for us, May or September or whenever it is." The Blue Jays won for the 10th time in 15 games. Boston lost its fourth in a row and sixth in its last seven. The win improved Toronto to 24-22. The loss dropped the Red Sox to 20-24. Starter J.A. Happ eked out five innings for the win. It was a Jekyll and Hyde performance, with Happ dominant through the first three innings on the strength of six strikeouts. He started to show signs of coming apart in the fourth, walking two and allowing an infield single to load the bases with one out. Only a Brett Lawrie diving snag of a Xander Bogaerts line drive and the doubling off of Mike Napoli at third saved Happ serious trouble and preserved what was, at the time, a 3-0 Blue Jays lead. Happ was gone two hitters into the sixth after allowing two runs on three doubles in the fifth and a two-run home run to Jonny Gomes an inning later. "I think you look around and you guys get the idea that its pretty casual in here," said J.A. Happ. "But when its time to play I think everybody gets themselves ready and were ready to play. Were ready to play and so I think its always good to try to jump out and get that first one in the series and well see what we can do the rest of the games here." Manager John Gibbons navigated his way through his bullpen, using five relievers to get the final 12 outs. With Drew Hutchison and Mark Buehrle scheduled to pitch on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, taking the first game gives Toronto a strong shot to win the series. "I dont know if its bigger than any … but you need to play good," said Gibbons. "Anytime youre playing your division youve got to play good but weve been playing pretty good baseball recently. I mean, were not even June yet but you want to keep moving forward, not go backwards. So whatever that means." Toronto had 10 hits on the night, eight of which went for extra bases and four of those were home runs. Edwin Encarnacion had his third multi-home run game of the year and has 10 on the season. Erik Kratz and Melky Cabrera also went deep. Cabreras home run, off of Pesky Pole in right field, was one of his four hits on the night, bringing his major league-leading total to 62. Saturdays start Its down to Todd Redmond and Liam Hendriks for Saturdays start against Oakland, which is the first time the Blue Jays will require a fifth starter since Dustin McGowan was removed from the rotation. Manager John Gibbons expects to make a formal announcement as early as Wednesday. Marcus Stroman factors into this equation, eventually. "Were going to build him back up," said Gibbons. "Well see, couple turns, how were doing." Stroman took the loss in Buffalos 3-2 defeat at the hands of Lehigh Valley on Tuesday night. He pitched five innings, the runs were earned, and he threw 64 pitches. Hell need to get back toward the 85-90 pitch range before being considered for the job. Hendriks, 25, is 5-0 with a 1.48 ERA for the Bisons this season. Hes a strike thrower but that didnt translate into success over parts of three big league seasons with the Twins. In 30 career appearances, 28 starts, Hendriks is 2-13 with a 6.06 ERA and 5.31 FIP. Hes allowed 202 hits in 156 innings pitched. Rasmus has MRI Colby Rasmus underwent a precautionary MRI on his ailing right hamstring. Manager John Gibbons confirmed after Tuesdays game Rasmus has a mild strain, adding Rasmus is "progressing" with his rehabilitation. Rasmus, third on the club with nine home runs, isnt eligible to return from the disabled list until May 28. Rasmussen gets the call Left-handed reliever Rob Rasmussen was recalled on Tuesday afternoon, taking the roster spot of Marcus Stroman, who was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo after Sundays loss in Texas. Before the game, he offered his thoughts on making his major league debut at Fenway Park against Red Sox legend David Ortiz, a distinct possibility in a lefty-lefty matchup. "It would be an absolute dream to be able to come out in your first outing and face such an unbelievably renowned hitter such as David Ortiz," said Rasmussen. "Obviously its something you start to think about but once the game starts its back to playing the game like you always have." Then, it happened. Rasmussen was called on with one out and nobody on in the Boston seventh. Toronto led 7-4 at the time. "I was fortunate enough that I got the call down, knew I was going to face just Ortiz and so I was kind of able to prepare properly for him," said Rasmussen. "You know, work on what I was going to try to throw him through the at-bat. Once you run in, its just back to playing baseball." The Blue Jays are the third organization for the 25-year-old native of Pasadena, California. He was acquired in the offseason from the Phillies, along with catcher Erik Kratz, for reliever Brad Lincoln. A four-pitch reliever featuring a fastball, curveball, slider and changeup, Rasmussen uses his entire repertoire in the bullpen and feels it allows him to match up well against both right-handers and left-handers. "My curveball tends to be