TORONTO -- Curtis Granderson hammered a home run to right off closer Craig Kimbrel to give the Blue Jays a 4-3 walk-off win innings as the Red Sox' losing streak reached three games.
The Red Sox, who fell behind 3-0 in the second inning, rallied for a run in the sixth and two in the ninth to tie things and force extra innings.
But after striking out Devon Travis for the first out in the ninth, Kimbrel was taken deep for Granderson's fourth career walk-off homer.
Run-scoring singles by Eduardo Nunez and Brock Holt had produced the two runs in the ninth for the Sox, but third base coach Carlos Febles inexplicably sent Nunez from second on a single to left with two outs and Nunez was out easily at the plate for the final out with Mookie Betts waiting on deck.
WHO: Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays
WHEN: 7:07 p.m.
WHERE: Rogers Centre
WHAT'S UP: The Red Sox are coming off their first series loss of the year and have lost consecutive games for the first time this season. The Blue Jays, who are second in runs scored in the American League, have also dropped two in row. The Jays are 7-3 at home this season.
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Rick Porcello (4-0, 1.40) vs. LHP J.A. Happ (3-1, 4.50)
TV/RADIO: NESN/WEEI 93.7 FM
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
9:37 Brutal decision by third base coach Carlos Febles, sending Nunez. Even with two out, when you would normally be a little more aggressive, it made little sense. Nunez isn't running well and Toronto left fielder Curtis Granderson charged the ball with Nunez still a good 25 feet from third base. And, to top it off, the Sox had the top of the order coming up.
9:34 A ninth-inning rally by the Sox ties things up. Brock Holt's third hit of the night scored Rafael Devers, though Eduardo Nunez, trailing, was cut down at the plate for the third out.
8:29 Opposite-field line double to left by Brock Holt is the first really well-hit ball by the Red Sox this evening.
8:22 When you read about DRS (defensive runs saved), that's an example -- Mookie Betts with a spectacular diving catch on a sinking line off the bat of Teoscar Hernandez. With Curtis Granderson on second, Betts prevented a run from scoring and another baserunner from being in scoring position.
8:16 This is a pretty good pitching duel between Porcello and J.A. Happ, but thanks to a strange second inning, the Jays lead 3-0. The Sox have two hits - one in the infield and the other a misplayed pop-up in shallow left -- while the Jays have a ball shot through the right side that likely would have been an out had not Eduardo Nunez broke to cover the second base bag and another hit off the glove of Devers. Together, the two starters have recorded 16 strikeouts.
7:39 Sloppy inning all around for the Red Sox: A leadoff walk; a questionable decision by Devers to come home on first chopper; wild pitch from Porcello; and a single off the glove of Devers, a play he probably should have made, scoring two runs.
7:33 Not the best decision by Devers to come home on a chopper that he had come in to field. Steve Pearce was going on contact and was probably going to score anyway, but a throw wide to the plate guaranteed that.
7:31 Well, that's two walks to the first four hitters. After not issuing a walk in three previous starts. Go figure
7:16 The walk issued to Teoscar Hernandez was the first allowed by Rick Porcello since his first start of the season, on March 31. He walked one hitter in the third inning that day, then didn't walk another. He didn't walk anybody over his next three starts, either. So, yes, that his first walk issued in the month of April
LINEUPS:
RED SOX
Betts RF
Benintendi LF
Ramirez 1B
Martinez DH
Devers 3B
Nunez 2B
Bradley CF
Leon C
Holt SS
BLUE JAYS
Granderson RF
Hernandez LF
Smoak 1B
Solarte 3B
Pearce DH
Martin C
Pillar CF
Diaz SS
Travis 2B
NEWS AND NOTES:
- Alex Cora went out his way to salute the city of Toronto and offer his support in the wake of the tragedy that claimed 10 lives Monday and injured dozens more. "Before we start, my thoughts and prayer to the people of Toronto. You're here and you've got an off-day and you're hanging out and all of a sudden that happens and it puts everything in perspective. And as you guys know, you understand how passionate I am about the game of baseball, but that's what I'm trying to tell people: the game is not more important than life. And there's stuff out there that, on a personal note, it makes you sick just to think about. But me, the Boston Red Sox and everybody that has anything to do with the organization, we're with you guys. Toronto Strong. My thoughts and prayers are with everybody.''
- Cora said the decision by 19 players -- along with the coaching staff and Dave Dombrowski -- to go to the Bruins-Maple Leafs playoff game Monday "happened organically. Someone mentioned it a while ago, that if they played a Game 6, it would happen when we were here on an off-day. We also had talked about having one of those team dinners (Monday), but obviously, they had priorities. But it was cool, it was great. You see the picture and how much fun they had. That's what it's all about. It's a long season, but there are going to be times when there's cool stuff going on in the cities we go to, even in Boston, and they should enjoy it. They had a blast like us. It was fun for everybody. You disconnect from what's going on, have fun and the next day, get back to work.''
- Xander Bogaerts was set to play five innings for Pawtucket Tuesday nigh to t. He spent the off-day Monday working out at Rogers Centre - taking ground balls in the infield and turning double plays. ''It looks like he's good to go. We'll see how he reacts after tonight and we'll make a decision.'' Bogaerts will try to play again Wednesday thought weather may get in the way. Either way, it seems he'll be activated Friday for the start of the homestand.
- RHP Steven Wright is scheduled to make another start for Pawtucket Wednesday. He was removed from his first rehab start with a stiff back.
- RHP Tyler Thornburg will throw live BP this weekend when the team returns home, and could then go out to begin a rehab assignment.
- 2B Dustin Pedroia may start playing extended spring training games this weekend in Fort Myers.