(Sports Network) - The Toronto Blue Jays send lefty Aaron Laffey to the mound in the opener of a three-game set with the Boston Red Sox. Robert Griffin III Redskins Jersey . Laffey did not get a decision against the Red Sox in last Saturdays contest, as he surrendered two runs and four hits in 4 2/3 innings. He is 3-5 with a 4.43 ERA on the year. He is 1-1 with a 4.13 ERA in nine games (4 starts) against the Red Sox. Toronto swept the Red Sox last weekend as part of a four-game winning streak, but failed to carry that momentum into its series with the Seattle Mariners, who took two of three from the Blue Jays. Toronto, though, won Thursdays finale, as it pounded Felix Hernandez and Henderson Alvarez tossed seven strong innings, while Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer to lead the Blue Jays to an 8-3 win. Alvarez (9-12) allowed three runs on five hits and three walks for Toronto, which won for the fifth time in seven games. Adam Lind added a two-run homer and Brett Lawrie also knocked in a pair in the victory. For the Red Sox, Daisuke Matsuzaka will attempt to avoid his third straight horrific performance, after getting hit hard by the Blue Jays on Saturday to the tune of five runs and five hits in just 1 1/3 innings, dropping the Japanese right-hander to 1-5 on the year, while ballooning his ERA to 7.20. He had allowed six runs in 3 2/3 innings his previous time out. "Im real disappointed that I havent been able to be there for the team the past two games," Matsuzaka said. "Im real frustrated that I havent been consistent." Matsuzaka, though, is 7-2 with a 3.81 ERA in 14 starts against the Blue Jays. Last night, Boston fell to the New York Yankees, 2-0. Felix Doubront (10-9) was pegged with the loss after giving up both runs on four hits and five walks over 6 1/3 innings, as the Red Sox wrapped up a six- game homestand at 1-5. Boston has now lost 13 of its last 15 games overall. "Were just not putting together quality at-bats and were not grinding," said Red Sox outfielder Cody Ross. "When you do that you get quick outs." Toronto has won its last six versus the Red Sox and is 10-5 against them this season. Robert Griffin III Elite Jersey . Toronto Argonauts running back Chad Kackert makes his first start of the season Saturday night and it comes in the most unusual of circumstances -- replacing a league leader. Charles Mann Jersey . -- Riley Sheahan scored twice, including a power-play goal, to lead the Grand Rapids Griffins past the Abbotsford Heat 5-1 on Friday in American Hockey League play. http://www.sh... . Playing for the first time on blue hardcourts at the new Perth Arena, the eight-country event begins Saturday when Spain plays South Africa and Germany takes on Australia. Williams and her partner John Isner will see their first action Sunday when the U.S. plays South Africa, and Spain also plays France on the same day. [url=http://www.shopredskinsgear.us/kirk-cousins-redskins-jersey/]Kirk Cousins Jersey . Toronto FC manager Aron Winter expects his squad to hear it in Mexico on and off the pitch, including at the team hotel in advance of Wednesdays game. "Thats normal in those countries," said Winter, who equates a game in the cauldron of Mexico to playing in front of rabid fans in Turkey. Cedric Griffin Jersey .C. United on Thursday. In return, Vancouver received a third-round choice in the 2015 Major League Soccer SuperDraft. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Sacramento Kings were determined Saturday night to make amends after one of their most embarrassing defeats of the season just 24 hours earlier. Mission accomplished. Marcus Thornton scored 18 points off the bench, Tyreke Evans came up big down the stretch, and the Kings held on to beat the Charlotte Bobcats 97-93 for their third win in four games. After scoring just 69 points in a 16-point loss to Memphis, the Kings made sure there would not be another offensive letdown. They led most of the way but needed a late burst from Evans, who scored six of the teams last nine points in the final four minutes. He finished with 16 for the game. DeMarcus Cousins added 17 points and 10 rebounds, and James Johnson chipped in with nine points and a season-high nine rebounds for the Kings (16-25). "This was a great win for us," Johnson said. "Were struggling a little bit, especially after last night. Memphis had their way with us and we looked like a team that gave up -- and thats not us. We wanted to get back to our fundamentals and outplay them and outrun them." Cousins said: "Now hopefully we can come out Monday against New Orleans and do the same thing." Kemba Walker had a chance to tie the game but shot an airball on a 3-point attempt with 3 seconds left as Charlotte lost its 14th straight game at home. Walker had 14 points and 10 assists. Ramon Sessions scored 16 points for Charlotte (10-30) while Gerald Henderson chipped in with 15. "Our guys did a good job of moving the ball and making that extra pass tonight," Kings coach Keith Smart said of his teams 24 assists. The Kings led most of the game and took a 78-76 lead into the fourth quarter. After being on the verge of taking the lead most of the quarter, the Bobcats finally jumped ahead with 3:35 left on a transition layup by Henderson off a nice feed from Walker. Thats about when the Bobcats began to meltdown. Charlotte had a chance to push the lead to four but was called for a shot clock violation at the worst time possible. Evans tied the game with a pair of free throws on the other end. Both teams went more than two minutes during an ugly stretch of turnover-filled basketball before Evans took advantage of Hakim Warrickks turnover and scored an easy layup on a fast break for a 92-90 lead with 1:19 left to put the Kings ahead for good. Perry Riley Jersey. After Warrick missed a turnaround layup, Evans scored again inside on a spin move to make it 94-90. A three-point play by Sessions cut the Sacramento lead to one with 40 seconds left, but Isaiah Thomas pushed the lead 96-93 with a pair of free throws with 18.4 seconds left. The Bobcats set up for a 3-point shot, but Walker missed everything on a play that never developed. Thomas put the game away by making the second of his two free throws with 2.4 seconds left. "They gave me pretty good pressure, but I thought I had an open shot," Walker said. "I kind of hesitated. I couldve shot it right away, because I thought I was open. But I hesitated. Itll be like that sometimes." For Charlotte, finishing games continues to be a huge problem. The Kings held to Bobcats to only three points in the final 3:33 of the game. During that span, the Bobcats missed four shots, turned the ball over twice and were called for a goaltending. "Composure is big," Smart said. "Our young guys did a great job. They came down, managed the plays we needed to get. The combination of them running what needed to be run at that particular time was critical." The Bobcats didnt help themselves at the free throw line converting only 26 of 38 attempts, or 68 per cent. They havent won at home since Nov. 21. "Weve just got to come out ready to play next time," Walker said. "Its tough. Weve been losing some pretty close games, and we definitely need a home win. Its been a long time." Added Bobcats coach Mike Dunlap: "Its just something that we have to get better at. Im on that and so are the players. They understand. They want to give these fans a win, too." NOTES: Kings rookie first-round draft pick Thomas Robinson played only minute before being taken to the locker room after getting elbowed in the mouth by Sessions. Robinson said after the game he had 10 stitches, but expects to play Monday night at New Orleans. ... Brendan Haywood had a season-high five blocked shots for the Bobcats. ... Thomas tied a season-high seven assists for the Kings and tied a season-high with five rebounds. ' ' '