Boston, MA – Brett Lawrie drove in three runs, Edwin Encarnacion belted a two-run homer and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox, 7-3, in the middle test of a three-game series at Fenway Park.
J.P. Arencibia launched a tiebreaking solo home run in the seventh inning for the Blue Jays, who had snapped a three-game losing streak with Friday's 6-1 win.
Carlos Villanueva (5-0) pitched 6 1/3 innings for Toronto. He limited the Red Sox to four hits, three of which came in the second. Jarrod Saltalamacchia's three-run homer was the right-hander's lone blemish.
"It was kind of a test, keeping the game within reach," said Villanueva. "Our guys came through, J.P. and Eddie, in a big way."
Aaron Cook (2-3) gave up five runs -- three earned -- on four hits over 6 1/3 innings to absorb the loss.
After Arencibia hit a leadoff blast over the Green Monster, Yunel Escobar reached on an error with one out in the seventh. Rajai Davis drew a two-out walk, prompting Boston manager Bobby Valentine to take the ball from Franklin Morales and bring in Matt Albers.
Escobar and Davis executed a double steal before both men scored on a single by Lawrie.
The Blue Jays tacked on another run in the ninth on a fielder's choice.
Saltalamacchia opened the scoring by snapping a personal 0-for-14 skid. Adrian Gonzalez singled to lead off the second and Cody Ross followed with a double before the Boston catcher sent Villanueva's offering over the right field wall for his 18th home run of the season.
Toronto loaded the bases with no outs in the next frame on a double, an error and a single. Cook, though, managed to limit the damage to one run on Lawrie's sacrifice fly.
The Blue Jays tied the game in the sixth when Colby Rasmus drew a two-out walk and Encarnacion crushed a home run over the Green Monster.
"You can't walk guys before you give up home runs," admitted Cook. "That at- bat I just kind of lost command a little bit and I was trying to get back into it with Encarnacion coming up next and just left one that kind of leaked back a little bit."
Game Notes
The Red Sox honored recently-retired catcher and former team captain Jason Varitek in a pre-game ceremony...Villanueva had thrown 12 scoreless innings in his two previous July starts...Encarnacion matched a career high with his 26th home run of the year...Left-hander J.A. Happ, acquired in a 10-player trade with the Houston Astros on Friday, made his Toronto debut, recording the final two outs in the seventh...The Blue Jays placed relief pitcher Jason Frasor on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 17, with right forearm tightness.
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