Napoli, Sandoval homer, lead Buchholz, Bosox over Blue Jays


2 photos
Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

TORONTO (AP) — 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.

"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 and 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.

"I'm frustrated," Dickey said. "I'm tired of saying I'm one poor pitch away from a good outing every outing."

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.

WILLIS WEIGHS IN

Willis, who spoke to Boston's pitchers before the game, acknowledged that it's "a bit of an uncomfortable situation" to join the Red Sox in midseason. "It's going to take a little while for me to get up to speed," he said.

RALLY KILLER

Red Sox SS Xander Bogaerts was the final out in each of his four at-bats, ending the first, third, fifth and eighth innings.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Red Sox: Shane Victorino (right hamstring) is expected to come off the 15-day DL before the Red Sox play at Oakland on Monday.

Blue Jays: OF Michael Saunders was placed on the 15-day DL with left knee inflammation. He had knee surgery in spring training to repair a torn meniscus. He returned to the lineup Saturday after missing the previous four games.

UP NEXT

Red Sox: RHP Rick Porcello (3-2, 4.38) faces LHP Scott Kazmir (2-1, 2.75) as Boston begins a three-game series at Oakland on Monday. Pitching for Detroit, Porcello threw a four-hit shutout in his most recent start against the Athletics last July 1.

Blue Jays: RHP Marco Estrada (1-1, 2.93) makes his second start of the season as Toronto opens a three-game series at Baltimore on Monday. Starting in place of the demoted Daniel Norris, Estrada allowed four earned runs and eight hits in 4 2-3 innings against the Yankees last week. He'll face Orioles RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (2-2, 2.36).

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Photos

Most recent National Sports stories

Related topics

MLBNational Sports
IAN HARRISON
    KSL.com Beyond Series

    KSL Weather Forecast

    KSL Weather Forecast
    Play button