TORONTO — The day after their second team meeting in less than a week, the Boston Red Sox turned in a winning performance.
Mike Napoli hit a three-run homer, Pablo Sandoval added a two-run shot, and the Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 on Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep.
MONDAY's GAME
WHO: Boston Red Sox (Porcello 3-2) at Oakland Athletics (Kazmir 2-1)
WHEN: 10:05 p.m.
TELEVISION: NESN
“The way we played today is the way we know we can play,” Napoli said. “That’s the way we should play. That’s the way we expect to play.”
Clay Buchholz (2-4) allowed three runs in 6 1/3 innings for his first victory in six starts. The last-place Red Sox won for just the second time in nine games.
“Regardless of the level you play at, it stinks to lose,”
Buchholz said. “I think everybody here takes it to heart because we’re Boston Red Sox and we know this team is built around winning. When you’re not doing that or you’re not getting the breaks, it sort of wears on you.”
Buchholz is 9-3 with a 2.30 ERA in 14 career starts in Toronto. He gave up seven hits, walked three and struck out three.
The right-hander rolled his left ankle on the final play of the fourth inning and bent over briefly before gingerly walking off the field.
“My left foot landed in the hole that I was landing on going to home plate,” Buchholz said. “I had my ankles taped, fortunately, so I think that saved me from it being too bad.”
Buchholz was examined while warming up before the fifth and was able to continue.
“He didn’t show any favoring of anything through his delivery so we stayed with him,” Manager John Farrell said.
Junichi Tazawa pitched 1 2/3 innings and Koji Uehara finished for his sixth save.
Carl Willis joined the Red Sox for his first game as their new pitching coach. He replaced Juan Nieves, who was fired Thursday.
Farrell had hinted at a roster shake-up following Saturday’s 7-1 loss and Boston made two changes before the game, recalling outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. and right-hander Steven Wright from Triple-A Pawtucket. Slumping outfielder Allen Craig and right-hander Robbie Ross were optioned to the minors.
Bradley Jr. started in right field and batted eighth. He finished 0 for 4.
Farrell was pleased by the response to Saturday’s clubhouse meeting.
“We went out and put together a very good game,” he said.
R.A. Dickey (1-4) lost for the third time in four starts, allowing six runs in six innings. And for the third time in four starts, he failed to strike out a batter.
Mookie Betts led off the game with a triple and scored on Dustin Pedroia’s groundout. Later in the inning, Napoli connected on Dickey’s knuckleball for his third home run of the season.
Sandoval hit a two-out homer in the fifth, his third.
NOTES
Shane Victorino (right hamstring) is expected to come off the 15-day DL before the Red Sox play at Oakland on Monday.
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