Pomeranz strong in Boston’s win over Blue Jays

BOSTON » Dustin Pedroia drove in three, Drew Pomeranz pitched three-hit ball into the seventh inning and the Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 on Wednesday night.

Pomeranz (10-4) allowed an unearned run over 6 2/3 innings to win his fourth straight decision and continues to be among Boston’s most dependable arms. He hasn’t lost since June 11, and the Red Sox are 9-3 in his past 12 starts. His ERA over the stretch is 2.62, dropping it from 5.29 to 3.51 for the season.

Pedroia and Deven Marrero each had two-run singles with two outs in the second inning to provide all the offense the Red Sox needed. Pedroia has six RBIs in the series, which concludes Thursday.

Aaron Sanchez (1-3) gave up five runs, six hits and five walks in four innings. It ended his four-game winning streak against Boston.

A baserunning error early in the second almost derailed Boston’s big inning. Chris Young led off with a double, and Jackie Bradley Jr. followed with a single. After Bradley stole second, Christian Vazquez hit a sharp grounder to first baseman Justin Smoak. He stepped on the bag for the out, and then caught Young hung up between third and home.

Young was tagged out after a brief rundown for the double play, but Brock Holt walked to keep the inning alive. TRAINER’S ROOM Red Sox: SS Xander Bogaerts (right hand) took pregame ground balls and manager John Farrell is hopeful he can be back in the lineup Thursday.

CHARLES KRUPA - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Boston Red Sox’s Mookie Betts scores on a two RBI single by Dustin Pedroia during the second inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park in Boston, on Wednesday.