Overbay's two homers and 7 RBIs lift Blue Jays to 16-2 rout of Red Sox
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Lyle Overbay hit two homers and drove in a career-high seven runs as the Toronto Blue Jays battered Boston Red Sox starter Jon Lester en route to a 16-2 victory on Friday night.
It was the ninth multi-homer game of Overbay's career and second this season. He was 4-for-5.
Overbay's second homer — his 15th of the season — chased Lester (13-8) after 2-plus innings. He surrendered eight hits, three walks and nine runs. His previous low point came against Tampa Bay last season when gave up eight runs in 4 1-3 innings.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jose Bautista hit his major league-leading 38th homer in the seventh. John McDonald also homered for the Blue Jays. John Buck, activated from the disabled list prior to the game, was 4-for-5 with two RBI and four runs.
It was the most runs given up by the Red Sox this season.
Brett Cecil (10-6) picked up only his third victory in 11 starts since June 15 for the Blue Jays. He worked 6 2-3 scoreless innings before giving up a two-run double to Dusty Brown in the seventh. Jesse Carlson and Shawn Camp finished the game for Toronto.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Lester's troubles started with the game's first batter, Fred Lewis, who reached on a walk before Escobar's perfectly executed bunt base hit down the third base line. After Vernon Wells walked to load the bases, Buck put the Blue Jays on top, 2-0, with a hit. Overbay's homer later in the inning gave Toronto a 5-0 lead.
The Blue Jays got a sacrifice fly from Bautista in the second inning to increase their lead to 6-0. In the third, Buck singled and Aaron Hill walked to set up Overbay's second homer of the game. Scott Atchison replaced Lester and gave up two runs in 2 1-3 innings. He left the game after being struck in the leg by a Travis Snider liner.
Michael Bowden, Manny Delcarmen and Tim Wakefield also pitched for the Red Sox, who have lost two in a row after winning the first two games of a nine-game homestand.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}NOTES: Overbay had six RBI in a game on July 23, 2005 as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers. Bautista snapped an 0-for-12 slump with his homer. David Ortiz extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a fourth inning double. Overbay hit two homers in a game on May 29 against Baltimore.