Boston Red Sox vs Toronto Blue Jays Box Score on Aug 28, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Aug 28, 2017

TORONTO -- Christian Vazquez had four hits, including a two-run homer, Drew Pomeranz won his career-best eighth consecutive decision, and the Boston Red Sox held on to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 on Monday night.

Eduardo Nunez also homered for the Red Sox (74-57), who ended a four-game losing streak.

Pomeranz (14-4) gave up seven hits, five walks and three runs and had four strikeouts in seven innings. He has not lost since June 11.

Craig Kimbrel picked up his 30th save of the season despite allowing the 36th homer of the season by Justin Smoak, a two-run blast with two outs in the ninth. After the homer, Jose Bautista walked and Ezequiel Carrera ran for him. Kendrys Morales popped out to shortstop to end the game.

Reliever Danny Barnes (2-5) took the loss for the Blue Jays (61-70), who have dropped eight of their past 10 games.

Toronto starter Marcus Stroman allowed seven hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out four in six innings. He didn't issue a walk.

Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Pillar made a sensational diving catch on the warning track to rob Mookie Betts of extra bases to lead off the sixth in Stroman's final inning.

Boston scored four in the seventh to increase the lead to 6-3.

Barnes replaced Stroman and allowed a leadoff single to Hanley Ramirez and the fourth home run of the season by Vazquez to give the Red Sox a 4-3 lead.

Aaron Loup replaced Barnes after a one-out walk to Nunez and allowed a ground-rule double to Andrew Benintendi. Betts was walked intentionally to load the bases.

Mitch Moreland hit an infield single on a soft grounder to first baseman Smoak, who flipped to second too late for the force play as a run scored.

Ryan Tepera replaced Loup and walked Xander Bogaerts to force in a run. Rafael Devers grounded to shortstop to start a 6-2-3 double play to end the inning.

Addison Reed replaced Pomeranz and pitched a perfect seventh inning, and Brandon Workman pitched a perfect eighth.

Toronto took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Smoak walked, Bautista doubled and Morales hit a two-run single.

The Red Sox scored one in the second. Hanley Ramirez lined a two-out double that eluded left fielder Steve Pearce. Vazquez singled and stole second. When catcher Raffy Lopez's throw went to the outfield, Ramirez scored on the error.

Nunez led off the third with his 11th homer of the season and seventh with the Red Sox.

The Blue Jays took a 3-2 lead in the fourth when Pillar doubled, Darwin Barney singled and Ryan Goins hit an RBI single.

NOTES: Toronto designated OF Norichika Aoki for assignment and recalled RHP Leonel Campos from Triple-A Buffalo. Aoki went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs on Sunday in the 7-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins. He batted .281/.294/.594 in 12 games with three homers and eight RBIs after joining Toronto in a trade on July 31 that sent LHP Francisco Liriano to the Houston Astros. ... The Red Sox played the 11th game Monday of a stretch of 20 games in 20 days. Their next scheduled day off is Sept. 7. ... LHP Chris Sale (14-6, 2.88 ERA) will start Tuesday for the Red Sox. The Blue Jays had not named a starter.