Pomeranz, Vazquez and Devers combine to put brakes on losing streak

TORONTO – Losing streaks don’t end themselves. Nor are they often snapped by the actions of a single player.

To slam the brakes on their four-game losing streak and come out with a 6-5 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, it took a village for the Red Sox.

Or, you know, at least three different players.

There was Drew Pomeranz, who seemed to be pitching out of the stretch from the first inning. Pomeranz had difficulty throwing his curveball for strikes and issued five walks to go with seven hits allowed.

But when he had to, he bailed himself out of jams of his own making.  In his six innings, he stranded eight, including five in scoring position.

“It was pretty much a battle from the beginning,’’ said Pomeranz, who won his 14th to tie Chris Sale for the team lead. “I struggled with my command, with pretty much everything, for most of the game. But I was able to make a few pitches when I needed to the most.

“I couldn’t figure out how I got out of six innings with just three runs. I felt like there were people on every inning.’’

That wasn’t just Pomeranz’s imagination.  The only 1-2-3 inning he enjoyed was the third.

“It was a battle,’’ said John Farrell of his starter, “but he did one heck of a job with men on base.’’

But his ability to wiggle out of trouble is a relatively newfound skill, helping him to have his best season in the big leagues.  With each outing, he seems to develop more confidence in himself to find ways to escape damage.

“It’s just making those big pitches,’’ shrugged Pomeranz. “I’ve always kind of been like that, weirdly, since high school. I’d make the bases loaded and then get out of it. Maybe some part of it helps me lock in more and just really focus on making those pitches.’’

As well as Pomeranz pitched, the Sox trailed by a run until the seventh when, after a leadoff single by Hanley Ramirez, Christian Vazquez cranked a two-run shot into the second deck in left on an 0-and-2 pitch off Danny Barnes.

Since July 29, Vazquez has been a different hitter at the plate, batting .396 with eight multi-hit games including Monday’s four-hit effort. Twice, including Monday, he’s clobbered multi-run homers late in games to help the Sox win games.

“With two strikes, they always pitch me up and in,’’ said Vazquez who lifted his average to .294, “and I was looking for that.  I hit it well. (I’ve tried to be) simple at the plate and not try to do too much, hit the ball up middle and right field. That’s my game.’’

“He’s swinging the bat really well,’’ gushed Farrell. “Big night at the plate for Christian.’’

Finally, there was the unusually poised rookie, Rafael Devers, making a key defensive play at third to cut down a crucial Toronto run in the fifth. Sometimes it's difficult to determine which is most impressive -- his raw power or natural instincts.

The Jays had the bases loaded when Kevin Pillar hit a chopper that Devers had to field in retreat, behind the third base bag. For an instant, Devers seemed to turn toward first. A double-play was unlikely because of Pillar’s speed and the fact that the ball wasn’t hit hard enough.

But at the last possible second, he thought better of it and decided to fire home. Somehow, he threaded a throw over and around the baserunner, Josh Donaldson. Vazquez grabbed the throw and stepped on the plate for the force out.

“In that situation, to go home was the only play I had,’’ said Devers. “My mentality was to go was (initially) to go to first. But when I saw that (Pillar) was already halfway down the line, I went home with it. That seemed like the right play for me.’’

“It was a key play at a pivotal time in the game,’’ Farrell said. “You see him keep the speed of the game under control. Tonight was a prime example of it. He’s kind of a natural.’’

And just like that, one of the three longest losing streaks of the Red Sox’ season was history.