Ernie Clement hit a two-run homer Wednesday afternoon and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Boston Red Sox 8-1 in the rubber match of a three-game series.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had three singles and a walk for the Blue Jays, who completed a 4-2 homestand. Brandon Valenzuela contributed two hits with a homer and a walk.
Willson Contreras had two hits, including a homer for Boston. Wilyer Abreu added two hits and a walk. Marcelo Mayer singled as a pinch hitter in the seventh to extend his hit streak to a career-best eight games.
Contreras homered to left on Eric Lauer’s 2-2 fastball with one out in the first.
Toronto scored three in the third against struggling Brayan Bello (1-4). Valenzuela, Jesus Sanchez and Guerrero singled to load the bases. Kazuma Okamoto stroked a two-run single to left. A wild pitch put runners at second and third before Daulton Varsho walked. Yohendrick Pinango hit a single to left for his first major league RBI as Guerrero scored but Okamoto was out at home.
Bello walked Valenzuela with two out in the fourth. Greg Weissert replaced Bello and Clement snapped an 0-for-11 drought with a homer to left on an 0-2 fastball.
Bello allowed four runs, six hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings.
Boston loaded the bases on three singles with one out in the fifth. Braydon Fisher (2-0) replaced Lauer and Contreras lined into an inning-ending double play.
Lauer allowed one run, five hits while walking one with one strikeout and several hard-hit outs.
Weissert allowed Guerrero’s leadoff single in the home fifth. Jovani Moran took over with one out and hit Varsho with a pitch. George Springer, activated from the injured list Wednesday, hit a pinch-hit, RBI single to center on the first pitch. Myles Straw hit a sacrifice fly to right to make it 7-1.
Contreras and Abreu singled against Joe Mantiply to open the eighth. Spencer Miles entered and walked Trevor Story to load the bases with one out before ending the inning with a strikeout and a groundout.
Valenzuela homered on a 3-2 hanging slider from Garrett Whitlock in the Toronto eighth.
Toronto designated Eloy Jimenez for assignment to make room for Springer.
Boston put left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder inflammation) on the IL amd utility player Nate Eaton was recalled from Triple-A Worcester.
–Field Level Media
