BOSTON – Jackie Bradley Jr. had four hits with a two-run home run and four RBIs, Rick Porcello pitched into the eighth inning and the Boston Red Sox outslugged the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays 11-4 Monday.
The Blue Jays lost for just the fourth time in 16 games. They had their lead atop the East sliced to a half game over the New York Yankees, who beat Baltimore 8-6.
Bradley added two singles and a double, and Travis Shaw hit a two-run homer for Boston, which posted its fourth straight win and eighth in 11 games.
READ MORE: Party leaders agree to skip Jays games after Toronto losses when they attended
Josh Donaldson and Justin Smoak each hit solo homers for Toronto. Donaldson’s was his 37th.
Porcello (7-12) had his third consecutive strong start since coming off the disabled list following a right triceps strain. He allowed four runs – three earned – and eight hits over 7 1-3 innings.
David Ortiz had a pair of doubles and an RBI. The second was high off the Green Monster – below a sign with the white numbers ‘497’ that signify his chase to become the 27th player to hit 500 career homers.
Working on seven days’ rest after complaining of fatigue, Mark Buerhle (14-7) gave up five runs on nine hits in 3 1-3 innings.
Toronto leads the majors with 191 homers and 750 runs.
The Red Sox broke in front 5-1 by scoring twice in both the third and fourth.
Bradley homered into the first row of Monster seats in a three-run sixth.
The 25-year-old outfielder, who shuttled between Triple-A Pawtucket and the majors this season, continued his torrid pace. Since Aug. 9, he’s hitting .446 with 24 extra-base hits in 25 games.
Xander Bogaerts’ run-scoring grounder pushed Boston in front 2-1 before Ortiz’s RBI double.
Bradley and Mookie Betts had consecutive RBI singles, making it 5-1.
WATCH: We The North: Blue Jays edition
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: RHP R.A. Dickey (10-10) looks to keep his hot streak going on Tuesday night. He’s 7-0 in his last nine starts.
Red Sox: Rookie LHP Henry Owens (2-2) hopes to bounce back from a rough outing. The 23-year-old, taped to a pole in the dugout in Sunday’s win over Philadelphia, was tagged for seven runs in just 1 2-3 innings in a loss to the Yankees on Wednesday.
Comments