Lackey demoralized after latest loss

After the Red Sox' 9-3 loss to the Blue Jays Wednesday night, a demoralized John Lackey talked about his recent struggles. 

“I’ll keep working hard. It’s got to turn sometime," said Lackey, who allowed nine runs on nine hits with five walks over 6 2/3 innings. "Everything in my life (stinks) right now, to be honest with you.”

Lackey, whose ERA rose to 8.01, has now given up 19 hits and 17 runs over his last two starts (10 2/3 innings).

He succumbed to five runs in the seventh inning, with the Blue Jays driving Lackey from the game with a John McDonald two-run double with two outs in the frame. McDonald, who came into the game having gone 3-for-19 against the starter, also hit a solo home run off of Lackey in the fourth inning.

When asked about the frustration Lackey might have considering his past success against the Blue Jays' infielder, the pitcher was direct.

“Everybody has had success with him in the past, let’s be honest," Lackey said. "You can’t give up hits to him when you’ve got other guys in that lineup that can hurt you.”

Lackey did believe he had better stuff this time out than in his last outing, a four-inning appearance in which he gave up eight runs.

“I don’t know what happened tonight," he said. "I threw the ball way better than I did my last start.”

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