Struggling Blue Jays fail to improve losing record against Boston Red Sox
TORONTO — Pinch-hitter Mitch Moreland broke a tie with a two-run homer in the seventh, then drove in two more runs an inning later as the Boston Red Sox downed the struggling Toronto Blue Jays 7-1 on Wednesday to complete a threegame sweep.
Moreland, in to pinch hit for designated hitter Chris Young in the seventh, followed a Hanley Ramirez double by drilling a fastball from reliever Tom Koehler (1-7) into the second deck in right field to give the visitors a 3-1 lead.
Moreland was at it again in Boston’s four-run eighth inning, lacing a soft line drive to centre off Aaron Loup to plate two more.
Ramirez also homered for the American League East leading Red Sox (76-57), going deep for the second time in as many nights. Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts added RBI doubles.
Rick Porcello (9-15) went 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball with six hits, two walks and seven strikeouts. Porcello, last year’s AL Cy Young winner, has gone at least six innings in 25 straight road starts, the longest active streak in the majors.
Raffy Lopez hit a solo homer for the reeling Blue Jays (61-72), who have lost four straight and 10 of their last 12 games.
Toronto has won just one of nine against the Red Sox at Rogers Centre this season, being outscored 57-23 in that span.
J.A. Happ went six innings in the no-decision, allowing one run and four hits while striking out two. The left-hander also matched a season-high with four walks.
Lopez put Toronto on the board in the third, sending a Porcello curveball over the right-field wall for his second homer of the season.
But Ramirez launched his team-leading 21st home run into the left-field seats to tie the game 1-1 in the fifth, snapping Happ’s streak of 39 2/3 innings without allowing a homer.
Betts and Bogaerts started Boston’s four-run eighth with back-to-back RBI doubles off Tim Mayza. Mayza did not record an out and was charged with all four runs in the inning.
The Blue Jays threatened in the fourth when Porcello loaded the bases with one out. But Darwin Barney lined out to the Red Sox pitcher and Lopez struck out to end the inning.
NOTES: Justin Smoak sat out the game with a tight calf. Manager John Gibbons believed it to be a minor injury. Gibbons also said that second baseman Devon Travis had a setback in his rehab and will likely not play again this season. Josh Donaldson was given the night off . ... Attendance was 37,693 . ... Ryan Goins singled in the fourth inning to extend his hit streak to nine games . ... The Blue Jays start a four-game road series in Baltimore today.