Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) – Hanley Ramirez hit a two-run homer to back
seven solid innings from Rick Porcello and the Boston Red Sox topped the
Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 in the rubber game of a three-game set.
Porcello (2-2) was 2-5 in eight career appearances against the Blue Jays
before Wednesday’s game, but he put forth a dominant effort against the
highest-scoring team in the league.
He yielded just two runs — one earned — on two hits with six strikeouts.
Ramirez continued to swing a hot bat, homering for the second consecutive
night and fifth time in his last six games.
Porcello’s counterpart R.A. Dickey (0-3) was charged with all four runs on
nine hits in seven innings of work.
Toronto actually opened the scoring in the top of the second inning, with
Kevin Pillar scoring on Josh Thole’s fielder’s choice.
But it was all Boston after that. Porcello retired the side in order in the
next four innings and pitched around two baserunners to get out of the seventh
unscathed.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox plated three in the home third to climb in front. Ryan
Hanigan and Dustin Pedroia singled to put two on for David Ortiz, who tied it
with an RBI single to right. Ramirez followed with his two-run shot to left.
Boston tacked on an insurance run in the seventh. Consecutive singles and a
sacrifice bunt put two in scoring position for Mookie Betts, who smacked a
single past Devon Travis and into right field. Brock Holt scored easily,
though Xander Bogaerts was tagged out at home plate following a dart from
Michael Saunders. The play was reviewed and ultimately upheld by home plate
umpire Adrian Johnson.
Junichi Tazawa took care of the eighth inning and Koji Uehara struck out the
side in the ninth to earn his fourth save.
Game Notes
Toronto has lost five of six … The top three hitters in Toronto’s lineup
finished 0-for-11 with four strikeouts … The Blue Jays went 0-for-6 with
runners in scoring position. Boston finished 2-for-3.
