TORONTO — The Red Sox were without their most productive hitter in Sunday’s 3-0 loss against the Blue Jays. Left fielder Brock Holt missed the game with a bruised right foot.
Holt fouled a ball off the side of his foot in the ninth inning Saturday.
“Got back to the hotel and it stiffened up on me and was sore in the morning. But it’s feeling better now. Moving in the right direction,’’ Holt said.
X-rays were negative. Holt left Rogers Centre with his foot in a compression wrap.
“Should be,’’ Holt said when asked if he would be able to play in Monday’s home opener.
Holt is 7 for 17 with two doubles, two home runs, and eight RBIs in four games.
Chris Young started in Holt’s place and was 0 for 3 with two strikeouts. Pablo Sandoval hit for Young in the ninth inning and struck out to end the game.
The Sox signed Young as a platoon outfielder and plan to start him against every lefthanded starter they face. But the Sox have faced five righthanders so far and are scheduled to face three more in the upcoming series against Baltimore.
Young is 1 for 5 so far.
Ramirez finds a role
When the Red Sox are introduced at Fenway Park on Monday afternoon, rookie righthander Noe Ramirez will be the least known of the bunch.
A 26-year-old relief pitcher with a sidearm delivery, Ramirez was a fourth-round pick in the 2011 draft and never considered much of a prospect. The well-respected evaluators at SoxProspects.com once referred to Ramirez as an “emergency major-league arm, hole-filler.’’
The hole-filler dug in, never spending more than one season at any rung of the minors and making his debut with the Sox last season. He appeared in 17 games, getting hit hard at first but then allowing only three runs over eight innings in September.
“I wanted to build off last year and get better. But it was a good experience to go off of,’’ Ramirez said. “It did a lot for my confidence, that I was able to get big league hitters out.’’
Ramirez made the roster out of spring training, winning a job that came open when Carson Smith went on the disabled list. He has pitched three times in the first five games, allowing two runs over 4? innings and striking out five.
Ramirez entered Sunday’s game with a runner on second and two outs in the seventh inning. He retired Kevin Pillar on a grounder back to the mound.
Josh Donaldson homered off Ramirez in the eighth.
“Contrast of style. He’s got the ability to put the ball on the ground, get a ground-ball double play if needed,’’ manager JohnFarrell said. “He serves a pivotal role for us in the middle.’’
Because of his arm angle, Ramirez has been more effective against righthanders than lefthanders. But in his limited big-league experience, he has held lefty hitters to a .231 batting average (3 for 13).
“I’ve worked on that a lot,’’ Ramirez said. “I want to be able to pitch complete innings and not have the manager feel he needs to take me out. I’m pretty confident in that now.’’
A changeup inside has become an effective weapon against lefties. A backdoor slider also has helped.
“The changeup has really given him another look. It’s a late-action changeup, there’s some bottoming out to it. It’s a put-away type of pitch,’’ Farrell said.
Price’s kind of place
David Price starts on Monday, facing Baltimore’s Yovani Gallardo. Price has pitched 11 times before at Fenway Park, but not since May 30, 2014, when he was with the Rays.
Price said he has always liked pitching at Fenway and not just because of his 6-1 record and 1.95 earned run average there.
“I love the mound first and foremost,’’ he said. “That’s been a big factor. And that backdrop, I feel I’m extremely close to that catcher. That’s not always the same at every ballpark. It feels like I’m close to the catcher and it’s a comfort thing.’’
Price is 8-4 with a 2.65 ERA in 19 career starts against the Orioles. He held them to two earned runs over 14 innings in two starts last season.
Festivities set
The Red Sox said Monday’s pregame ceremonies would start at approximately 1:30 p.m.
Airmen from Hanscom Air Force Base will present the colors before a flyover by two F-16 fighters from 158th Fighter Squadron from Burlington, Vt.
Gates will open two hours before the 2:05 start time. During the season, gates will open 90 minutes before first pitch.
“[Monday] will be a great day,’’ Farrell said. “It always is. We’ll certainly feel the energy coming off the road and getting back in front of our fans at Fenway.’’
Last man up
Lefthanded reliever Tommy Layne is the only player on the 25-man roster yet to get into a game . . . Dustin Pedroia has reached base safely in 42 consecutive games against AL East teams going back to last April 24. It’s the longest active streak by one player against a particular division. Wade Boggs reached in 60 consecutive games against AL East teams from Sept. 15, 1984 to Aug. 27, 1985 . . . Lefthander Eduardo Rodriguez threw two innings in a simulated game in Fort Myers, Fla. It was his first game since injuring his right foot Feb. 29. Rodriguez is on a schedule that could have him back in the majors next month.
Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.
