ARLINGTON, Texas -- All the trouble that Red Sox starter Felix Doubront got himself into over the course of his 3.2 innings against the Texas Rangers seemed to come with two outs. Eventually, in a five-run fourth inning that all but buried the Sox, it caught up him.

In his shortest outing of the season, Doubront allowed six runs on 12 hits and the Sox were hammered 7-0. Fueled by Adrian Beltre’s four-hit night, three-RBI night, the Rangers bounced back after dropping two of the first three-games on their six-game home stand.

Going to his slider whenever he needed a strikeouts, Derek Holland had the Sox on a string, fanning nine socks in eight shutout innings.

By Julian Benbow, Globe staff

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The funny, familiar feeling that came over Mike Napoli Thursday in Toronto when he picked up some catcher’s equipment and went to warm up starting pitcher Ryan Dempster was actually excitement.

It had been so long since he was behind the plate that he nearly forgot how fond he was of it.

“I squatted down, I was catching, and everyone was looking at me like, 'Hey!' " said Napoli. “I looked at them and was like, 'Nah, let's not get too excited about that.’ ”

This is the first time in Napoli’s eight-year career that he isn't playing the majority of his games at catcher. He caught at least 60 games each of the previous seven summers. This season, he has played almost strictly first base (25 games) with the occasional cameo as a designated hitter (three games).

The switch was part of the reason Napoli signed with the Red Sox in late January. With a degenerative condition, avascular necrosis, present in both hips, it would be difficult for him to spend every night in a nine-inning crouch. When the decision came down to staying in Texas, where he hit .320 with 30 home runs in 2011, or coming to Boston, he made the choice based on health and longevity.

“Just the opportunity here to play first every day, not being behind the plate,” Napoli said. “Still wasn't sure how my hips were going to respond. I thought it was the best fit for me, my career, health-wise. Everything's worked out, my hip's been fine.”

The season he is having is a testament to that. His 31 RBIs and 22 extra-base hits are both major league highs. His six home runs have traveled nearly a half-mile. He set a club record for the month of April with 13 doubles.

“I just try to grind it out and do the little things,” Napoli said.

Back in Texas for the first time, Napoli exchanged the obvious pleasantries with former teammates during batting practice and reminisced about his two years here, saying they allowed him to come into his own as a ballplayer after five seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.

“They were important,” Napoli said. “I came over here and just how it was in the clubhouse, my personality, I could really … get out here and be myself and be the player I could be.

"Not taking anything away from Anaheim, it's just it was different there than it was over here in Texas. It was awesome for me. It helped out my career. I got to play a lot more and I did good things.”

The chemistry in this year’s Red Sox clubhouse is part of the reason the team is off to a 20-8 start -- best record in the majors -- and Napoli said it has helped him excel as well.

“We all are here for each other, we play for each other, we want to do good for each other,” Napoli said. “So you get nine guys out there playing for each other, good things are going to happen.”

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

ARLINGTON, Texas — Andrew Bailey, who was unavailable Thursday because of a sore biceps, is available in an emergency tonight for the Red Sox.

Bailey played catch this afternoon and threw some pitches from flat ground.

"Each and every day it's feeling better," said Bailey, who first felt something on Sunday and hasn't appeared in a game since. "It's a positive sign we have it going in the right direction.

"We're doing the right thing by being smart and not trying to push it so early on. That way take a day or two. Better than taking a long time later on."

Red Sox manager John Farrell was very pleased with the development.

"He's much improved over yesterday and the last couple of days," said Farrell. "He would be available in kind of an emergency situation. Ideally we can give him another day to stay away from him. Good news nonetheless."

Joel Hanrahan, who closed the game Thursday in Toronto, said he feels fine and is ready to go tonight if needed. He came off the disabled list Tuesday after missing 16 days with a strained right hamstring.

Also:

• Shane Victorino is back after missing seven games with a strained lower back.

"It's good to have Shane back on the field," Farrell said. "He's done such a good job, not only in the 2 hole but defensively. He gives some speed at the top of the order."

Farrell said the Red Sox do not intend to play Victorino every day now that he is back. They want to make sure the injury will not flare up again. But he has no physical restrictions in terms of stealing bases, switch hitting, etc.

• With the Red Sox facing their third lefty in a row, Stephen Drew is on the bench and Pedro Ciriaco is getting a chance to start. Farrell said he would be looking to give other regulars a day off in the days to come. The Sox do not have another off day until May 13.

