BOSTON — Clay Buchholz had a big early lead and still couldn’t deliver a victory Tuesday night for the Boston Red Sox.

Spotted four runs in the second inning, Buchholz gave it back in the third and the Toronto Blue Jays went on to beat the Red Sox, 11-8.

Toronto Blue Jays' Devon Travis, right, jumps back to first base to survive a pick-off attempt in the fourth inning as Boston's Daniel Nava tries to tag him. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Xander Bogaerts runs to first after hitting an RBI single off a pitch by Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Drew Hutchison.

Toronto Blue Jays' Kevin Pillar steals second base as Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts waits for the ball in the fifth inning of Tuesday's game, in Boston. Pillar went on to score. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Boston's Pablo Sandoval loses his helmet as he arrives safely at second base as Toronto's Devon Travis tries to make the tag. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

UP NEXT

WHO: Toronto Blue Jays (Dickey 0-2) at Boston Red Sox (Porcello 1-2)

WHEN: 6:10 p.m. Wednesday

TELEVISION: NESN

“Whenever your team gives you a four-run lead, you’re supposed to come out a lot better than that,” said Buchholz, who lost his third straight decision. “All the contact that they made, they hit the ball hard and it wasn’t at any of our defenders in the field. I’ve got to do a better job than that.”

One night after Mookie Betts won the game with a ninth-inning RBI single, the Red Sox couldn’t overcome a poor start from Buchholz (1-3). He allowed five runs in the third and got eight outs in all, finishing with four earned runs on six hits and a walk, striking out four.

“We’d score and (he) couldn’t put up a zero to maintain any momentum,” Manager John Farrell said. “Not a good night from the mound.”

Jose Bautista had an RBI in Toronto’s five-run third inning, another in a three-run fourth and then added a homer. Josh Donaldson had three hits, including a homer, and Kevin Pillar also had three of Toronto’s 17 hits.

Marco Estrada (1-0) pitched three innings of hitless relief for the win. Brett Cecil pitched the ninth for his first save.

The Red Sox took a 4-0 lead against Drew Hutchison in the second.

The Blue Jays led 10-6 when Aaron Loup struck out Betts and Dustin Pedroia to start the eighth. But David Ortiz doubled and Hanley Ramirez hit his 200th career homer to make it 10-8, then Pablo Sandoval singled – his fourth hit of the game.

Liam Hendriks got Allen Craig on a first-pitch one-hopper back to the mound to end the inning.

NOTES: Red Sox reliever Edward Mujica committed two balks in the fourth inning. The Blue Jays also had three hits and two walks in the inning to score three times and make it 8-4. “It’s something you don’t see often. A rarity,” Farrell said. “A guy who’s probably not done that in his career.” … Ramirez’s homer was his fourth in five games, giving him nine for the season. He is the third player in Sox history to have nine homers before the month of May, joining David Ortiz (10 in 2006) and Manny Ramirez (nine in 2001). … The Red Sox recalled outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. from Triple-A Pawtucket and optioned right-hander Steven Wright to the International League.

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