Stroman, Blue Jays' bullpen cool hot Red Sox bats to win series
Toronto starter lowers ERA to 3.04 with 6 shutout innings
Marcus Stroman pitched six shutout innings, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had three hits and threw out a runner at the plate, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the hometown Boston Red Sox 6-1 on Sunday.
Stroman (5-9) held the Red Sox to five singles — three coming consecutively in the second inning when Gurriel made his throw from left field — and struck out six while walking one. It's the fifth time in his last eight starts that he's held an opponent to no more than one earned run.
Rick Porcello (5-7) gave up five runs on eight hits over six innings.
WATCH | Stroman, defence lead Blue Jays past Red Sox:
Stellar defence
The Blue Jays scored single runs in the second and third before adding three more in the sixth for a 5-0 lead.
On Friday, the Red Sox trailed 5-1 in the seventh. Toronto fell behind 6-0 and trailed 6-1 in the seventh Saturday before coming back against Boston's beleaguered bullpen.
With Toronto leading 2-0, Porcello balked home a run before Jansen lined his bases-loaded single to left centre.
Brandon Drury's broken bat RBI single made it 1-0, and Cavan Biggio had a run-scoring double.
Flying broken bat
A young boy seated about 15 rows behind Toronto's on-deck circle was grazed by a piece of Drury's bat that broke on his RBI single, sending the barrel flying over the protect netting. The boy was immediately visited by an EMT, and the Red Sox said he received medical attention and stayed in his seat.
Rowdy is Red Sox killer
Tellez went 2-for-3 with a double, single and intentional walk. In seven games against the Red Sox this season, he's batting .423 (11 for 26) with five homers and nine RBIs.
"He's been killing us," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said before the game.
Wright nears return
Barring Boston's game being postponed Monday, knuckleballer Steven Wright is eligible to return Tuesday after serving his 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
Trainer's room
Red Sox: Infielder Brock Holt came out with left hamstring tightness. He had been the club's hottest hitter since coming off the injured list May 27, batting .357 entering Sunday … Manager Alex Cora said he expects to have third baseman Rafael Devers (right hamstring tightness) back in the lineup on Monday. He hasn't started in three straight games, pinch hitting twice … First baseman and former Blue Jay Steve Pearce (lower back strain) was slated to have another rehab game with triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday, and Cora said they'd decide in the next few days when he'd return.
Up next
Blue Jays: Aaron Sanchez (3-9, 5.49 ERA) is slated to start the opener of a three-game series Monday at Yankee Stadium against CC Sabathia (4-4, 4.14).
Red Sox: Eduardo Rodriguez (8-4, 4.71) is in line to start against White Sox RHP Lucas Giolito (10-2, 2.74) in the opener of a three-game set Monday at Fenway Park.