It started out a tight battle of the pitchers Wednesday night, similar as it had been the entire series between Boston and Toronto.
Yet, also in similar fashion to the other two bouts this week, Boston pulled ahead late to get the win.
The Red Sox beat the Blue Jays 7-1 on Wednesday night in Toronto, completing the three-game sweep after winning 3-0 on Tuesday and 6-5 on Monday. The loss is Toronto's 10th in its last 12 games.
Red Sox bust open late
Through the first six innings of the game, it was a tough race. Combined, there were just five hits in the game, and both teams had scored off a solo home run.
And pitcher J.A. Happ was on pace to allow two or fewer earned runs for the 13th time this season.
Happ has allowed 2 earned runs or fewer in 12 of his 20 starts this season. 👌 pic.twitter.com/ItFmg6jx19
— Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 31, 2017
Yet in the seventh inning, Boston finally took off. Mitch Moreland homered to deep right field to score two for the Red Sox, hitting in Hanley Ramirez. Then in the eighth inning, Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts hit back-to-back RBI doubles to score two runs, giving Boston a five-run lead. Then, Moreland hit a two-RBI single to push the Red Sox lead to seven.
Just like that, the game was blown wide open.
There's the lead! Mitch Moreland hits a pinch-hit, 2-run BLAST to right to take a 3-1 lead in the 7th! pic.twitter.com/AYeztgSAHH
— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 31, 2017
Thanks for the insurance, @mookiebetts! His double plates @asben16 to extend the lead to 4-1. pic.twitter.com/mdtlVb1QJt
— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 31, 2017
#XMan joins in on the fun! He drives in @mookiebetts with another double to extend the lead to 5-1. pic.twitter.com/ETLMbvDF4q
— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 31, 2017
Have a day, Mitch! His 2-run single makes it 7-1 in the 8th. pic.twitter.com/bfo9qQuvoM
— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 31, 2017
Toronto stopped the run in the ninth inning, but it was too late. The damage was done.
Lopez hits second career home run
Catcher Raffy Lopez got the Blue Jays started started Wednesday night.
In the third inning, Lopez hit a solo shot over the right field wall and into the bullpen, giving Toronto an early 1-0 lead.
Goodbye, baseball! @rlopez_29's 2nd career homer gets the scoring started and gives us a 1-0 lead! pic.twitter.com/APJBxRDW5i
— Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 30, 2017
The long ball marked Lopez's second career home run. His first one came just seven days ago against Tampa Bay, where he hit a solo shot to extend the Blue Jay's 4-0 lead.