Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - Mike Napoli crushed a three-run homer to help power the Boston Red Sox to a 6-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in the finale of a three-game set on Sunday.
Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run blast and scored twice and Dustin Pedroia also drove in a run for the Red Sox, who ended a three-game skid.
Starter Clay Buchholz (2-4) allowed just three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings, ending a string of four straight losing decisions.
Chris Colabello supplied three hits and an RBI, while starter R.A. Dickey (1-4) was knocked around, giving up six runs on seven hits and three walks over six frames for Toronto, which went 4-2 on its homestand.
"The two home runs got him, there's no doubt about it," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said of Dickey.
The Red Sox got off to a quick start. Mookie Betts led off the game with a triple to center field and came home on Pedroia's groundout. After Hanley Ramirez got aboard on a fielder's choice and Sandoval doubled, Napoli crushed a 1-1 knuckleball into the seats in center for a 4-0 lead.
"Four runs in the first certainly gives you a boost coming out," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "The biggest thing is maintaining the momentum."
In the fourth, Colabello's liner to center dropped in for an RBI single, scoring Edwin Encarnacion, who got aboard with a one-out base hit.
Dickey ran into more trouble in the fifth. He gave up a two-out single to Ramirez, and Sandoval brought him in on the next pitch, cracking a two-run shot to right center for a 6-1 score.
Toronto added a run in the home half on Josh Donaldson's RBI double to the warning track in center field.
Josh Thole led off the seventh with a double and came home on Devon Travis' groundout to make it a three-run game.
Koji Uehara fired a scoreless ninth for his sixth save of the season.
Game Notes
Betts extended his hitting streak to a career-high eight games ... Encarnacion has reached base safely in 12 straight contests ... Toronto pitcher Ryan Tepera made his MLB debut by tossing two perfect frames in relief of Dickey ... Each team made roster moves prior to the game. Boston recalled outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. and pitcher Steven Wright from Triple-A Pawtucket and optioned outfielder Allen Craig and pitcher Robbie Ross Jr. to Pawtucket. Toronto selected the contract of infielder/outfielder Steve Tolleson from Triple-A Buffalo, placed outfielder Michael Saunders on the 15-day disabled list and designated pitcher Preston Guilmet for assignment.
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