more 12-6, so its not necessarily just a left-handed pitch," said Rasmussen. "Couple that with my changeup and I feel I can handle both righties and lefties." In 13 appearances and 17 innings with the Bisons, Rasmussen has a 2.65 ERA and a 1.294 WHIP. Ballplayers can never be sure when the opportunity will come. Rasmussens may be because both Chad Jenkins and Neil Wagner are still within the 10-day window of their most recent options to the minor leagues. Regardless, hes here and he plans to make the most of it. "Obviously excitement, obviously theres a little bit of nerves," said Rasmussen. "Not as much from a baseball standpoint, just getting used to the life, checking into the hotel, what to do in the hotel, what to wear, all that stuff. Mostly excitement. Its been hard to kind of put my feelings into words, other than excitement and joy." Red Sox re-sign Stephen Drew Shortstop Stephen Drew is back in the Boston fold, agreeing to a one-year, $10-million contract with the Red Sox on Tuesday. The signing comes a day after Boston placed third baseman Will Middlebrooks on the disabled list with a fractured finger. Drew, 31, declined a $14-million qualifying offer from the Red Sox and elected free agency. He didnt find work in the offseason. Word is that Drew will be added to the active roster on Wednesday but because he hasnt faced live pitching since last October, its expected hell need at least a week to get into game shape. With Drew back at shortstop, Xander Bogaerts is expected to shift to third base. Mel Ott Jersey . The teams all-time leading scorer, DeRo has won everything there is to win in MLS. Andrew McCutchen Jersey . Adam LaRoche will take that. "I like our position in the standings and I like how our team is playing," LaRoche said after Washington swept a day-night doubleheader from the Cubs on Saturday. http://www.sfgiantsrookiestore.com/Giants-Matt-Williams-Kids-Jersey/ . -- Ben Bishop had a milestone game against one of the NHLs greatest goalies. Pablo Sandoval Jersey .Cullen scored the go-ahead goal at 13:47 of the third period and Nashville beat the slumping Dallas Stars 3-2 on Thursday in a game that wasnt decided until the last shot of the night. Jeff Samardzija Jersey . -- Terry Francona likened the atmosphere at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday to a playoff game in October.HOUSTON -- Its almost enough to make a defensive co-ordinator drool. Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, the Houston Texans No. 1 pick in the draft, was on the field Tuesday for the first time with former NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt. As both players get used to new defensive co-ordinator Romeo Crennel, Clowney has eyes on the All-Pro as he eases into the NFL in off-season workouts. "Just watching him work it makes you want to work even more," Clowney said. "Sometimes we maybe go into an extra workout with him. Hes a team guy. Always says he can help you no matter what. (Im) just happy to be beside him out there on the field." The defensive playmaker out of South Carolinas speed and ability had scouts fawning over his potential years ago -- and now the number of ways he can be deployed in a 3-4 defence. Part of that potential involves getting Clowney and Watt on the field together in games. With the departure of Antonio Smith to the Oakland Raiders in free agency, Watt will need a foil. While Clowney is expected to see time at both outside linebacker and as a defensive end, having him on the other side of Watt could take up that slack. Still, it is early in camp and Watt knows what Clowney is going through. While the expectations are high, things will take time. "I dont know enough yet to tell you. Were in just helmets right now," Watt said when asked about Clowneys potential impact.dddddddddddd "I know hes in the playbook and hes working hard. As we go forward well see a lot more." Clowneys first goal, like that of all the rookies, is to transition to his team and to the NFL. For Clowney, that includes learning the playbook and even learning names. "For any rookie its very difficult to make the jump from college to pro. It doesnt really matter if they were drafted number one or undrafted, theyre all trying to learn and keep pace with the veterans," coach Bill OBrien said. "I think hes doing a decent job of and hes working hard at it." Star receiver Andre Johnson was absent from the session. One of the franchises marquee players, Johnson said two weeks ago that he would not attend Texans workouts. "I said last week that he and I have had positive conversations," OBrien said. "I have a ton of respect for him. Wed love to have him here right now, but thats up to him. Were moving forward with the players that are here and these guys are working extremely hard." With Johnsons absence and a quarterback competition that is open and far from solved, Houstons defence could be called upon to carry the load early in the season. A big part of that equation will be figuring out how to best deploy playmakers such as Watt and Clowney. ' ' '