TORONTO — Call it what you will — bad luck or bad timing — but at the precise moment when the Red Sox should be peaking, they are instead in a spectacular free fall, losing altitude — and games off their lead — at a frightening pace.

The good news? They can’t lose any ground today, but that’s only because they and the relentless Yankees are both scheduled for days off.

If home-field advantage and the division title don’t mean much to the Red Sox, their downward spiral should. After dropping a 6-1 decision to the Toronto Blue Jays last night to complete a sweep for the home team, the Sox have lost four in a row and five of their last six and their once roomy lead in the A.L. East is down to a snug game and a half.

The lead is the smallest for the Sox since April 24.

“We’re still up,” said shortstop Julio Lugo, flailing for a positive spin. “This is when a team has to pull together. From now, you’re going to see who’s who. That’s it.”

For now, the Sox can’t seem to do anything right. They managed just one run last night and only five in the three-game series. In the last four games, they’ve totaled eight.

Last night’s bullpen meltdown, meanwhile, had nothing to do with Eric Gagne. Trailing, 2-1, in the bottom of the eighth, Mike Timlin loaded the bases and left a mess that Jonathan Papelbon couldn’t clean up.

After fanning Adam Lind for the second out of the inning, Papelbon fell behind Russ Adams, 3-and-0, before challenging him with a fastball. Adams turned on it and drove it down the line in right for his first career grand slam and putting the game out of reach.

“Tonight, I blew the game,” said Timlin who hit one batter and walked two others, one intentionally. “It wasn’t (Papelbon’s) fault; it was my fault for putting him in a situation he never should have been in.”

Papelbon wasn’t having any of it.

“I’ve got to be able to bail them out and keep (the score) there,” said the Sox closer. “I wasn’t able to get the heater (fastball) in (to Adams). It went 3-and-0 and I had to battle back. He was sitting on the heater. I couldn’t walk the guy. It was one of those situations where somebody’s got to give in, and unfortunately it was me.”

After not allowing any inherited runners to score all season, Papelbon’s last two outings have resulted in five inherited baserunners scoring. The grand slam last night was the first he’s allowed in the major leagues.

Papelbon’s recent slump mirrors that of the entire bullpen, which has fallen apart in the last week, compiling a 6.20 ERA in the last eight games.

“It’s hard to believe because we’ve been so good (all season),” said Papelbon. “We’ve got to keep grinding it out. Unfortunately for us, the bullpen is going through a tough time at a tough time in the season.”

Of course, the offense hasn’t helped.

Last night, the Sox fumbled what few chances they had and were limited to just four hits.

They were hitless against Jesse Litsch through four innings before J.D. Drew led off the fifth with a line drive homer to right.

They didn’t collect another hit until the seventh when Eric Hinske singled to center, moving Jason Varitek to second. When Litsch hit Bobby Kielty to fill the bases, Casey Janssen took over.

Lugo hit a soft liner that landed just past the mound and didn’t appear to run hard out of the batter’s box. Shortstop Ray Olmedo attempted to bare-hand the ball, but the backspin caused him to fumble lit. Lugo sped up down the line, but was nipped at first as the Sox stranded three.

“I couldn’t get a good look at it,” said Lugo. “I thought he was going to go to second for the sure out. I just tried to run.”

In the eighth, a leadoff infield single by Jacoby Ellsbury was wasted as three Toronto relievers each recorded an out and Ellsbury, who stole second, was left in scoring position.

“We have to prove what kind of team we are,” vowed Timlin. “We need momentum going into the playoffs — every team does. Everyone’s got to take the reliever mentality — shake it off it’s over, we lost, we can’t change it. We need to take the day off, regroup and go play Tampa the best we can.

“That’s all you can do.”

Lately, whatever they’ve done, it hasn’t been good enough.

smcadam@projo.com