GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TORONTO (43-45) at BOSTON (54-34)

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - PITCHING CHANGE
BOS: JOEL PINEIRO (1-1, 5.04) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 6, BOSTON 5

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: R JOHNSON (.265, 2-FOR-3, RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Pineiro relieved M Timlin.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 6
BOSTON 5 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: R Johnson (.265, 2-FOR-3, RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: H Clark ran for F Thomas.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, H CLARK ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 6
BOSTON 5 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: T Glaus (.280, 2-FOR-4, RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - PITCHING CHANGE
BOS: JAVIER LOPEZ (1-1, 3.00) IN THE 9TH
SITUATION: NO RUNS IN, T GLAUS ON FIRST, H CLARK ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 6, BOSTON 5

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: L OVERBAY (.257, 1-FOR-3, RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Lopez relieved J Pineiro.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, T GLAUS ON FIRST, H CLARK ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 6
BOSTON 5 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: L Overbay (.257, 1-FOR-3, RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 4 0 0 2 0 0 0 6 12 1
BOSTON 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 5 9 0 (BOT 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JEREMY ACCARDO
BOS - JAVIER LOPEZ

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: J LUGO (.199, 0-FOR-3)
W PENA (.215, 1-FOR-1)
D PEDROIA (.312, 0-FOR-4)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">TORONTO (6) VS BOSTON (5) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 4 1 0 0 1 2 0 .252
R Johnson lf 4 2 2 1 0 1 0 .260
A Rios rf 4 1 3 1 1 0 0 .304
F Thomas dh 4 1 2 0 1 0 3 .255
H Clark pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
T Glaus 3b 4 1 2 1 1 1 2 .280
L Overbay 1b 4 0 1 1 1 1 3 .256
A Hill 2b 4 0 1 1 0 1 2 .268
G Zaun c 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .241
J McDonald ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .278

Totals 36 6 12 5 5 6 12

BATTING: 2B - A Rios 2 (25, J Tavarez, K Snyder); G Zaun (9, J Tavarez); R
Johnson (4, K Snyder); F Thomas (12, J Pineiro). RBI - T Glaus (37), L Overbay
(28), A Hill (49), R Johnson (8), A Rios (55). 2-out RBI - R Johnson, A Rios.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - L Overbay 2, F Thomas 2, T Glaus 1, J
McDonald 1. GIDP - G Zaun. Team LOB - 9.

FIELDING: E - T Glaus (5, ground ball).


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Drew rf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .260
E Hinske rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .191
a-W Pena ph-rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .215
D Pedroia 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .312
D Ortiz dh 3 1 1 0 1 0 2 .319
M Ramirez lf 4 2 2 3 0 1 2 .289
K Youkilis 1b 4 1 1 0 0 1 2 .324
M Lowell 3b 4 0 2 2 0 1 1 .302
J Varitek c 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 .278
C Crisp cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .261
J Lugo ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .199

Totals 34 5 9 5 1 6 13

a-singled to center for E Hinske in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - K Youkilis (23, S Marcum); J Drew (15, S Marcum); J Varitek (10,
C Janssen). 3B - M Lowell (2, S Marcum). HR - M Ramirez (12, 1st inning off S
Marcum 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Ramirez 3 (51), M Lowell 2 (66). 2-out RBI - M
Ramirez 3, M Lowell 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Crisp 1, J
Varitek 1, M Lowell 1. Team LOB - 6.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - M Ramirez (A Hill at Home). DP: 2 (K Youkilis-J
Lugo-J Tavarez, M Lowell-K Youkilis).


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 004 002 000 -- 6
BOSTON - 203 000 00 -- 5
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
S Marcum 6 7 5 3 1 6 1 3.68
S Downs 2/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.31
C Janssen 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.30
J Accardo 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.78

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Tavarez 4 9 4 4 3 3 0 5.15
K Snyder 1 2/3 2 2 2 1 0 0 3.21
M Timlin 2 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.00
J Pineiro 2/3 1 0 0 1 1 0 4.94
J Lopez 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.96

J Tavarez pitched to 1 batter in the 5th.