• Mike Napoli warmed up Ryan Dempster between innings at one point Thursday. It was the first catching he's done all season. "Like riding a bike," he said.

Napoli was a catcher for the Rangers the last two seasons. One reason he signed with the Red Sox was the chance to play more first base because he felt that would improve his offensive statistics.

• Farrell remains more bemused than angry at the cheating accusations hurled at Clay Buchholz by two Toronto broadcasters. In that vein, nice sentiments from Tampa Bay ace David Price, even if his spelling needs work:

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (20-8)
Ellsbury CF
Victorino RF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Napoli 1B
Gomes LF
Middlebrooks 3B
Saltalamacchia C
Ciriaco SS
Pitching: LHP Felix Doubront (3-0, 4.24).

RANGERS (17-11)
Kinsler 2B
Andrus SS
Berkman DH
Beltre 3B
Cruz RF
Pierzynski C
Baker LF
Moreland 1B
Gentry CF
Pitching: LHP Derek Holland (1-2, 3.38).

Game time: 8:05 p.m.

TV/radio: NESN, MLB Network / WEEI.

Red Sox vs. Holland: Ellsbury 3-11, Pedroia 2-14, Ortiz 2-8, Napoli 3-6, Carp 1-4, Gomes 0-5, Ciriaco 2-4, Drew 1-3, Middlebrooks 2-3.

Rangers vs. Doubront: Anfrus 1-6, Kinsler 3-5, Cruz 2-4, Pierzynski 1-4, Beltre 1-3, Murphy 0-2, Gentry 1-2, Moreland 1-2, Berkman 0-1.

Stat of the Day: The Sox are 12-25 against the Rangers the last four seasons, 6-13 at Rangers Ballpark.

Notes: The Sox have won two straight and 8 of 10. They have the best record in baseball ... The Sox are second in the AL with 148 runs (the Athletics have 162) and third in runs allowed with 99 (the Rangers have allowed 94 and the Royals 98) ... Doubront is 0-2, 10.32, in five career appearances against Texas, two of them starts. He faced the Rangers once last season, on July 23, and allowed six runs over five innings ... Holland is 4-1, 3.00, in five starts against the Sox, 2-0, 3.07, in two last season ... Three Red Sox — Ryan Dempster, Mike Napoli, and Koji Uehara — played for the Rangers last season ... Shane Victorino missed the last seven games with a lower back injury and nine of the last 12 ... David Ortiz has hit safely in all 10 games he has played this season at 19 for 39 with 10 extra-base hits and 15 RBIs. He has a 22-game hitting streak dating back to last season ... The Sox are 9-3 on the road.

Song of the Day: "Dallas" by Joe Ely.

Friday: LHP Felix Doubront (3-0, 4.24) vs. LHP Derek Holland (1-2, 3.38), 8:05 p.m., NESN, MLB Network.

Saturday: RHP John Lackey (1-1, 2.61) vs. RHP Alexi Ogando (2-2, 3.38), 8:05 p.m., NESN Plus.

Sunday: LHP Jon Lester (4-0, 3.11) vs. RHP Yu Darvish (5-1, 2.33), 3:05 p.m., NESN.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

TORONTO — Good morning from the Mats Sundin International Airport. We're waiting for a flight to Dallas and the next stop on the Red Sox road trip.

It was 43 degrees at first pitch at Rangers Ballpark on Thursday night. The decision to pack short-sleeved shirts is starting to look like a bad one.

It was quite a wild night at the ballpark on Wednesday as the broadcasters of the respective teams faced off like the Jets and the Sharks. Jack Morris and Dirk Hayhurst of the Blue Jays said that Clay Buchholz was cheating. Then they accused Junichi Tazawa of the same thing.

In Toronto, Jerry Remy defended the Sox. Then Dennis Eckersley went high cheese on Morris from the NESN studios in Watertown. Gotta love Eck.

I don't know enough about how to throw a baseball to tell you whether Buchholz is cheating. I do know that he needs humidity to get a grip on his off-speed pitches and is always dumping water on himself. That is not cheating, however.

Buchholz is 6-0, 1.01 and people who haven't followed him over the years — like Morris — could be suspicious of that. But Buchholz has always had good stuff. It's consistency and health that have been his biggest issues. Nobody on the Sox has more natural talent than he does.

That Tazawa could be cheating is beyond silly. As Jon Lester mentioned to me last night, pitchers of his generation have no idea how to use a scuff on a ball to their advantage.

"I always throw them back," Lester said. "I'd be afraid to try and do something with it because I have no idea where it would go."

