George Springer went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer that highlighted Toronto’s five-run fifth inning, leading the visiting Blue Jays past the Boston Red Sox 7-3 to sweep day-night action on Monday.
The Blue Jays also received a strong pitching performance from Jose Berrios (13-9), who worked 7 2/3 innings with six strikeouts. Berrios allowed just one unearned run until his final frame, finishing with two allowed to go with eight hits while walking none.
Vladimir Guerrero was also 2-for-4 and scored twice for Toronto, which finished 5-for-10 with runners in scoring position en route to its fifth straight win.
Springer’s home run was his second of the non-traditional doubleheader, as he also hit a go-ahead solo shot in the seventh inning of an earlier 4-1 Toronto win that was the resumption of a June 26 suspended game.
Jarren Duran went 3-for-4 with a double, home run, two RBI and two runs scored to lead Boston from the leadoff spot.
Like Springer, Duran homered in both Monday games with both going deep in June. Both players have 19 on the season.
Triston Casas also managed a pair of hits and drove in the only other Red Sox run.
The Red Sox rewarded opener Zack Kelly’s three scoreless, hitless innings when Duran struck a one-out double to deep center and advanced on Berrios’ failed pickoff before scoring on an opposite-field single by Casas two batters later.
After Justin Slaten followed with his own scoreless inning out of Boston’s bullpen, the visitors broke the game open as they tagged Brad Keller (0-4) for five runs in just two-thirds of the fifth.
Leo Jimenez doubled and Steward Berroa walked to begin Toronto’s big run-scoring inning, setting up Springer to flip the score for good on a three-run homer inside the right-field foul pole.
The next two batters, Joey Loperfido (error) and Guerrero Jr. (single), also reached before Addison Barger’s two-out single into shallow left and Ernie Clement’s double off the Green Monster plated them both for a 5-1 Toronto lead.
Duran’s second homer of the day cleared the center-field fence to bring the Red Sox within 5-3 after eight. Berrios had retired 12 straight Red Sox before a David Hamilton single that immediately preceded the Duran long ball.
However, Guerrero’s leadoff single and two Boston errors in a two-run ninth to provide Toronto with insurance.
Red Sox right fielder Wilyer Abreu was ejected for arguing after a called third strike in the bottom of the third.
–Field Level Media