WP - J Tavarez, J Pineiro. HBP - R Johnson (by J Tavarez). Pitches-strikes: S
Marcum 109-64; S Downs 13-10; C Janssen 16-10; J Accardo 4-3; J Tavarez 101-60;
K Snyder 33-20; M Timlin 30-21; J Pineiro 22-13; J Lopez 5-3. Ground balls-fly
balls: S Marcum 6-6; S Downs 1-1; C Janssen 2-1; J Accardo 0-1; J Tavarez 4-4;
K Snyder 1-3; M Timlin 2-4; J Pineiro 0-1; J Lopez 0-0. Batters faced: S Marcum
27; S Downs 3; C Janssen 4; J Accardo 1; J Tavarez 23; K Snyder 7; M Timlin 7;
J Pineiro 4; J Lopez 1.

UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Wally Bell. 2B--Bill Welke. 3B--Laz Diaz.

Weather: 84 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 17 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: A Cora ran for D Pedroia.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, A CORA ON FIRST, J LUGO ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 6
BOSTON 5 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: M Ramirez (.289, 2-FOR-4, HR, 3 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 4 0 0 2 0 0 0 6 12 1
BOSTON 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 10 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: TOR - SHAUN MARCUM, SCOTT DOWNS (7TH), CASEY JANSSEN (7TH), JEREMY
ACCARDO (8TH) AND GREGG ZAUN

BOS - JULIAN TAVAREZ, KYLE SNYDER (5TH), MIKE TIMLIN
(6TH), JOEL PINEIRO (9TH), JAVIER LOPEZ (9TH) AND JASON
VARITEK

HOME RUNS: TOR - NONE

BOS - MANNY RAMIREZ (12) OFF SHAUN MARCUM IN THE 1ST, 1 ON</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 4 0 0 2 0 0 0 6 12 1
BOSTON 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 10 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: TOR - SHAUN MARCUM, SCOTT DOWNS (7TH), CASEY JANSSEN (7TH), JEREMY
ACCARDO (8TH) AND GREGG ZAUN

BOS - JULIAN TAVAREZ, KYLE SNYDER (5TH), MIKE TIMLIN
(6TH), JOEL PINEIRO (9TH), JAVIER LOPEZ (9TH) AND JASON
VARITEK


WP - SHAUN MARCUM (5-3)
LP - KYLE SNYDER (1-2)
SAVE - JEREMY ACCARDO (12)

HOME RUNS: TOR - NONE

BOS - MANNY RAMIREZ (12) OFF SHAUN MARCUM IN THE 1ST, 1 ON


TIME: 3:51 ATT: 36,908

PROBABLES: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN (5-4, 4.65)
BOS - DAISUKE MATSUZAKA (10-6, 3.84)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">TORONTO (6) VS BOSTON (5) - FINAL

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 4 1 0 0 1 2 0 .252
R Johnson lf 4 2 2 1 0 1 0 .260
A Rios rf 4 1 3 1 1 0 0 .304
F Thomas dh 4 1 2 0 1 0 3 .255
H Clark pr-dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
T Glaus 3b 4 1 2 1 1 1 2 .280
L Overbay 1b 4 0 1 1 1 1 3 .256
A Hill 2b 4 0 1 1 0 1 2 .268
G Zaun c 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .241
J McDonald ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .278

Totals 36 6 12 5 5 6 12

BATTING: 2B - A Rios 2 (25, J Tavarez, K Snyder); G Zaun (9, J Tavarez); R
Johnson (4, K Snyder); F Thomas (12, J Pineiro). RBI - T Glaus (37), L Overbay
(28), A Hill (49), R Johnson (8), A Rios (55). 2-out RBI - R Johnson, A Rios.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - L Overbay 2, F Thomas 2, T Glaus 1, J
McDonald 1. GIDP - G Zaun. Team LOB - 9.

FIELDING: E - T Glaus (5, ground ball).


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Drew rf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .260
E Hinske rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .191
a-W Pena ph-rf 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .213
D Pedroia 2b 4 0 0 0 1 0 1 .312
A Cora pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
D Ortiz dh 4 1 1 0 1 0 4 .318
M Ramirez lf 5 2 2 3 0 1 4 .288
K Youkilis 1b 4 1 1 0 0 1 2 .324
M Lowell 3b 4 0 2 2 0 1 1 .302
J Varitek c 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 .278
C Crisp cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .261
J Lugo ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .202

Totals 38 5 10 5 2 7 18

a-singled to center for E Hinske in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - K Youkilis (23, S Marcum); J Drew (15, S Marcum); J Varitek (10,
C Janssen). 3B - M Lowell (2, S Marcum). HR - M Ramirez (12, 1st inning off S
Marcum 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Ramirez 3 (51), M Lowell 2 (66). 2-out RBI - M
Ramirez 3, M Lowell 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Crisp 1, M
Ramirez 1, J Varitek 1, M Lowell 1. Team LOB - 8.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Lugo (23, 2nd base off J Accardo/G Zaun).