I think a lot of this comes from the anti-Red Sox, anti-John Farrell sentiment in Toronto. Mix in how terrible the Jays are this season and accusing a Red Sox player of cheating plays well with the audience.

If the Sox were in last place and the Jays in first, none of this comes up.

Anyway, time to get on the plane. Catch you from Dallas.

Oh, and if you're ever in Toronto and flying back to the States in the morning, give yourself time. It was 90 minutes from walking in the airport to getting to the gate. And that was with getting here at 4:45 a.m.

The Red Sox beat the Blue Jays again as the roles have been reversed in the American League East.

Nick Cafardo writes that Clay Buchholz had to defend himself against allegations of cheating.

The notebook has shortstop Stephen Drew getting his timing down. Shane Victorino is ready to return, too.

The minor league notebook has Sean Coyle and Garin Cecchini at the start of what they hope is a long relationship. Julian Benbow has the story.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

TORONTO — Joel Hanrahan pitched the ninth inning for his fourth save Thursday night. It was the 100th of his career.

Hanrahan allowed a leadoff single before disposing of the Jays on seven pitches. He hit 97 miles per hour with his fastball and ended the game with a double play.

“It’s nice to finally feel like a part of it again,” said Hanrahan, who pitched for the second time since coming off the disabled list.

Andrew Bailey, who became the closer when Hanrahan was out with a strained hamstring, was not available because of a sore bicep. He felt pain during his last outing on Sunday and again when threw in the bullpen on Wednesday.

“We’re not going to take any chances with that, particularly with Joel being back healthy,” Farrell said.

Bailey doesn’t believe the injury is serious.

“Felt a little something the last time I pitched,” he said. “We’re just being very [cautious] with it.”

Said Hanrahan: “We’re a better team when both of us are healthy. Whatever they’re going to go, they’re going to do. That’s not really up to us. Our goal is to go out there and get people out.”

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

TORONTO — Ryan Dempster, a native of British Columbia, pitched in Toronto for the first time in his 16-year career. He last pitched in Canada in 2002 when he started the first game of the season for Florida at Montreal.

“I always enjoying pitching back here,” Dempster said after going six strong innings in a 3-1 Red Sox win. “Coming home and pitching in your country is always a fun thing."

Rogers Centre was the 41st major league stadium Dempster has pitched in and he liked it just fine, allowing one run on four hits over six innings to improve to 2-2. He is 6-0 in nine career appearances in Canada.

“I’m looking for more expansion teams in Canada,” Dempster said. “That’s kind of the goal. Maybe Vancouver will get a team.”

Dempster’s night didn’t start well. Toronto’s leadoff hitter, Brett Lawrie, hit a fastball over the fence in left field for his third home run.

With the Red Sox up, 2-1, in the third inning, Dempster walked the bases loaded with one out. That prompted a visit to the mound by pitching coach Juan Nieves.

Dempster fell behind the dangerous Edwin Encarnacion, 2-and-0. The power hitter was impatient and swung at the next pitch, a slider off the outside corner. That produced exactly what Dempster needed, a double play to end the inning.

“He finds a way to navigate through those situations,” John Farrell said.

The Blue Jays didn’t advance another runner into scoring position against Dempster as he retired 10 of the last 11 batters he faced including the final seven in a row.

Game over: Red Sox 3, Blue Jays 1: The Red Sox took two out of three against the Blue Jays. Surprisingly, Joel Hanrahan came on to earn the save. Andrew Bailey was tabbed by John Farrell as the closer upon Hanrahan's return, but Hanrahan got the nod tonight and earned the save, his fourth. Ryan Dempster (2-2) got the win pitching six innings and allowing one run. The game was played in 3:22 before 25,851.

Top 9th: Red Sox 3, Blue Jays 1 - Dustin Pedroia reached on an error, but a double-play grounder by Mike Napoili wiped it out. Daniel Nava walked. But Will Middlebrooks fouled out to first base.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 3, Blue Jays 1 - Edwin Encarnacion singled but that was all as Koji Uehara came on to get the Jays out.

Top 8th: Red Sox 3, Blue Jays 1 - The Red Sox haven't been able to get much out of the Jays pen. David Ross took a walk, but that was all.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 3, Blue Jays 1 - The Jays put two men on against Andrew Miller who relieved Ryan Dempster after six innings. Rasmus singled and Kawasaki walked before Miller was replaced by Tazawa, who got out of the inning.

