Tim Parker (right): “Collectively it wasn’t good enough.” (John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports)

TORONTO — The numbers never lie. Or do they?

The Red Bulls out shot Toronto FC, 20-9, Wednesday night and placed more shots on target, 7-4.

They forced Toronto goalkeeper Quintin Westberg to make six saves, while their own Luis Robles had but one.

They also attempted more corner kicks, 14-3, and enjoyed a slight edge in possession, 53-47.

Oh, yeah, the final score:

Toronto FC 3, Red Bulls 1.

Statistics are for losers, or at least they can be in situations like this.

Red Bulls captain Luis Robles called it “very frustrating.”

“The plan is always to win your home games and get a tie or a result on the road and we felt tonight was a great opportunity to do that,” he said. “To start the way did is concerning. It is the second game in a row that we have given up a goal so early, and then not to play well the first half.

“For us to get the goal to make it 2-1, it felt like we were in it and then to concede the third goal it was tough to overcome, very tough to overcome.”

The Red Bulls found themselves in a two-goal hole by the 26th minute as they were forced to chase the game at BMO Field.

“Collectively it wasn’t good enough,” center back Tim Parker said. “As a back four of the three goals we give up, we give up two easy ones, and then the first one, collectively wasn’t good enough to get pressure on the ball to deny the service, and then obviously Jozy [Altidore] makes the most of it. But it’s not as hard as it is to get back together, it’s more of us finding that rhythm that we have to find.”

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.