Homer agony for Estrada

TORONTO — Marco Estrada has felt like one bad pitch has done him in over most of his starts this season. Saturday was more of the same story.

Hanley Ramirez hit a two-run homer off Estrada in the third inning, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 5-2 win over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

“It feels like it’s usually a home run that kills it for me,” Estrada said. “Things are usually going OK and the next thing you know I get two guys on base, the next guy hits the ball well and it just ruins everything. Today, same thing. If it wasn’t for that homer, who knows?”

Estrada (2-3) allowed four runs and seven hits over six innings. The right-hander also walked a batter and struck out five.

The home run from Ramirez, giving Boston a 3-0 lead in the third, was the 10th allowed by Estrada in eight starts.

But despite the loss, Estrada said he was content with his pitching. “I thought I threw the ball pretty well,” 34-year-old Estrada said.

“I just got to keep working hard and trying to get better, try to locate my pitches a little more, that’s all I can really do. I’m sure I’ll start figuring things out and pitch like I know I can.”

Manager John Gibbons shared a similar sentiment. “I thought he was pretty solid,” he said. “The home-run ball to Ramirez was a bit over the plate, but, overall, he gave us six innings.”