Top 7th: Red Sox 3, Blue Jays 1 - Red Sox go down in order against Steve Delabar.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 3, Blue Jays 1 - Dempster has another effective inning as he pieces together a a very good game.

Top 6th: Red Sox 3, Blue Jays 1 - Jacoby Ellsbury's bloop single to left scored David Ross, who walked.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 1 - Dempster strikes out two and retired the side in order.

Top 5th: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 1 - A Daniel Nava double was wasted as the Sox couldn't add on.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 1 - Jays can't do much against Dempster, who settled down after a tough third inning.

Top 4th: Red Sox 2, Jays 1 - J.A. Happ walked two before being bailed out by a double-play but then walked three more before being removed from the game. The Red Sox didn't wind up scoring.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 1 - Ryan Dempster avoided a heap of trouble. he walked the bases loaded with one out, but got Edwin Encarnacion to swing at a 2-0 pitch and knocked into an inning-ending double-play.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 1 - Jonny Gomes hit a leadoff double and Daniel Nava walked with two outs, but the Red Sox failed to add to their lead.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 1 - J.P. Arencibia led off the inning with a single, but Ryan Dempster retired the next three batters with fly ball's.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 1 - Mike Carp drove in Mike Napoli (double) with the first Boston run. Both Will Middlebrooks and David Ross drew walks in the inning and the go-ahead run scored on Stephen Drew's sacrifice fly.

Bottom 1st: Blue Jays 1, Red Sox 0 - Brett Lawrie homered on a 1-1 pitch from Ryan Dempster to give the Jays the lead.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Blue Jays 0 - Three fly balls to right by Sox in the first inning.

By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff

TORONTO - Clay Buchholz defended himself against allegations made by a Toronto broadcaster that he cheated while shutting out the Blue Jays for seven innings in a 10-1 victory over the Blue Jays Wednesday.

Blue Jays broadcaster Dirk Hayhurst accused Buchholz of rubbing his fingers on a white substance that he had on the sleeve of his undershirt, guessing the substance was Crisco.

Asked if he were upset by the allegations, Buchholz said, “Not at all. I wasn’t doing anything wrong. I definitely don’t think if I’d given up nine runs in two and third innings it would have been an issue. That’s my guess. I don’t know. It is what it is.”

Hayhurst, a former major league pitcher told Sportsnet 590 The Fan, that Buchholz was “absolutely” cheating.

The radio station website also provided photos of Buchholz wiping his first two fingers across his forearm, which appeared to be partially covered with a white substance.

“Before every start, I pat rosin on my arm, go up and get stretched,” Buchholz said. “They said I had something in my hair? It’s the bottle of water I pour over me between each inning. They don’t want you licking your fingers on the mound so it’s a way to have moisture. I wipe it off every time I touch my hair."

“Every pitcher puts rosin on,” Buchholz explained. “That’s why it’s there. It is what it is.”

Asked if he was annoyed at Hayhurst he said, “I don’t have any ill feelings against anybody. That’s the way it works. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

There was also mentioned of a discolored sleeve on his undershirt.

“I’ve been wearing the same red shirt under my uniform for three years,” Buchholz said. “So it probably has a lot of stains on it. The water is dripping off my hair onto my uniform and I’m sweating. It makes the red color turn to a darker red. I really don’t know how to solve that problem, if it is a problem.”

Red Sox manager John Farrell was dealing with the issue since Hayhurst spoke about Buchholz in the morning.

"It bothers me immensely when someone is going to make an accusation,'' said Farrell, "and in this case cheating, because they've seen something on TV. He's got resin on his arm. I think resin was designed to get a grip. But the fact is, he's got it on his arm. I've seen some people who have brought photographs to me. They're false.

"The fact is the guy's 6-0. He's pitched his tail off. If people are going to point to him cheating? Unfounded."

Red Sox analysts Jerry Remy and Dennis Eckersley all took the opposite view on NESN.

"I have faced guys that have thrown spitballs before and you know it right away. It's mostly on a fastball that's going to dip and do all kind of crazy things, strange rotation on the baseball, and what's the first thing you do? You ask the umpire to check the baseball. There was none of that going on here last night," Remy said.

Eckersley, who was the analyst on NESN's pre-game show said, "First of all, why are we giving this guy any play who said this, these accusations, to me is tired to begin with. He's a lifetime minor league pitcher that's watching the video and I don't know what he saw. … To me, it's a joke.

