TORONTO (AP) - Told he’d be getting the day off, Xander Bogaerts took a pass on batting practice and other pregame activity before the Red Sox faced the Blue Jays.
By the time extra innings arrived, however, Bogaerts was pressed into service. He ended up providing the big hit.
Bogaerts singled home the tiebreaking run in the 11th inning and Boston beat Toronto 7-4 on Friday night.
“We were trying to do everything to give him the full day down but we had to tap into everybody,” manager John Farrell said. “He put a great swing on a pitch to push one through the right side.”
Bogaerts was held out of the starting lineup for the first time since April 21. He came on as a defensive replacement in the 10th.
“The manager needed me and he put me in there,” Bogaerts said. “I’m happy I did my part to help us win.”
Hanley Ramirez doubled off Aaron Loup (2-2) to begin the 11th and moved to third on Jackie Bradley Jr.’s single. One out later, Bogaerts singled through the drawn-in infield.
I didn’t think they were going to pitch to me but they opted to do that,” Bogaerts said. “That’s when I kind of locked it in a little more like ’Okay, let’s go. Let’s try to get that run in.’”
Deven Marrero had two hits and three RBIs as the AL East-leading Red Sox won their 13th straight game when scoring at least five runs.
Blaine Boyer (1-1) pitched two scoreless innings and Craig Kimbrel finished for his 23rd save.
Justin Smoak hit a three-run home run, his 22nd, and Troy Tulowitzki added a solo blast for the Blue Jays, who have lost six of eight.
Eight Toronto pitchers combined to issue 14 walks, the most by one team in the majors this season. Right-hander Marco Estrada walked a career-high seven.
“I didn’t have a feel for anything,” Estrada said. “I was wild today, plain and simple.”
The Blue Jays took an early lead on Smoak’s first-inning homer off Doug Fister. Smoak’s blast was the 1,070th MLB home run in June, breaking the previous mark set in May 2000.
Boston went hitless until Mookie Betts reached on an infield single in the fifth. Two batters later, Dustin Pedroia hit a two-run double.
Marrero tied it 3-all with an RBI single off Danny Barnes in the sixth and Benintendi added an RBI double off Jeff Beliveau.
The Blue Jays tied it in the bottom half when Tulowitzki greeted Heath Hembree with a solo homer to left. The drive was Tulowitzki’s third in six games.
FOR STARTERS
Estrada went 0-4 with a 9.11 ERA in six June starts. Making his second start for Boston, Fister allowed three runs in five innings.
BIG DAY FOR FARRELL FAMILY
Luke Farrell, son of Red Sox manager John Farrell, will make his major league debut when he starts Game 1 of Kansas City’s doubleheader against Minnesota on Saturday afternoon. The Royals drafted the right-hander in 2013. With the blessing of Red Sox GM Dave Dombrowski, Farrell will fly to Kansas City Saturday to watch his son pitch. “I don’t know that I’ll be sitting,” Farrell said. “I’ll be pacing the ballpark for sure.” Farrell will return Sunday. Bench coach Gary Disarcina will manage the Red Sox Saturday.
FARRELL CONFIRMS NEW CONFRONTATION FOR PRICE
Farrell confirmed that he had spoken to LHP David Price about a confrontation with a team broadcaster on the flight to Toronto. “That’s being handled internally,” Farrell said.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Red Sox: Boston released 1B/OF Allen Craig, who has not played for the Red Sox since 2015. He was batting .253 with one homer at 14 RBIs at Triple-A Pawtucket. … RHP Eduardo Rodriguez (right knee) joined the team in Toronto on Friday and will throw a bullpen session Saturday. He allowed six runs in three innings at Double-A Portland on Thursday. … Pedroia returned to the lineup after sitting out Thursday because of a sore left knee.
Blue Jays: C Jarrod Saltalamacchia was released from Triple-A Buffalo. … OF Dalton Pompey, whose recovery from a preseason concussion has been slowed by a left knee injury, came out of a rehab game at Class-A Dunedin after fouling a ball off his leg.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: LHP Chris Sale (10-3, 2.77 ERA) has won nine of his past 10 decisions and leads the majors with 155 strikeouts. Sale pitched eight shutout innings at Toronto on April 28.
Blue Jays: LHP Francisco Liriano (4-3, 5.46 ERA) snapped a three-game winless streak in his previous start, allowing two runs in six innings to beat Kansas City and record his 100th career victory.
___
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Please read our comment policy before commenting.