Grichuk drives in three runs as Blue Jays top Red Sox, 8-5

TORONTO — Randal Grichuk drove in three runs including a two-run homer as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Boston Red Sox, 8-5, in American League baseball action Thursday.

Teoscar Hernandez also had a homer for the Blue Jays (5262) and Justin Smoak drove in a pair of runs.

Ryan Borucki (2-2) picked up his first career win at home. He pitched five innings and allowed four earned runs and three walks. He also recorded two strikeouts. Mookie Betts hit for the cycle for the Red Sox (81-34), who lost for the first time in August. Betts hit a single in the first inning, a triple in the second, a double in the fourth and a home run in the ninth.

J.D. Martinez hit his major-league leading 35th home run of the season.

Rick Porcello (14-5) lasted just four innings while giving up seven earned runs and six hits. He walked three batters and recorded five strikeouts.

Eduardo Nunez helped the Red Sox open the scoring in the first inning. He hit a two-run single to give Boston a 2-0 lead.

The Blue Jays tied it later in the inning. Smoak hit an RBI single to cut the lead.

Smoak’s hit extended his hitting streak to a season team-high 13 games.

Grichuk followed with an RBI fielder’s choice to tie it 2-2.

In the second, Kevin Pillar grounded into a fielder’s choice, which allowed Russell Martin to cross home plate and gave Toronto a 3-2 lead.

The Blue Jays added to their lead in the third.

Hernandez hit a solo home run to right field to give Toronto a 4-2 lead.

In the fifth, Boston’s Martinez hit a solo homer to cut Toronto’s lead to 4-3. Brock Holt followed that with an RBI single to tie the game 4-4.

Smoak hit an RBI in the bottom of the inning to give Toronto a 5-4 advantage. Grichuk then hit a two-run home run to cap a three-run inning and gave the Blue Jays a 7-4 lead.

Toronto added to their lead in the sixth. Devon Travis would hit an RBI single to give the Blue Jays an 8-4 cushion.

In the ninth inning, Betts hit a solo home run to complete his first career cycle to cut Toronto’s lead to 8-5.

NOTES: Paid attendance was 28,415. Before the game, the Blue Jays called up pitcher Thomas Pannone and optioned

Mike Hauschild to Triple-A.

FRED THORNHILL THE CANADIAN PRESS Blue Jays closer Ken Giles is congratulated at the end of the ninth by catcher Russell Martin in their game against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Thursday night.