Red Sox have no trouble with Jays in opener

BOSTON Andrew Benintendi has continued the hot hitting out of the leadoff spot for injured star Mookie Betts.

Benintendi hit a three-run homer to cap a five-run fourth inning, J.D. Martinez added a solo homer, and the Boston Red Sox coasted to an 8-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday.

With regular leadoff hitter Betts missing his second straight game because of tightness on his left side that he felt in batting practice Sunday, Benintendi added a triple and single, improving to 4 for 8 in the two days.

“I’m seeing it pretty well right now,” Benintendi said in his usually quiet voice.

Reminded that it was his first career homer over the Green Monster, the 23-yearold said: “I’ve hit a few over there in BP, but not in a game.”

Betts entered the day with a major-league-leading .359 batting average.

Jackie Bradley Jr. added an RBI double, scored twice and made a spectacular catch in centre field as Boston won for the seventh time in nine games.

It was the Blue Jays’ 11th loss in 15 games, dropping them to 2-5 against the Red Sox this season. Teoscar Hernandez had an RBI triple and double for Toronto.

David Price (5-4) laboured through five innings, allowing two runs and four hits with four strikeouts and four walks.

The lefty took a hard grounder from Yangervis Solarte that bounced off his glove and appeared to carom off his chest in the first inning before picking it up and throwing him out.

“You know me, I’m the softest guy in this clubhouse,” Price said, joking. “If that had bothered me, I was coming out of the game.”

The Red Sox took charge with their big fourth inning, pulling ahead 6-1 against Aaron Sanchez (2-5).

Sanchez was tagged for seven runs and nine hits in five innings, falling to 0-3 in his past five starts with a 5.96 ERA.