TORONTO – Brock Holt hit a grand slam and drove in five runs as the Boston Red Sox rallied from a 7-2 deficit, taking advantage of the Toronto bullpen to defeat the Blue Jays 8-7 in their home opener Friday night.
Things had looked secure for Toronto (2-3) after a Josh Donaldson grand slam in the fourth. But the Jays relief corps blew a save opportunity for the third game in the row, letting Boston (2-1) off the hook with four runs in the sixth and two in the seventh before a Rogers Centre sellout of 48,871 looking for another taste of last season’s playoff fever.
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The Jays got the tying run to second base in the eighth inning but reliever Koji Uehara retired Donaldson and Jose Bautista to end the threat. Flame-thrower closer Craig Kimbrel pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.
Matt Barnes (1-0) got the win while Drew Storen (0-1) took the loss.
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Toronto has lost its last five home openers, the longest opener losing streak in franchise history.
Donaldson, swinging a big bat despite a bum leg, made history with the Jays’ first grand slam in a home opener for a commanding 7-2 lead.