Grichuk’s 3 RBIS lift Jays past Red Sox

BOSTON — Robbie Ray pitched six strong innings, Randal Grichuk homered and drove in three runs, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1 Wednesday in the first game of a doubleheader.

“I felt like my slider was really good, especially those last two innings,” Ray said. “I threw some really good changeups too. So I think it was just a matter of mixing up my pitches more than I had in the earlier stages of the game.”

George Springer also homered as the Blue Jays topped the AL East leaders a day after a rainout at Fenway Park forced the twinbill.

Ray (9-5) gave up one run on five hits, striking out eight. Jordan Romano earned his eighth save with a perfect seventh inning.

“They’re a good hitting team. There’s a reason they’re leading the AL East. They can hit the ball to all parts of the field,” Ray said. “It’s just a matter of bearing down and getting those outs, finding those outs when you can.”

Grichuk’s 19th homer was a tiebreaking, two-run drive in the fourth off Garrett Richards (6-6) that landed in the first row of the bleachers in straightaway center field. Springer led off the fifth with his ninth homer.

“With (Richards) throwing 94, 97, if you find a barrel, it’s going to go,” Grichuk said. “That wind was blowing, I didn’t know if it was going to get out. But, luckily, it snuck out.”

Boston scored in the first when a single by Rafael Devers set up an RBI grounder by J.D. Martinez.

“We had our chances to put them away. We did not,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora of scoring opportunities, including with bases loaded and no outs in the second inning.

Bo Bichette walked in the second, stole second and later scored on Grichuk’s single back to the mound that Richards couldn’t contain.

Richards went four innings, allowing four runs on four hits

with one walk and two strikeouts. It was his first loss in five

starts since June 23 at Tampa Bay.

Boston RHP Tanner Houck (0-2, 2.50 ERA) was scheduled to start the second game of the doubleheader, making his first career appearance against the Blue Jays. He will be opposed by Toronto LHP Steven Matz (8-5, 4.34), who will be making his third start of the season against the Red Sox, winning his only other start at Fenway Park.