FIELDING: Outfield assists - M Ramirez (A Hill at Home). DP: 2 (K Youkilis-J
Lugo-J Tavarez, M Lowell-K Youkilis).


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 004 002 000 -- 6
BOSTON - 203 000 000 -- 5
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
S Marcum (W, 5-3) 6 7 5 3 1 6 1 3.68
S Downs (H, 13) 2/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.31
C Janssen (H, 12) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.30
J Accardo (S, 12) 1 1/3 1 0 0 1 1 0 2.70

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Tavarez 4 9 4 4 3 3 0 5.15
K Snyder (L, 1-2) 1 2/3 2 2 2 1 0 0 3.21
M Timlin 2 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.00
J Pineiro 2/3 1 0 0 1 1 0 4.94
J Lopez 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.96

J Tavarez pitched to 1 batter in the 5th.

WP - J Tavarez, J Pineiro. HBP - R Johnson (by J Tavarez). Pitches-strikes: S
Marcum 109-64; S Downs 13-10; C Janssen 16-10; J Accardo 24-16; J Tavarez
101-60; K Snyder 33-20; M Timlin 30-21; J Pineiro 22-13; J Lopez 5-3. Ground
balls-fly balls: S Marcum 6-6; S Downs 1-1; C Janssen 2-1; J Accardo 0-3; J
Tavarez 4-4; K Snyder 1-3; M Timlin 2-4; J Pineiro 0-1; J Lopez 0-0. Batters
faced: S Marcum 27; S Downs 3; C Janssen 4; J Accardo 6; J Tavarez 23; K Snyder
7; M Timlin 7; J Pineiro 4; J Lopez 1.

UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Wally Bell. 2B--Bill Welke. 3B--Laz Diaz.

T--3:51. Att--36,908.
Weather: 84 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 17 mph, out to
center.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
TORONTO 6
BOSTON 5 FINAL</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TORONTO (6) AT BOSTON (5) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOSTON 1ST: J Drew grounded out to first. D Pedroia flied out to right.
D Ortiz singled to shallow left. M Ramirez homered to left, D Ortiz scored.
K Youkilis doubled to left. M Lowell struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 3 Hits,
0 Errors) TORONTO 0, BOSTON 2.

TORONTO 3RD: V Wells struck out swinging. R Johnson hit by pitch. A Rios
doubled to right, R Johnson to third. R Johnson scored, A Rios to third on
wild pitch by J Tavarez. F Thomas walked. T Glaus singled to right, A Rios
scored, F Thomas to second. L Overbay singled to right, F Thomas scored,
T Glaus to third. A Hill grounded into fielder's choice to third, T Glaus
scored, L Overbay out at second. G Zaun doubled to left, A Hill thrown out at
home. (4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 4, BOSTON 2.

BOSTON 3RD: J Drew doubled to left. D Pedroia grounded out to second,
J Drew to third. D Ortiz lined out to shortstop. M Ramirez singled to left,
J Drew scored. K Youkilis safe at first on error by third baseman T Glaus,
M Ramirez to second. M Lowell tripled to deep center, M Ramirez and K Youkilis
scored. J Varitek struck out looking. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Error) TORONTO 4,
BOSTON 5.

TORONTO 6TH: G Zaun grounded out to second. J McDonald bunt popped out
foul to catcher. V Wells walked. R Johnson doubled to deep right, V Wells
scored. A Rios doubled to left, R Johnson scored. M Timlin relieved K Snyder.
F Thomas flied out to center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 6, BOSTON 5.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TORONTO (6) AT BOSTON (5) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Toronto Starting Lineups -- V Wells CF, R Johnson LF, A Rios RF, F Thomas DH,
T Glaus 3B, L Overbay 1B, A Hill 2B, G Zaun C, J McDonald SS, S Marcum RHP.

Boston Starting Lineups -- J Drew RF, D Pedroia 2B, D Ortiz DH, M Ramirez LF,
K Youkilis 1B, M Lowell 3B, J Varitek C, C Crisp CF, J Lugo SS, J Tavarez RHP.

