Kevin Youkilis checks on Paul Byrd after Byrd was hit by a batted ball in the fourth inning.

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The Providence Journal / Glenn Osmundson

BOSTON — Paul Byrd was brought here to stabilize the Red Sox starting rotation. He was acquired in a trade early last week with the hope of adding a veteran presence. He could be exactly what Boston needs down the stretch.

Even though he threw well enough to win, last night wasn’t exactly the way Byrd wanted to start his Red Sox career.

He lasted 7 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on 10 hits as the Toronto Blue Jays — and their starter Roy Halladay — rolled to a 4-1 victory at Fenway Park. With the loss, Byrd became the first Red Sox starter to not walk or strike out a batter in seven or more innings since Bret Saberhagen did it on July 31, 1998.

“It’s what we expected,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. “He threw a lot of strikes [96 pitches, 68 for strikes] and got deep into the game. On a lot of nights that was probably good enough, but not tonight. Halladay was too much for us. He was cutting it and sinking it and throwing a lot of strikes with good stuff down in the zone.”

While Byrd only made a few mistakes last night, Halladay made none.

Toronto’s right-hander was outstanding as he tossed a complete game to improve to 14-9 this season. The only run he surrendered was a solo home run by the Sox’ Dustin Pedroia in the bottom of the ninth inning.

“He should make a pitching video,” said Pedroia of Halladay. “He’s pretty tough. He’s someone you don’t want to face. It’s tough to get a rhythm against him because he creates a rhythm for himself. He pretty much controlled us all night and that’s why he’s one of the best in the league.”

Byrd struggled at the start of the season with the Indians, but he became very attractive to Red Sox management since the All-Star break. The 37-year-old posted a 4-1 record with a 1.80 ERA since July 9. He hadn’t allowed a home run since July 4, but surrendered two crucial long balls to the Blue Jays last night — a two-run homer in the first inning to Alex Rios and solo shot in the sixth inning to Adam Lind. Byrd went 37 1/3 innings between home runs even though he leads the American League now with 25 homers allowed.

“I’m not happy we lost, I never am,” said Byrd. “I saw some things out there that made me feel like I’m going to be a very good fit for this team. … Halladay threw a great game. You have to tip your cap and he didn’t leave me a lot of room for error. He threw a very good ballgame and that’s pretty much it.”

Byrd spent Friday afternoon in the Captain’s Corner. The veteran right-hander was engaged in a scouting session with his new batterymate Jason Varitek, going over every Blue Jays hitter.

Around the same time, the grounds crew at Fenway Park began to put the tarp on the field due to the inclement weather. Byrd began to get a little antsy, according to Francona. The pitcher kept asking the manager for a weather update, but Francona kept telling him to relax.

“He was anxious last night,” Francona said prior to last night’s game. “He was all over the place. I’m sure he’ll have a little extra energy tonight. I’m sure he didn’t sleep too well [Friday] because his engine was already turned on.”

Byrd was raring to go again yesterday in the Sox debut, but the Blue Jays were ready, too.

Toronto gained an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Rios blasted a two-run homer into the Monster Seats.

“My fault,” said Byrd. “I made a bad pitch. It was a changeup that was supposed to be away, but it ended up down and in and he hooked it for a homer.”

On the opposite side, Halladay kept the Sox’ bats at bay.

Lind drilled a solo home run in the top of the sixth for a 3-0 lead.

Boston could not produce any substantial offensive threat against Halladay, a former Cy Young winner, as the Jays pushed across another run off Byrd in the seventh. With one out, Rios lined a shot off the top of the center-field wall for a triple before he was driven home on a RBI single by Vernon Wells to give Toronto a 4-0 lead.

With the way Halladay was dealing, a four-run cushion was plenty.

Pedroia attempted to get the Red Sox motivated with his lead-off homer in the bottom of the ninth inning, his 11th round-tripper of the season. He crushed the first offering from Halladay and deposited it into the Monster Seats. What makes Pedroia’s homer even more impressive is the fact he entered the at-bat 3-for-26 lifetime against Halladay.

“Petey hit the home run,” said Sox’ J.D. Drew, “but Halladay dealt all night.”

On a night when Byrd wanted to take center stage, Halladay stole the spotlight in a crisp 2:18 contest.

“I wish we were on the other end of this,” said Francona. “The pitchers got [the ball], they threw it and threw it over the plate.”

Byrd admitted he was a little nervous when he first took the mound, and even though he pitched good enough to win, he’ll have to wait for his first victory in a Red Sox uniform.

“I think I’m going to be OK here,” he said. “I love the way this team plays. They hustle, they’re gritty. It’s great having guys behind you who play this hard.” Blue Jays

4

Red Sox

1

Next Game

Today

vs. Toronto,

1:35 p.m.

jmcdonald@projo.com