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BOSTON’S Dustin Pedroia, left, is out at home plate on the tag from Toronto Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin during third-inning baseball game action in Toronto on Sunday. Boston lost, 3-0.
BOSTON’S Dustin Pedroia, left, is out at home plate on the tag from Toronto Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin during third-inning baseball game action in Toronto on Sunday. Boston lost, 3-0.
TORONTO

The Boston Red Sox racked up a whole lot of runs in their first four games of the season.

Their streak came to a sudden end against Toronto right-hander Marco Estrada.

Estrada pitched seven shutout innings, Josh Donaldson hit a solo home run and the Blue Jays beat the Red Sox 3-0 on Sunday, avoiding a three-game sweep.

 
 
Activated off the 15-day DL before the game after missing the start of the season with a sore lower back, Estrada (1-0) gave up five hits, walked two and struck out eight.

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“The three times I faced him, he didn’t give me one good pitch to hit,” Dustin Pedroia said. “He was on the corners, his change-up was great.”

Farrell said Estrada had a “ Bugs Bunny type of change-up.”

“ You could seemingly almost sit on the change-up and it wouldn’t get to home plate,” Farrell said.

Boston came up empty after scoring at least six runs and getting at least 10 hits in each of the first four games.

“( Estrada) pitched a heck of a game against us,” Farrell said. “We’ve been swinging the bat well here and throughout this road trip and he shut us down.”

Estrada’s efficient outing helped Toronto avoid its first five-game skid since May 13- 17, 2015.

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“It’s early in the season but we needed that game,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said.

Drew Storen worked the eighth and Roberto Osuna finished for his third save to complete the seven-hitter.

Toronto used two singles and a walk to load the bases with nobody out in the first. Jose Bautista was forced out at second on Edwin Encarnacion’s RBI grounder to short, but Pedroia threw high to first as he tried to complete the double play, allowing a second run to score.

“The throw just got away from him,” Farrell said.

After reaching on a fielder’s choice in the third, Pedroia was thrown out at home plate trying to score from first on Xander Bogaerts’ double into the right-field corner. Second baseman Ryan Goins took the throw from Bautista and fired a perfect relay to catcher Russell Martin, who tagged Pedroia on the lower left leg just before he slid across the plate.

“They executed it perfectly,” Pedroia said. “They just put every throw on the money.”

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Estrada wasn’t troubled again, retiring 12 of the final 15 batters he faced.

Knuckleballer Steven Wright (0-1) allowed two runs, one earned, and five hits over 6 2-3 innings in his season debut. He’s the first Boston starter this season to pitch into the seventh inning, and the first to take a loss.

Donaldson made it 3-0 with a first-pitch drive off Noe Ramirez in the eighth. The homer was his fourth, tying him with Seattle’s Robinson Cano for the AL lead.

Notes — Boston’s Brock Holt was not available to pinch hit after fouling a ball off his right foot Saturday. X-rays were negative and Holt is expected to be available for today’s home opener against Baltimore. … Hanley Ramirez went 3 for 4 with two singles and a double, his fourth multihit game. … RHP Carson Smith (strained forearm) reported no problems following a 25-pitch bullpen session Saturday. Smith will throw another bullpen today or Tuesday, manager John Farrell said. … LHP David Price (1-0, 3.00) makes his second start for Boston as the Red Sox face undefeated Baltimore in their home opener today (2 p.m.). RHP Yovani Gallardo (1-0, 1.80) starts for the undefeated Orioles (5-0). Price is 8-4 with a 2.65 ERA in 19 starts against Baltimore.


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