Pearce’s bat leads Jays to victory at Fenway
BOSTON — Steve Pearce hit a solo homer, then added the go-ahead single in the eighth inning in Toronto’s 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Monday night at Fenway Park.
The Blue Jays led 3-0 after two innings but Major League Baseball’s American League East-leading Red Sox scored three in the seventh, tying it when Dustin Pedroia hit Dominic Leone’s only pitch off the Green Monster to tie it.
One run scored on the double, and Mookie Betts was thrown out at the plate.
Toronto went back in front in the eighth when Pearce singled to score pinch-runner Ezequiel Carrera from third.
Ryan Tepera (5-1), who started the eighth, was credited with the victory even though Leone was the pitcher of record when the winning run scored.
Baseball rule 9.17 © instructs the official scorer not to award a victory to a reliever who makes a short, ineffective appearance.
Roberto Osuna pitched the ninth for his 23rd save.
Heath Hembree (1-3) took the loss.
Marcus Stroman took a shutout into the seventh for Toronto, allowing three hits — two of them infield hits to the pitcher. But he was also charged with an error for failing to get his foot on the bag when first baseman Justin Smoak fielded Jackie Bradley Jr.’s grounder.
Stroman walked Christian Vazquez to load the bases. Brock Holt’s sacrifice fly scored one run and Betts singled in another to chase Stroman.
UP NEXT Blue Jays: LHP J.A. Happ (3-6) starts in Game 2 of the series at 7:10 p.m. Red Sox: Brian Johnson (2-0) is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket to make the start.