Waves of offense are great, but Red Sox must learn how to stop someone

1:54 AM ET

BALTIMORE — Boston baseball fans who watched their team mash the ball on its latest homestand have a reasonable chance to see the same formidable offense on display when the Red Sox return to Fenway Park to play the Toronto Blue Jays this weekend. Xander Bogaerts is working on a 26-game hit streak. Mookie Betts made history with a home run splurge this week in Baltimore. David Ortiz continues to smoke the ball with such authority that someone is going to have to at least broach rethinking his retirement proclamation.

If only Boston’s offense were complemented by better pitching. Too often, the euphoria of a productive Red Sox inning lasts only until the other team’s turn to bat.

The Red Sox won three of seven games on their road trip to Toronto and Baltimore, and the final scores reflect the emotional swings of the week. Boston’s three victories came by scores of 5-3, 7-2 and 6-2. Its four losses came by scores of 7-5, 10-9, 13-9 and, on Thursday, 12-7.

Offense is great when it comes in waves, but eventually, you have to stop someone. When manager John Farrell assessed the state of affairs, his words were resolute, and there was a trace of impatience in his voice.

“We’ve got to do some things differently, as far as our attack plan on the mound,” Farrell said after Boston’s staff gave up seven homers Thursday at Camden Yards. “We’re not going to put up this kind of offense all the time. To do that on the road, in visiting ballparks, is a testament and a compliment to our offense. But we’ve got to find ways to navigate innings where we’ve got men on base. That’s been kind of a reoccurring theme.”

The pregame theme Thursday revolved around the tenuous state of Boston’s rotation. David Price has picked up the pace over his past four starts, but the Red Sox will lean heavily on 31-year-old knuckleballer Steven Wright and …

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