Shane Victorino threw a runner out at the plate in the sixth inning, then hit a two-run single in the 11th and the Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 on Tuesday night.
The win gave the Red Sox a 4-game lead in the American League East over the Tampa Bay Rays who lost for the sixth consecutive game to the Seattle Mariners and six games over the Baltimore Orioles. The New York Yankees are 9.5 games back.
“Much like we’ve seen of late here, if we get down early we continue to grind, continue to be relentless at the plate, provide or build opportunities,” manager John Farrell said.
Trailing 2-1, the Blue Jays tied it in the bottom of the eighth when J.P. Arencibia hit a leadoff home run off Junichi Tazawa. The homer was Arencibia’s 18th and his first since July 19.
The game stayed tied until the 11th when Jarrod Saltalamacchia started the winning rally with a one-out walk off Aaron Loup (4-5) and Will Middlebrooks followed with a single.
Jacoby Ellsbury grounded into a fielder’s choice, with Middlebrooks forced at second and Saltalamacchia advancing to third.
Ellsbury stole second before Victorino grounded a two-run single up the middle.
Koji Uehara (3-0) worked 1 1/3 innings for the win for the Red Sox.