"The guy's so nasty, to take anything away from the way the guy is throwing the ball right now is absolutely ridiculous. Like you said Jerry -- you saw Gaylord Perry and everybody in the house knew he was cheating, and so did the umpires and they never really did anything about it. To take that away from this kid right now is a crime because this is as good as I've seen anybody start a season off and he doesn't need to cheat, Jerry,” Eckersley said.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

TORONTO — Shane Victorino is available to the Red Sox tonight and John Farrell expects him to start on Friday in Texas.

Victorino has been out of the lineup seven straight games with a strained lower back. He took optional early batting practice and then regular BP before the game. Victorino was moving around pretty well.

David Ortiz is getting what Farrell said was a planned day off. He has played in seven consecutive games and the Sox do not have a day off until May 13.

Ortiz was running a bit gingerly on Wednesday night. The Red Sox are trying to be proactive with his injury. Plus it gets Mike Napoli off his feet for a night.

Also:

• Clay Buchholz was named the American League pitcher of the month.

• LHP Craig Breslow is pitching an inning for Pawtucket tonight. He will stick with the PawSox through the weekend and pitch again. Then he will be evaluated.

• Jarrod Saltalamacchia turns 28 today.

Good afternoon. Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (19-8)
Ellsbury CF
Gomes LF
Pedroia 2B
Napoli DH
Nava RF
Middlebrooks 3B
Carp 1B
Ross C
Drew SS
Pitching: RHP Ryan Dempster (1-2, 3.30).

BLUE JAYS (10-18)
Lawrie 3B
Lind 1B
Bautista RF
Encarnacion DH
Arencibia C
Cabrera LF
Rasmus CF
Bonifacio 2B
Kawasaki SS
Pitching: LHP J.A. Happ (2-1, 3.86).

Game time: 7:07 p.m.

TV/Radio: NESN / WEEI.

Red Sox vs. Happ: Gomes 0-10, Ellsbury 3-9, Drew 2-6, Victorino 1-3, Pedroia 3-5, Ciriaco 0-2, Ortiz 0-2, Salty 0-2, Middlebrooks 0-2, Napoli 0-2, Ross 0-2.

Blue Jays vs. Dempster: Bonifacio 3-16, Encarnacion 1-11, Bautista 2-10, Rasmus 1-11, Cabrera 3-9, Blanco 0-6, DeRosa 0-6, Davis 0-1, Izturis 0-1.

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox are 13-0 when they score first. The Yankees are 9-0. They are the only teams undefeated when scoring first this season.

Notes: The Sox, 8-3 on the road, seek to win the series with Dempster pitching in Toronto for the first time in his 16-year career. Rogers Centre will be the 41st major league stadium Dempster has pitched in, 42 if you count Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan. ... Dempster last faced Toronto on June 8, 2005 when he was a closer for the Cubs. A Canadian, Dempster is 5-0, 3.29 in eight appearances in Canada, all in Montreal. ... Dempster has struck out 43 in 30 innings. ... Happ beat the Red Sox on April 6, throwing 5.1 shutout innings. He gave up one hit, walked three and struck out six. Happ is 1-1, 4.91 in four career appearances against the Sox. ... The Sox have hit .286 with 36 runs and 28 extra-base hits in fives games at Rogers Centre this season. ... The Sox are 3-2 against Toronto, outscoring the Jays 36-19. ... Ortiz has hit safely in all 10 games he has played this season at 19 of 39 (.487) with 10 extra-base hits and 15 RBIs. He has a 22-game hit streak going back to last July 2. Ortiz is 36 of 78 (.461) in the streak with 13 extra-base hits and 21 RBIs. ... Ortiz has 31 homers at the Rogers Centre. Alex Rodriguez, with 34, is the only opposing player with more. ... Pedroia has an eight-game hit streak. ... Carp is 12 of his last 22 with nine extra-base hits and seven RBIs. ... Drew is 7 of his last 22 with three extra-base hits, five walks and seven RBIs.

Song of the Day: "Complete Control" by The Clash.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

TORONTO — Shane Victorino was on the field for optional early batting practice Thursday. The plan is for him to take full BP on the field before the game. It would seem he's making progress with his back injury.

It would be a surprise at this point if Victorino isn't in the lineup Friday against Texas.

Meanwhile, in Reading Thursday afternoon, Daniel Bard had a rough ninth inning for Double A Portland.

He inherited a 7-3 lead and walked the first batter. A wild pitch moved that runner to second. Bard got a strikeout before throwing another wild pitch. He was then taken out of the game after a four-pitch walk.

