Betts homers twice as Boston Red Sox top Toronto Blue Jays 4-3

SPORTS

Betts homers twice as Boston Red Sox top Toronto Blue Jays 4-3

Gregory Strong The Canadian Press
Published Wednesday, April 25, 2018 10:28PM EDT

Boston Red Sox's Mookie Betts celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run in his first at bat against the Toronto Blue Jays in first inning American League MLB baseball action in Toronto on Wednesday April 25, 2018. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Thornhill)

Text:

TORONTO - Mookie Betts led off the game with a home run and added a two-run shot in the seventh inning to power the Boston Red Sox to a 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night at Rogers Centre.

Betts took the third pitch from Toronto starter Aaron Sanchez over the wall and later burned reliever Danny Barnes for his eighth homer of the season.

Brock Holt had three hits and scored twice as the Red Sox ended a three-game losing skid. Craig Kimbrel worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his sixth save.

Boston improved its record to 18-5, tops in the major leagues. Yangervis Solarte hit a solo homer for the Blue Jays, who fell to 14-9.

The teams will play the rubber game in the three-game series Thursday night.

Toronto's opening run in the first inning was unearned after an error by third baseman Rafael Devers. His throw on a Justin Smoak grounder was wide and bounced into the seats, allowing Steve Pearce to score from second base.