Umpires -- John Hirschbeck (HP), Wally Bell (1B), Bill Welke (2B), Laz Diaz (3B).

Gametime Weather: 84 degrees, Cloudy, wind out to center at 17 mph.


TORONTO 1ST: V Wells flied out to right. R Johnson flied out to left.
A Rios walked. F Thomas reached on infield single to shortstop, A Rios to
second. T Glaus struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 0,
BOSTON 0.

BOSTON 1ST: J Drew grounded out to first. D Pedroia flied out to right.
D Ortiz singled to shallow left. M Ramirez homered to left, D Ortiz scored.
K Youkilis doubled to left. M Lowell struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 3 Hits,
0 Errors) TORONTO 0, BOSTON 2.

TORONTO 2ND: L Overbay walked. A Hill singled to left, L Overbay to
second. G Zaun grounded into double play, first to shortstop to pitcher,
A Hill out at second, L Overbay to third. J McDonald grounded out to shortstop.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 0, BOSTON 2.

BOSTON 2ND: J Varitek grounded out to shortstop. C Crisp flied out to
right. J Lugo bunt grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
TORONTO 0, BOSTON 2.

TORONTO 3RD: V Wells struck out swinging. R Johnson hit by pitch. A Rios
doubled to right, R Johnson to third. R Johnson scored, A Rios to third on
wild pitch by J Tavarez. F Thomas walked. T Glaus singled to right, A Rios
scored, F Thomas to second. L Overbay singled to right, F Thomas scored,
T Glaus to third. A Hill grounded into fielder's choice to third, T Glaus
scored, L Overbay out at second. G Zaun doubled to left, A Hill thrown out at
home. (4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 4, BOSTON 2.

BOSTON 3RD: J Drew doubled to left. D Pedroia grounded out to second,
J Drew to third. D Ortiz lined out to shortstop. M Ramirez singled to left,
J Drew scored. K Youkilis safe at first on error by third baseman T Glaus,
M Ramirez to second. M Lowell tripled to deep center, M Ramirez and K Youkilis
scored. J Varitek struck out looking. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Error) TORONTO 4,
BOSTON 5.

TORONTO 4TH: E Hinske in right field. J McDonald flied out to center.
V Wells struck out looking. R Johnson singled to left. A Rios singled to right,
R Johnson to second. F Thomas flied out to center. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
TORONTO 4, BOSTON 5.

BOSTON 4TH: C Crisp struck out looking. J Lugo lined out to third.
E Hinske popped out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 4, BOSTON 5.

TORONTO 5TH: T Glaus singled to center. K Snyder relieved J Tavarez.
L Overbay flied out to left. A Hill lined into double play, third to first,
T Glaus doubled off first.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 4, BOSTON 5.

BOSTON 5TH: D Pedroia grounded out to shortstop. D Ortiz walked.
M Ramirez struck out looking. K Youkilis struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) TORONTO 4, BOSTON 5.

TORONTO 6TH: G Zaun grounded out to second. J McDonald bunt popped out
foul to catcher. V Wells walked. R Johnson doubled to deep right, V Wells
scored. A Rios doubled to left, R Johnson scored. M Timlin relieved K Snyder.
F Thomas flied out to center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 6, BOSTON 5.

BOSTON 6TH: M Lowell singled to shallow left. J Varitek struck out
swinging. C Crisp grounded into fielder's choice to second, M Lowell out at
second. J Lugo popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 6,
BOSTON 5.

TORONTO 7TH: T Glaus grounded out to shortstop. L Overbay flied out to
center. A Hill struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 6,
BOSTON 5.

BOSTON 7TH: S Downs relieved S Marcum. W Pena hit for E Hinske. W Pena
singled to center. D Pedroia grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop,
W Pena out at second. D Ortiz flied out to right. C Janssen relieved S Downs.
M Ramirez flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 6, BOSTON 5.

TORONTO 8TH: W Pena in right field. G Zaun flied out to right. J McDonald
grounded out to third. V Wells lined out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
TORONTO 6, BOSTON 5.

BOSTON 8TH: K Youkilis grounded out to shortstop. M Lowell grounded out to
third. J Varitek doubled to deep right. J Accardo relieved C Janssen. C Crisp
popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 6, BOSTON 5.