In all, Bard threw 15 pitches, four of them strikes.

In two outings for Portland since Bard was optioned there, he has walked three, thrown three wild pitches, and thrown strikes on 13 of 33 pitches.

If you go back to his last outing with the Red Sox, Bard has walked five of the last 10 batters he has faced.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

If you're of a particular age (and, sadly, lack of intellect like me) you will remember a wrestler named Hacksaw Jim Duggan.

Hacksaw used to carry around an American flag and a 2 x 4. His general strategy was to take a beating and come back at the end to win, often with the help of the aforementioned 2 x 4.

Hasksaw's signature expression was, "Hoooooooooo!"

On Wednesday, after Mike Napoli hit two long home runs, a fellow by the name of William St. Jean hopped on Twitter and noted that the Red Sox first baseman bears a resemblance to Duggan. Dustin Pedroia saw the Tweet and loved it.

Pedroia has encyclopedic knowledge of three things: baseball, the Sacramento Kings and wrestling. That Napoli somewhat looks like Hacksaw Jim Duggan is gold for him.

Then Napoli saw Pedroia's tweet and took to Twitter himself. He wrote, you guessed it, "Hoooooooooo!"

Hence, there's a fairly good chance that Hacksaw Mike Napoli could take root. That he has 21 extra-base hits and 31 RBIs makes it a decent nickname. Plus he carries around a wooden club.

Team chemistry is a great mystery, my friends. But it's all good for these Red Sox.

Also:

• Stephen Drew was 4 for 35 (.114) in his first 11 games this season. Combine that with his rehab assignment with Double A Portland and that's roughly the equivalent of a normal spring training in terms of at-bats.

He is since 7 of 22 (.318) with three extra-base hits, seven RBIs and five walks.

"I'm just working on things. A lot of it is timing," Drew said Wednesday night after going 3 for 5 with a home run. "Like I said before, I'm getting there. I'm having great at-bats. I'm swinging at the pitches that I want to swing at and hitting the ball hard."

Drew suspected it would take him some time to get in gear after starting the season on the disabled list with a concussion.

"I had 18 at-bats in spring [training] or whatever plus the concussion. That was no fun," he said. "Kind of didn't know when that was going to end. ... There's no excuse. I've put good ABs on and worked the counts really well. I think the timing is starting to get there."

• Josh Beckett lost to the Rockies last night. He is 0-4, 5.24 in six starts for the Dodgers.

Clay Buchholz was brilliant again, but Mike Napoli stole the show with two long home runs as the Red Sox pounded the Blue Jays, 10-1.

Nick Cafardo writes that Buchholz looks like the best pitcher in baseball.

The notebook has Shane Victorino hoping to play on Friday.

In business news, the Sox are trying to get a permanent street-lease deal from the city. Callum Borchers and Colman M. Herman have that story.

------------

As you surely have noticed, the Red Sox coverage on Boston.com does not consist of complete stories by Globe staff writers any more. Those stories are now on BostonGlobe.com, which is a subscriber site.

If you get home delivery of the daily Globe or Sunday Boston Globe, you can sign up for BostonGlobe.com for free. If not, you can get a digital subscription. It's 99 cents for the first four weeks.

Speaking from experience, the iPad application is tremendous. It's like reading the actual paper. The site also conforms seamlessly to any other device. Hopefully it's something that you will consider.

Thanks.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

As good as Clay Buchholz was on Wednesday, Mike Napoli’s two mammoth home runs were the talk of the clubhouse.

The first was a solo shot in the fourth inning off Mark Buehrle that landed in a standing room area in straightaway center field. ESPN’s Home Run Tracker estimated it at 472 feet.

The Blue Jays intentionally walked David Ortiz to get to Napoli with two runners on in the seventh inning. Righthander Esmil Rogers fell behind 3-and-0.

Napoli looked over to third base coach Brian Butterfield, who relayed a signal from manager John Farrell that he was clear to swing at the next pitch.

“I like doing it. You’re mostly going to get a fastball you can try to drive,” said Napoli, who has hit five home runs on 3-0 counts in his career.

Rogers threw a 95-mph fastball that was over the plate and a little high. Napoli hit the ball into the third deck in left center field, the ball coming to rest in the front row of a section of club seats.

The crowd of 21,094 actually applauded, they were so impressed with the feat.

“There aren’t many human beings who can hit a fastball to center field that far,” Jonny Gomes said. “I think I saw [former Jays slugger] Carlos Delgado do it once.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen one up in that area at Rogers Centre,” said NESN’s Jerry Remy, who has been calling Red Sox games for 26 years.

