Sports: Blue Jays break tie in eighth and edge Red Sox, 4-3, at Fenway Park

After Red Sox tie game in seventh, Pearce gives Blue Jays lead right back with single in the eighth

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.

The Blue Jays led 3-0 after two innings but AL East-leading Boston scored three in the seventh, tying it when Dustin Pe- droia 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, the ex-Norwich Free Academy star, was the pitcher of record when the winning run scored.

Baseball rule 9.17 (c) 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 inning 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.

Official scorer Bob Ellis used his discretion to award the victory to Te-

pera, who started the eighth, even though Leone was the pitcher of record when the winning run scored. Leone threw one pitch and gave up a double, but recorded his only out because of the play at the plate. Tepera pitched a perfect eighth, striking out one.

Stroman took a no-decision, allowing three unearned runs on five hits and three walks, striking out five. Boston's Eduardo Rodriguez, who was activated from the disabled list (right knee) for the game, allowed three runs on six hits and four walks in 5.1 innings.

Appeal denied

Red Sox manager John Farrell says Major League Baseball has denied Boston's protest over a bizarre play on the bases last weekend involving Matt Holliday of the New York Yankees.

Farrell said he wasn't surprised the protest was denied, but disappointed that the play couldn't be reviewed.

The Red Sox wanted an interference call Saturday in the 11th inning of a game they lost 4-1 in 16 innings. Holliday retreated toward first base after forced out at second on a grounder, sliding back into the bag as the throw came to first baseman Mitch Moreland.

The throw hit Ellsbury and bounced into foul territory. Ellsbury was allowed to stay at first, and didn't end up scoring.

Trainer's room

Home plate umpire Chris Segal remained in the game after getting hit in the head by Josh Donaldson's bat in the first inning. Donaldson, the third batter in the game, swung at a pitch from Rodriguez and lost the handle on his bat. It flew behind him and hit Segal on the top of the head. Segal, who was wearing a mask but no helmet, went back to the ground and remained there until the training staff came running out.