
To Mike Napoli, it was “just another homer.”
Napoli hit a shot into the fifth deck, the first at Rogers Centre in more than three years, as part of Boston’s seven-run 11th inning and the Red Sox held on for a 11-7 win on Tuesday night.
Allen Craig also homered in the big inning, Dustin Pedroia homered and had four RBIs and Boston won its second straight game following an eight-game losing streak.
Toronto fell to 6-16 in August and, at 66-66, dropped to .500 for the first time since May 15. The Blue Jays have played four straight extra-inning games, losing three.
Mookie Betts singled off Janssen (3-2) to begin the 11th and was called out at second on Christian Vazquez’s sacrifice, with the call overturned after a challenge by Red Sox manager John Farrell. Janssen was charged with an error when he bobbled Brock Holt’s bunt, loading the bases for Pedroia, who singled through the drawn-in infield to score a pair.
Sergio Santos came on and struck out Yoenis Cespedes before Napoli, who was hit on the helmet by a pitch earlier in the game, crushed with a towering three-run homer into the fifth deck. It’s the 17th upper deck homer in the 25- year history of Rogers Centre, and the seventh by an opponent.
Daniel Nava doubled before Craig homered, his first with Boston.
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons, who’d already used all his available relievers, responded by calling designated hitter Steve Tolleson out of the dugout to take the mound. Tolleson struck out Will Middlebrooks and got Betts to fly out to the warning track.
Napoli was hit on the brim of the helmet by a wayward knuckleball from Dickey in the fifth, knocking it off his head. His face showing concern, Dickey held his hands up in apology.
Junichi Tazawa (3-3) worked one inning for the win. Heath Hembree allowed three runs in the 11th, but Boston held on.
Pedroia homered off R.A. Dickey in the first and Middlebrooks made it 3-0 with a two-out double, but Toronto tied with single runs in the third, fourth and fifth.
The Red Sox reclaimed the lead against Dustin McGowan in the seventh on an RBI single by Cespedes, but Jose Bautista led off the bottom half with a tying homer off Alex Wilson, snapping an 0 for 17 slump.
Trainer’s room
Red Sox: DH David Ortiz (right foot) sat out his second straight game. Ortiz left Sunday’s game against Seattle in the sixth, two innings after fouling a ball off his foot. Manager John Farrell said Ortiz, who skipped batting practice, could play Wednesday.
Up next
Red Sox RH Joe Kelly (0-1) takes on Blue Jays RH Marcus Stroman (7-5) in today’s series finale. Stroman has lost his last three decisions and allowed a career-high 10 hits in his previous start, Aug. 22 against Tampa Bay.
• Who: Boston Red Sox at
Toronto Blue Jays.
• Where: Rogers Centre.
• When: 7:07 p.m. tonight.
• Starting pitchers:
Boston (Joe Kelly 0-1) vs.
Toronto (Marcus Stroman
7-5).
• TV: NESN.
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