TORONTO 9TH: J Pineiro relieved M Timlin. R Johnson struck out swinging.
A Rios lined out to center. F Thomas doubled to center. H Clark ran for
F Thomas. H Clark to third on wild pitch by J Pineiro. T Glaus walked. J Lopez
relieved J Pineiro. T Glaus to second on fielder's indifference. L Overbay
struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 6, BOSTON 5.

BOSTON 9TH: J Lugo singled to right center. W Pena struck out swinging.
J Lugo stole second. D Pedroia walked. D Ortiz flied out to center. A Cora ran
for D Pedroia. M Ramirez flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
TORONTO 6, BOSTON 5.</div>

 

Rios lifts Blue Jays over Red Sox

<h3>TORONTO 6, BOSTON 5</h3>BOSTON (Ticker) -- Alex Rios continued his personal dominationof the Boston Red Sox's pitching staff en route to a 6-5 victoryby the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.


Reed Johnson drove in a run and scored twice for the Blue Jays,who pulled within a game of .500 (44-45) on the strength ofthree scoreless innings of relief from Scott Downs, CaseyJanssen and Jeremy Accardo.


Rios, who was Toronto's lone representative in Tuesday'sAll-Star Game, had three hits, drove in a run and scored once.The 26-year-old budding star entered Friday's contest with a.354 career batting average against the Red Sox - his best markagainst all American League East Division opponents.

Rios pushed across the winning run in the top of the sixth withhis second double of the night, plating Johnson. Vernon Wellshad walked to begin the rally against Boston reliever KyleSnyder (1-2) and came around to score when Johnson blasted adouble to deep right.


Blue Jays starter Shaun Marcum (5-3) battled through sixinnings, surrendering five runs - three earned - and seven hitswhile striking out six and issuing one walk to earn his fourthwin as a starter this season.


The 25-year-old righthander has been a revelation for Torontothis season, entering Friday's game with a 3-1 record and 3.02ERA in 11 games since being moved into the rotation on May 13.

Marcum was backed by a stellar relief corps which held Boston'spowerful lineup to three hits over the final three frames.<div class="pre">Accardo pitched the final 1 1/3 innings - retiring David Ortiz</div>and Manny Ramirez with runners on first and second for the finaltwo outs - to earn his 12th save of the season.


Ramirez and Ortiz put Boston on top in the first.


Ortiz beat the shift with a two-out single to left field throughthe third baseman's vacated position. Ramirez wasted littletime driving him home, lifting Marcum's 0-1 offering over the"Green Monster" in left for his 12th homer of the season - firstsince June 20 - and a 2-0 lead.


Red Sox starter Julian Tavarez failed to hold the lead, yieldingfour runs in the third. Johnson got the rally started whenTavarez hit him with a pitch.


He moved to second on Rios' double and scored Toronto's firstrun when Tavarez unleashed a wild pitch.


After Frank Thomas walked, consecutive RBI singles by Troy Glausand Lyle Overbay gave the Blue Jays a 3-2 lead. Aaron Hillfollowed with a run-scoring grounder, but further damage wasaverted when Ramirez and Julio Lugo combined to throw Hill, whowas trying to score on Gregg Zaun's double, out at home.

Ramirez and fellow All-Star Mike Lowell gave Tavarez anotherlead to work with in the bottom of the frame. After J.D. Drewled off with a double and moved to third on a groundout, Ramirezclubbed an RBI single to left to pull Boston within 4-3.

Toronto third baseman Glaus kept alive the inning with an error,which allowed Lowell the chance to swat a two-run triple todeep center field for a 5-4 edge.


Tavarez was replaced by Snyder after surrendering a leadoffsingle in the fifth. The veteran sinkerballer was charged withfour runs and nine hits in just four-plus frames.

 

Rios lifts Blue Jays over Red Sox

<h3>TORONTO 6, BOSTON 5</h3>BOSTON (Ticker) -- Alex Rios continued his personal dominationof the Boston Red Sox's pitching staff en route to a 6-5 victoryby the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.


Reed Johnson drove in a run and scored twice for the Blue Jays,who pulled within a game of .500 (44-45) on the strength ofthree scoreless innings of relief from Scott Downs, CaseyJanssen and Jeremy Accardo.


