TORONTO – Jonathan Araúz broke the tie with a single in the eighth inning, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1 on Saturday to split wins in a double game.
Matt Barnes (6-3) worked an inning for the win, while Adam Ottavino ended the second game, earning his eighth save in 12 attempts.
Boston won for only the second time in its last 10 games.
Against right-hander Adam Cimber (2-3), Panamanian Araúz hit a single ground ball that opened the eighth inning. Shortstop Bo Bichette couldn’t reach the ball and Franchy Cordero scored after starting that extra inning as an automatic runner in second base.
In Game 1, Marcus Semien homered early in the seventh inning, and the Blue Jays won 1-0.
Each team had just two hits. Semien hit the biggest of all.
He found Barnes’ first offer (5-3) and reached 26 homers on the season. Never before had he hit a home run that marked the end of a game.
Prior to this game, the Red Sox had placed slugger JD Martinez on the COVID-19 list.
Starters Nick Pivetta of Boston and Robbie Ray of the Blue Jays looked dominant.
But the victory went to Jordan Romano (5-1), who perfectly solved the seventh chapter.
In the first game, for the Red Sox, Puerto Ricans Kiké Hernández 2-0, Christian Vázquez 2-0. The Mexican Alex Verdugo 3-0. The Dominican Rafael Devers 3-0. The Panamanian Jonathan Araúz 2-1.
For the Blue Jays, the Dominicans Vladimir Guerrero 3-0, Teoscar Hernández 2-0, Santiago Espinal 2-0. The Mexican Alejandro Kirk 2-0. Cuban Lourdes Gurriel Jr. 2-0.
In the second game, for the Red Sox, Puerto Ricans Hernández 4-0, Cordero 3-0 with a run scored. The Mexican Verdugo of 4-3 with a run scored and a RBI. The Dominican Devers 4-1. The Venezuelan Marwin González 2-0. The Panamanian Araúz 3-1 with an RBI.
For the Blue Jays, the Dominicans Guerrero 4-1, Hernández 4-0. Venezuelan Valera 3-1 with an RBI.
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