ESPN had it at 467 feet, which all of the Red Sox scoffed at.

“The second one was longer,” Will Middlebrooks said.

Napoli thought the second one was longer, too. Not that he cared.

“It wouldn’t matter to me if it goes just over the fence,” he said. “It’s just the same thing.”

Napoli stuck out each of the four times he came up on Tuesday.

“How did you bounce back?” a radio reporter asked him.

“Obviously pretty good,” Napoli said, drawing laughs. “I go day-by-day. I’m able to let things go. I had a rough night but today was a new day. I hit them pretty good.”

It was the 11th time Napoli has hit two home runs in a game. He has five on the season to go along with 31 RBIs in 27 games.

Mike Carp, Stephen Drew and Daniel Nava also homered for the Red Sox, who had 15 hits in all. The Sox are 19-8, the best record in baseball, and have won seven of nine.

The Red Sox have hit 16 home runs in five games at the Rogers Centre. They have 15 in their other 22 games.

Game over: Red Sox 10, Blue Jays 1: Clay Buchholz improved to 6-0 with seven shutout innings as his ERA dropped to 1.01, the lowest since Roger Clemens' 0.73 after six starts in 1991. Buchholz got plenty of help offensively as the Red Sox ripped Blue Jays pitching for five home runs, two by Mike Napoli and the others by Stephen Drew, Daniel Nava and Mike Carp. Fifteen hits in all. The series is now tied 1-1. There were 21,094 on hand at Rogers Centre in a game played in 2:52.

Top 9th: Red Sox 10, Jays 1: Mike Carp pinch-hit for David Ortiz and homered to right. Big night for Napoli with a ground-rule double after two homers. Nava, who homered earlier, singled in the run.

Bottom 8th: Red Sox 8, Jays 1: -Alex Wilson replaced Buchholz, who went seven innings, allowed two hits, no runs with three walks and eight strikeouts. Wilson allowed a leadoff single to Maicer Izturis who came in on Brett Lawrie's triple to center.

Top 8th: Red Sox 8, Jays 0: The Red Sox threatened with a Drew single and David Ross ground-rule double. But they did not score.

Bottom 7th: Red Sox 8, Blue Jays 0: Buchholz walked a batter and allowed a single to Melky Cabrera who made a stupid base-running mistake by trying to stretch it to a double. He was thrown out at second by five feet by Nava.

Top 7th: Red Sox 8, Blue Jays 0: The rout is on. Mike Napoli hit a three-run homer after a run scored on a wild pitch. Napoli, who was making fun of himself for the number of strikeouts he's had this season, was hoping the roof would stay closed because he liked the way the ball was carrying. He's hit two homers tonight for the 11th time in his career. He has 31 RBIs.

Bottom 6th: Red Sox 4, Blue Jays 0: -Buchholz has this game under complete control. He's retired nine straight Blue Jay batters.

Top 6th: Red Sox 4, Blue Jays 0: - David Ortiz doubled to left and Mike Napoli drew a walk. With one out, Will Middlebrooks singled to load the bases, but Stephen Drew knocked into an inning-ending double-play.

Bottom 5th: Red Sox 4, Blue Jays 0: Buchholz continues to be dominant against a tough Jays lineup. Retires the bottom of the order.

Top 5th: Red Sox 4, Blue Jays 0: Buehrle's first 1-2-3 inning.

Bottom 4th: Red Sox 4, Blue Jays 0: - A leadoff walk by Jose Bautista, but Buchholz retires the next three batters including a strikeout of Edwin Encarnacion. Buchholz is so good at mixing pitches and locations. Drives hitters crazy.

Top 4th: Red Sox 4, Blue Jays 0: Mike Napoli homered to straight center in the second deck on a 1-1 pitch from Buehrle. It was followed immediately by Daniel Nava's solo shot to left field on a 1-1 pitch.

Bottom 3rd: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 0: Three strikeouts for Buchholz, who allowed a one-out single to Munenori Kawasaki.

Top 3rd: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 0: Jonny Gomes walked, but that was all against Buehrle.

Bottom 2nd: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 0: Three ground ball outs for the Blue Jays against Buchholz.

Top 2nd: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 0: After two long outs by Mike Napoli and Daniel Nava, Will Middlebrooks was hit by a pitch from Mark Buehrle, who then surrendered a two-run homer to Stephen Drew who put a sweet swing on a 1-0 fastball and sent it into the second deck in right field.

