The Sports Xchange
Sep 27, 2017
BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox inched closer to claiming the American League East title with a 10-7 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night at Fenway Park.
Boston (92-66) extended its lead over the second-place Yankees atop the AL East to 3 1/2 games, pending New York's late result against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Red Sox dropped their magic number to clinch the division to two.
Xander Bogaerts hit a three-run homer and finished with four RBIs, Hanley Ramirez and Mitch Moreland each added solo shots, and Rick Porcello tossed 5 2/3 innings of five-run ball for the Red Sox.
Jackie Bradley Jr., Dustin Pedroia and Rajai Davis also had one RBI apiece for Boston.
Jose Bautista and Teoscar Hernandez each cranked two-run homers, Darwin Barney slugged a solo shot, and both Justin Smoak and Kendrys Morales each had one RBI as Toronto (75-84) saw its three-game winning streak end.
The Blue Jays won 6-4 in the series opener on Monday and 9-4 on Tuesday.
Porcello, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, allowed seven hits with two walks and eight strikeouts while making his career-high 33rd start of the season.
Porcello (11-17) served up two home runs, tying a Red Sox record for the most games with multiple home runs allowed in a season at 11.
Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada (10-9) exited after 2 1/3 innings, having allowed eight runs (seven earned), nine hits and a walk with two strikeouts.
Estrada had held the Red Sox to two earned runs in 17 1/3 innings in three previous starts this season.
The Red Sox turned to ace left-hander David Price, who was converted to the bullpen for the stretch run, in relief of Porcello with two outs in the sixth. Price tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
Moreland padded the Boston lead with his one-out homer, which sailed approximately 379 feet into the right field seats, in the seventh.
Hernandez made a dent in the Red Sox's lead with his estimated 396-foot, two-run blast over the Monster in left with two outs in the ninth. He has six homers in his past six games and eight on the season.
Boston used a three-run second and a five-run third to erase an early 3-0 deficit and take a 9-5 lead.
The Red Sox's third-inning barrage was highlighted by Bogaerts' three-run blast, which sailed an estimated 437 feet over the Green Monster in left.
Ramirez's homer was a whopper too, traveling approximately 473 feet, well over the Monster in the second.
Bautista hit his homer into the Monster seats during Toronto's three-run first. Barney also sent a ball over the Monster seats with his shot in the fourth.
NOTES: Boston RF Mookie Betts (left wrist inflammation/right thumb bone bruise) was not in the lineup but was available as a pinch hitter. Rajai Davis started in right field. INF/OF Eduardo Nunez (sprained right knee) missed his second straight game. ... Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia returned and hit second in the lineup after a two-game absence because of swelling in his left knee. "I feel good, ready to go," Pedroia said. "I like playing baseball." ... Toronto was denied its first sweep of Boston since a three-game series on June 12-14, 2015, at Fenway Park. ... Red Sox LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (6-6, 3.91 ERA) opposes Houston Astros RHP Brad Peacock (12-2, 2.98) on Thursday to open a four-game series. Blue Jays RHP Joe Biagini (3-12, 5.34) faces the New York Yankees on Friday to open a three-game set.