Bogaerts hits walk-off grand slam to lift Red Sox over Blue Jays
Xander Bogaerts delivered a walk-off grand slam to center field in the 10th inning as the Boston Red Sox got back in the win column with a 6-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon.
Mookie Betts reached on a fielding error with one out in the 10th against Blue Jays reliever Chris Rowley (0-1). Betts advanced to third after getting a running start from first on Brock Holt's grounder to left field.
After J.D. Martinez was intentionally walked, Bogaerts proceeded to drive a 2-0 fastball from Rowley to center to end it. It was Boston's first walk-off grand slam since Rico Brogna's slam on Aug. 14, 2000, against the then-Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Martinez contributed a solo shot for his major-league-leading 29th home run for Boston, which has won 11 of its last 12 games after losing 13-7 on Friday to snap its 10-game winning streak.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Aledmys Diaz each had an RBI for Toronto, which has lost five of its last seven games.
Boston avoided back-to-back losses for the first time since June 19-20 in Minnesota.
Boston starter Eduardo Rodriguez exited after 5 1/3 scoreless innings when he sustained a right ankle sprain covering first base in the sixth. The left-hander allowed four hits and walked none while striking out five.
Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel (2-1) struck out two in the 10th to get the win.
Blue Jays starter Sam Gaviglio departed after just 3 1/3 innings. The righty gave up a run on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts.
Toronto lost center fielder Kevin Pillar after he made a diving catch and doubled up Tzu-Wei Lin at second to end the third. Pillar was diagnosed with a right sternoclavicular joint injury.
Martinez went deep in the fourth when he drove a full-count pitch from Gaviglio over the Green Monster in left, giving Boston a 1-0 lead.
Toronto tied the game and took the lead in the seventh. Kendrys Morales singled and Dwight Smith Jr. doubled against Joe Kelly to put a pair in scoring position, and Diaz plated the tying run with his 6-3 groundout.
Kelly walked Luke Maile, ending his day, and reliever Matt Barnes allowed the go-ahead single on a soft-hit grounder to right by Gurriel.
Bogaerts doubled to lead off the Boston ninth against Blue Jays closer Tyler Clippard. Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a game-tying RBI double the next at-bat.
--Field Level Media
