By Canadian Press

Vlad Jr homers to tie it, Red Sox top Blue Jays in 9th, 2-1

Jun 14, 2021 | 7:28 PM

BOSTON (AP) — Rafael Devers hit a line drive off the Green Monster in the bottom of the ninth inning after Vladimir Guerrero homered to tie it in the top half, and the Boston Red Sox bounced back from their worst loss of the season to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1 on Monday night.

Matt Barnes was two strikes away from finishing off a combined three-hit shutout when Guerrero homered 451 feet onto Lansdowne Street to tie the game 1-all. It was his major league-leading 22nd home run of the season, and his fourth in as many games.

But Alex Verdugo, who drove in Boston’s first run, and J.D. Martinez singled off Rafael Dolis (1-3) to lead off the bottom of the ninth. One out later, Devers banged one off the wall in left-center; he stopped before reaching second to receive the congratulations of his teammates pouring out of the dugout, and was credited with a single.

One day after the Blue Jays hit eight home runs — a record for a visiting team at 109-year-old Fenway Park — in an 18-4 romp, Nathan Eovaldi took a one-hitter into the seventh. He held them to three hits and a walk in all, while striking out four in 6 2/3 innings.

Josh Taylor retired four straight batters, striking out three of them, and Barnes (3-1) got two quick outs before Guerrero tied it.

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Verdugo, Devers and Marwin Gonzalez each had two of Boston’s seven hits.

Gonzalez singled to lead off the third inning, Kiké Hernández replaced him on a fielder’s choice and then scored when Verdugo’s double hit the top of the Green Monster scoreboard, buying just enough time for him to race around from first.

Toronto rookie Alek Manoah went six innings, allowing one run on four hits and a walk, striking out five.

Guerrero and Teoscar Hernandez singled to lead off the seventh, but Randal Grichuk grounded into a 5-4-3 double play, and then Taylor came on to strike out Rowdy Tellez to strand the runner at third.

The Red Sox had lost four of the previous six games, with their starters allowing 31 runs in 25 innings. In Sunday’s loss to Toronto, Boston allowed season highs of 18 runs, 20 hits and 11 extra-base hits.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: Manager Charlie Montoyo said OF George Springer will begin a rehab assignment in Triple-A on Tuesday night. He is expected to play five innings in the field for the Buffalo Bisons in Rochester. The 2017 World Series MVP with Houston, Springer started the season on the injured list with a strained right quadriceps muscle and lasted just four games when he returned in April before going back on the IL.

Red Sox: Acquired pitcher Yacksel Rios from the Mariners for cash. Designated RHP Ryan Weber for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. Called up INF Michael Chavis from Triple-Worcester for Monday’s game.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: LHP Hyun Jin Ryu (5-4) opens a three-game series against the Yankees, who will send LHP Jordan Montgomery (3-1) to the mound.

Red Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (5-4) pitches the opener of a two-game series in Atlanta against LHP Tucker Davidson (0-0).

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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Jimmy Golen, The Associated Press