Ceddanne Rafaela delivered three hits, including a crucial go-ahead single with two outs in the eighth inning, propelling the visiting Boston Red Sox to a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday.
Tyler O’Neill’s solo home run in the eighth inning tied the game for the Red Sox, who have now won the first two games of the three-game series and extended their winning streak to four games overall.
Chris Bassitt, the Toronto right-hander, pitched six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out six batters. On the other side, Boston’s Tanner Houck pitched 5 2/3 innings, surrendering three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts.
Boston took an early lead in the second inning when O’Neill doubled and scored on Dominic Smith’s two-out single. Toronto responded with a two-run second inning, highlighted by Ernie Clement’s two-out double that brought in both Justin Turner and Addison Barger.
The Red Sox tied the game in the sixth inning as Rafael Devers doubled and later scored on Masataka Yoshida’s single to center field. However, Toronto reclaimed the lead in the bottom half of the inning when Isiah Kiner-Falefa drove in a run with a soft RBI single.
In the eighth inning, O’Neill’s home run off reliever Brendon Little tied the game once again. Later in the inning, Rafaela’s single off Chad Green scored pinch runner David Hamilton, who had stolen second base.
Kenley Jansen closed out the game with a perfect ninth inning to earn his 13th save of the season and his fourth in the past seven days.
On the transaction front, Toronto placed Bo Bichette on the injured list due to a right calf strain and recalled Orelvis Martinez from Triple-A Buffalo. Meanwhile, Boston activated Chris Martin from the injured list and optioned Cooper Criswell to Triple-A Worcester.
