Red Sox edge Jays for fourth straight win

BOSTON 8, TORONTO 7

TORONTO — Mitch Moreland drove in three runs and Mookie Betts scored three times as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Toronto Blue Jays, 8-7, in American League baseball action Tuesday night.

The Blue Jays made it interesting with a three-run ninth inning but Matt Barnes got Devon Travis on a lineout to end the game.

Moreland had a hand in both of Boston’s three-run innings while Betts had three hits, including a solo homer in the seventh.

The Red Sox (9-5) extended their winning streak to four games while Toronto dropped to a major-league worst 2-11. Boston outhit Toronto 15-12.

Russell Martin, Justin Smoak and Ezequiel Carrera homered for the Blue Jays, who fell to 1-6 on their nine-game homestand. Kevin Pillar had three doubles for Toronto.

Boston left-hander Brian Johnson (1-0) got the start after being called up from triple-A Pawtucket.

Pillar led off the first with a double and scored on a one-out single by Kendrys Morales. Troy Tulowitzki reached on an infield single and moved to third on a Smoak double that scored Morales. Tulowitzki tried to score on a Martin grounder but Marco Hernandez threw him out at the plate. Steve Pearce struck out swinging for the third out.

The Jays kept the pressure on in the second but couldn’t push another run across. Devon Travis worked a one-out walk and moved to third on a Pillar double. Jose Bautista was intentionally walked to load the bases but Morales struck out and Tulowitzki lined out. Toronto starter Marcus Stroman (1-2) gave up three straight one-out singles in the third and all three runners came around to score. Betts drove in Xander Bogaerts and Moreland’s two-run single brought home Betts and Andrew Benintendi.

Smoak made it a 3-3 game in the bottom of the third with a firstpitch solo shot to deep left-centre field.

The Red Sox moved ahead in the fifth when Hanley Ramirez doubled to score Betts from first base and Moreland followed with another RBI double. Toronto reliever Aaron Loup came on and gave up an RBI single to Sandoval.

Stroman gave up six earned runs, 11 hits and a walk, striking out four.

FRED THORNHILL, THE CANADIAN PRESS Blue Jays starting pitcher Marcus Stroman throws against the Boston Red Sox in their American League baseball game in Toronto on Tuesday night. The loss by the Blue Jays dropped their record for the campaign to 2-11. Stroman lasted just 4 2/3 innings,...