Rios, who was Toronto's lone representative in Tuesday'sAll-Star Game, had three hits, drove in a run and scored once.The 26-year-old budding star entered Friday's contest with a.354 career batting average against the Red Sox - his best markagainst all American League East Division opponents.

Rios pushed across the winning run in the top of the sixth withhis second double of the night, plating Johnson.


"I've always liked hitting here," Rios said. "I'm seeing theball real well. We did a good job of getting to their starterand getting into their bullpen early. That was important."

Vernon Wells had walked to begin the rally against Bostonreliever Kyle Snyder (1-2) and came around to score when Johnsonblasted a double to deep right.


Blue Jays starter Shaun Marcum (5-3) battled through sixinnings, surrendering five runs - three earned - and seven hitswhile striking out six and issuing one walk to earn his fourthwin as a starter this season.


The 25-year-old righthander has been a revelation for Torontothis season, entering Friday's game with a 3-1 record and 3.02ERA in 11 games since being inserted into the rotation on May13.


Marcum was backed by a stellar relief corps, which held Boston'spowerful lineup to three hits over the final three frames.

<div class="pre">Accardo pitched the final 1 1/3 innings - retiring David Ortiz</div>and Manny Ramirez with runners on first and second for the finaltwo outs - to earn his 12th save of the season.


"One-run games here aren't real fun," Blue Jays manager JohnGibbons said. "But we hung in there. Marcum pitched a greatgame. We took the lead and we kept it right there. Then thebullpen. It never fails when those guys (Ortiz and Ramirez)roll around somehow. Sometimes we think they must bat out ofturn or something."


Julio Lugo singled to lead off the ninth, but Wily Mo Penastruck out. Pena became Boston's third right fielder of thenight after starter J.D. Drew left in the top of the fourth witha tight right hamstring and Eric Hinske was lifted when theBlue Jays brought in the lefthanded Downs.


Dustin Pedroia walked, giving the Red Sox runners at first andsecond with Ortiz and Ramirez coming up. But Ortiz flew out tocenter and Ramirez lined out to right to end the game.

"That's what we want, is to get guys on base with those guyscoming up, but it doesn't always work out," Pedroia said."You've got to give credit to their guy. He was able to come inand get the job done."


"Lugo gets on, does a great job," Red Sox manager Terry Franconasaid. "Pedroia has a great at-bat. We've seen David do thatso often and Manny rifles the ball to right. It didn't find theoutfield grass. It was a great swing."


For Accardo, it was his 12th save in 14 chances since takingover the closer's role.


"He's got a ton of confidence," Gibbons said. "He's scared ofnothing. He's not afraid to go after you either. He's notgoing to nibble or pick. He's got the closer's mentality andhe's doing a great job for us."


Ramirez and Ortiz put Boston on top in the first.


Ortiz beat the shift with a two-out single to left field throughthe third baseman's vacated position. Ramirez wasted littletime driving him home, lifting Marcum's 0-1 offering over the"Green Monster" in left for his 12th homer of the season - firstsince June 20 - and a 2-0 lead.


Red Sox starter Julian Tavarez failed to hold the lead, yieldingfour runs in the third. Johnson got the rally started whenTavarez hit him with a pitch.


He moved to second on Rios' double and scored Toronto's firstrun when Tavarez unleashed a wild pitch.


After Frank Thomas walked, consecutive RBI singles by Troy Glausand Lyle Overbay gave the Blue Jays a 3-2 lead. Aaron Hillfollowed with a run-scoring grounder, but further damage wasaverted when Ramirez and Julio Lugo combined to throw out Hill,who was trying to score on Gregg Zaun's double, at home.

Ramirez and fellow All-Star Mike Lowell gave Tavarez anotherlead with which to work in the bottom of the frame. After Drewled off with a double and moved to third on a groundout, Ramirezclubbed an RBI single to left to pull Boston within 4-3.

Toronto third baseman Glaus kept alive the inning with an error,which allowed Lowell the chance to swat a two-run triple todeep center field for a 5-4 edge.


Tavarez was replaced by Snyder after surrendering a leadoffsingle in the fifth. The veteran sinkerballer was charged withfour runs and nine hits in just four-plus frames.


"My No. 1 pitch," Tavarez said, referring to his fastball. "Ihave been throwing it (on) 1-0 and 2-0 (counts), and all of asudden, I have to go up to the hitter and maybe end up walkinghim. In this game, every little mistake you make can cost youthe game."