BOSTON (AP) - When Drew Pomeranz has been on the mound this season, it’s usually meant good things for the Boston Red Sox.
Pomeranz pitched three-hit ball into the seventh inning, Dustin Pedroia drove in three and the Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 on Wednesday night.
Pomeranz (10-4) allowed an unearned run over 6 2/3 innings to win his fourth straight decision and continues to be among Boston’s most dependable arms. He hasn’t lost since June 11, and the Red Sox are 9-3 in his past 12 starts. His ERA over the stretch is 2.62, dropping it from 5.29 to 3.51 for the season.
“I feel really good with all my pitches on both sides of the plate, which is something I really haven’t had before,” Pomeranz said.
Pedroia and Deven Marrero each had two-run singles with two outs in the second inning to provide all the offense the Red Sox needed. Pedroia has six RBIs in the series, which concludes Thursday.
Pomeranz said being healthy has been a factor in his run of quality starts. He acknowledged he felt good, but not great in spring training as he struggled with his mechanics. Since then, he’s found a rhythm.
Aaron Sanchez (1-3) gave up five runs, six hits and five walks in four innings. It ended his four-game winning streak against Boston. Pitching in just his third game off the disabled list for a blister issue on his middle finger, the same problem contributed to his early exit Wednesday.
“It’s one of those things,” Sanchez said. “You take a step forward, you think you’re past it and you’re right back to step one.”
A baserunning error early in the second almost derailed Boston’s big inning. Chris Young led off with a double, and Jackie Bradley Jr. followed with a single. After Bradley stole second, Christian Vazquez hit a sharp grounder to first baseman Justin Smoak. He stepped on the bag for the out, and then caught Young hung up between third and home.
Young was tagged out after a brief rundown for the double play, but Brock Holt walked to keep the inning alive.
STREAK ENDS
While Pedroia was hot at the plate, his streak of 114 games without a fielding error ended when he tried to backhand a groundball by Darwin Barney in the fifth inning. The streak was a club record for a second baseman. His last error was Aug. 9, 2016 at Detroit.
SLUMP NO MORE
Before his single to lead off the third inning, Miguel Montero had been 0 for 15 with Toronto since coming over in a July 3 trade from Chicago.
BEATING THE HEAT
Red Sox manager John Farrell said he plans to combat a recent run of hot days and long games the same way he handled a similar stretch a year ago.
It starts with limiting the pregame workload and sun exposure, which included bypassing outdoor batting practice Wednesday. The Red Sox may even restrict player access to the clubhouse during the hottest part of the day.
“We went through that last year. I thought it paid dividends, the 2-4 weeks following that stint,” Farrell said. “And that’s about the take place again.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: RHP Michael Bolsinger was placed on the 10-day disabled list prior to the game with left knee inflammation. Bolsinger allowed one hit - a walk-off homer in the 15th inning - in 3 1/3 innings in Toronto’s 5-4 loss Tuesday. RHP Cesar Valdez was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo. … RHP Joe Smith (right shoulder) was expected to be activated from the disabled list Wednesday, but will instead need one more rehab start in the minors. The plan is for him to meet the team for its series in Cleveland, which begins on Friday.
Red Sox: SS Xander Bogaerts (right hand) took pregame ground balls and Farrell is hopeful he can be back in the lineup Thursday. He was a late scratch Tuesday and had an MRI on the hand, which has bothered him since he was hit by a pitch July 6.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: LHP Francisco Liriano (5-5, 6.04 ERA) will make his 16th start of the season. He lasted just two innings in his last outing on July 15 at Detroit, giving up five runs.
Red Sox: RHP Doug Fister (0-3, 6.75) appeared in relief last week in Boston’s 4-1, 16-inning loss to the Yankees. He took the loss after allowing three runs over 2 2/3 innings.
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