Bottom 1st: Red Sox 0, Blue Jays 0: Clay Buchholz got through the inning with the exception of a walk to Colby Rasmus.

Top 1st: Red Sox 0, Blue Jays 0: Jacoby Ellsbury reached on an infield single to third on a slow roller that Brett Lawrie couldn't make a play on. Ellsbury eventually advanced to second base when Mark Buehrle's pickoff throw hit Ellsbury. Dustin Pedroia flew out to center and David Ortiz lined out to right to end the threat.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

TORONTO — Red Sox right fielder Shane Victorino took batting practice in the cage again Wednesday afternoon and is set to take BP on the field Thursday.

If Victorino's strained lower back handles that step well, he could play Friday in Texas.

"That's the tentative plan," manager John Farrell said. "Whether or not he's coming out of BP tomorrow and he's available for tomorrow night's game remains to be seen. But optimistically we're looking at Friday at Texas."

Victorino has been out of the lineup for the last six games and eight of the last 11 because of the injury. It seems unlikely the Red Sox would send him out to play on the AstroTurf of Rogers Centre Thursday.

"I've progressed every day," said Victorino. "Tomorrow we're going to add to the workload. My goal is if everything goes accordingly, I'd like to play the first game in Texas. That's obviously how my body reacts and how my body feels. Every day it's progressed in a positive direction. No setbacks when I get up in the morning."

Victorino is guarding against a setback. If he were to come back for a day or two and get injured again, the Sox would lose the ability to backdate his stint on the disabled list.

"The frustrating thing for me is never having a back problem and having this all of a sudden occur," Victorino said. "Things are going good, the team is going well. I tip my hat to the guys. They're doing a great job. It's been fun to watch."

In terms of other news:

• LHP Franklin Morales has started a long-toss program and could throw off a mound this weekend. He is on the disabled list with a back injury and was shut down for five days because of a strained pectoral muscle on his left side.

At one point, the Red Sox were hoping to prepare Morales to work as a starter in case a need arose.

• LHP Craig Breslow, who has made three rehab appearances, is scheduled to pitch for Triple A Pawtucket Thursday.

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (18-8)
Ellsbury CF
Gomes LF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Napoli 1B
Nava RF
Middlebrooks 3B
Drew SS
Ross C
Pitching: RHP Clay Buchholz (5-0, 1.19).

BLUE JAYS (10-17)
Lawrie 3B
Rasmus CF
Bautista RF
Encarnacion 1B
Lind DH
Cabrera LF
Arencibia C
Izturis 2B
Kawasaki SS
Pitching: LHP Mark Buehrle (1-1, 6.35).

Game time: 7:07 p.m.

TV, radio: NESN Plus / WEEI. You can find NESN Plus channel listings here.

Red Sox vs. Buehrle: Ortiz 23-65, Pedroia 7-21, Gomes 6-13, Napoli 2-11, Victorino 4-11, Ellsbury 4-10, Middlebrooks 2-5, Ross 2-5, Salty 0-3.

Blue Jays vs. Buchholz: Lind 11-35, Bautista 7-26, Izturis 9-23, Encarnacion 1-15, Davis 2-14, Lawrie 1-10, Arencibia 0-11. Cabrera 1-7, Rasmus 1-6.

Stat of the Day: The Red Sox have hit 11 home runs in four games at Rogers Centre. They have 14 home runs in 16 games at Fenway Park.

Notes: Buchholz has been outstanding all season and is pitching against a team he usually handles well. The righthander is 8-4, 2.60, in 15 career appearances against the Jays, 6-2, 1.67, in nine starts at the Rogers Centre ... Buehrle is 6-8, 4.64, against the Red Sox in his career. He was 0-2, 6.00, in two starts last season for Miami, giving up eight runs on 12 hits over 12 innings ... Encarnacion is 10 of his last 30, with seven home runs. He is 1 for 15 against Buchholz, however ... Ortiz is 18 of 36 with nine extra-base hits and 15 RBIs in nine games since coming off the disabled list. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Ortiz is just the third player to hit .500 with at least 15 RBIs over his first nine games of a season. Hall of Famers Dave Winfield (17 for 34, 16 RBIs for 1988 Yankees) and Willie Mays (17 for 34, 17 RBIs for 1964 Giants) are the others ... Pedroia is 11 of his last 23 with four doubles and five RBIs ... Napoli is 2 of his last 12 with eight strikeouts.

Song of the Day: "The Big Money" by Rush.