Extra effort: Jays extend AL East lead
BOSTON -- After not scoring for eight straight innings, the Blue Jays came out swinging in the top of the 10th, scoring four runs en route to a 5-1 victory over the Red Sox on Tuesday night at Fenway Park.
With the Yankees losing in Baltimore, the Blue Jays increased their lead to 1 1/2 games in the American League East.
Troy Tulowitzki came through with a clutch RBI single to snap a 1-1 tie that had been in place since the second, when Travis Shaw homered against knuckleballer R.A. Dickey.
"He's done that his whole career, and he's going to continue to do it," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "He's been one of the marquee players in the game for a lot of years. But new place, new time, I know it makes him feel good."
• Donaldson once again delivers in clutch
Josh Donaldson led off the 10th and just missed putting the Blue Jays on top with a drive that came an inch or two from clearing the Green Monster. But after a crew-chief review, the original call was confirmed and it went as a triple. It was still enough for the Blue Jays to accomplish their mission. With one out, Tulowitzki ripped an 0-1 pitch from Alexi Ogando through the hole and into left, as Donaldson scored easily. Chris Colabello added an insurance RBI single. Ogando balked in a third run. The fourth run came courtesy of a sacrifice fly by Kevin Pillar.
Video: TOR@BOS: Donaldson is ruled to have a triple
"We were frustrated at the plate all night, kind of hitting balls right at people," Donaldson said. "All of a sudden we break through in the 10th inning. R.A. did a great job. Our pitching staff, [Brett] Cecil, [Aaron] Sanchez, everybody did their part. It was nice to come out with a win, because the way the night was going, it didn't look like it was going to happen."
Dickey did his job, holding the Red Sox to four hits and one run over six innings. Though rookie lefty Henry Owens didn't have his best command for Boston, he minimized the damage. Over 5 1/3 innings, Owens held Toronto to three hits and a run while walking four and striking out three.
Dustin Pedroia returned from his right hamstring injury, lofting a double off the Green Monster in his third at-bat. It was Pedroia's first game since July 22. After going 1-for-4, Pedroia was replaced by Josh Rutledge to start the 10th.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Waiting on 100: Although Dickey allowed only four baserunners and Shaw's homer, he took a no-decision after the Blue Jays pulled him with the game tied at 1, meaning he'll have to pick up his 100th career win another day. Dickey pitched around a double and a walk in the sixth to secure his 14th quality start in his last 18 outings. He struck out four and walked one.
Video: TOR@BOS: Dickey limits Red Sox to one run over six
"I really felt great with my knuckleball. It was firm. There were a lot of swings and misses," Dickey said. "I felt very consistent with it in the strike zone. For a team that leads the league in first-pitch take percentage, [the Red Sox] were pretty aggressive on me. I thought with Shaw that he would get a look and I could maybe steal a strike, but he saw spin and did a good job of putting the barrel on it."
Costly mistake by Castillo: The Red Sox were hoping to win the game in the bottom of the ninth, after David Ortiz drew a one-out walk. Rusney Castillo came off the bench to run for Ortiz and was thrown out easily trying to steal second. The execution on the attempt was not what the Red Sox were looking for.
Video: TOR@BOS: Martin throws out Castillo stealing in 9th
"In a vacuum, it didn't happen the right way -- the timing of it didn't happen the right way," said interim manager Torey Lovullo. "You know what? We do a lot of work behind the scenes to look at keys and tips on each pitcher. [First-base coach] Arnie Beyeler works really hard on that. We thought we had a good key in that situation. Unfortunately it didn't work out." More >
Tazawa tames Toronto: Junichi Tazawa, who has struggled against the Blue Jays throughout his career, had no such trouble on Tuesday. The righty setup man came in with two on and one out in a tie game in the eighth and struck out Colabello and got Pillar on a liner to third.
Video: TOR@BOS: Tazawa retires Pillar to end the threat
QUOTABLE
"We count on him, and he knows that. He never changes. That's what's so fun to watch about Josh. Regardless if he's been 0-for-3 that night with three punch outs or he's hit three home runs, he's the same guy in that batter's box and he wants to win that battle every time." -- Dickey, on Donaldson
"No. I didn't want to come out. But I understand what they're doing, so I have to do what I'm told." -- Pedroia, on coming out after the ninth inning
• Pedroia's bat, glove, competitive fire return
DAZZLING D BY BOGAERTS
When Cliff Pennington opened the seventh with a hot shot up the middle, it looked like a sure hit. But Xander Bogaerts made a tremendous stab on the one-hopper that was almost behind him. Bogaerts spun and fired to first for the out. Bogaerts also ranged up the middle and made a sweet shovel flip to Pedroia to start the 6-4-3 double play against Pillar to end the sixth.
Video: TOR@BOS: Bogaerts slides for tough stop to rob a hit
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Edwin Encarnacion extended his on-base streak to 38 games, tying Carlos Delgado for the franchise record set from July 31-Sept. 11, 1998. Encarnacion's streak is also the best among active Major League hitters.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
Umpires confirmed a foul ball call in the third inning following another crew-chief review. With one out, Donaldson smoked a 2-2 fastball that curved just outside of the foul pole in left and carried out of Fenway Park. Donaldson went on to draw an eight-pitch walk. In the ninth, Shaw hit a chopper to Cliff Pennington, who threw to Colabello to end the frame and force extras. The Red Sox challenged to see if Colabello's foot came off the bag, but the call was confirmed by replay.
Video: TOR@BOS: Donaldson's foul out of Fenway confirmed
WHAT'S NEXT
Blue Jays: Right-hander Drew Hutchison takes the ball against the Red Sox on Wednesday night, when Toronto plays its final game of the year at Fenway Park. Hutchison has a 9.00 ERA in 11 road starts, and Boston hitters are batting .431 in their three times facing him this season.
Red Sox: Red-hot righty Joe Kelly, who has won his last seven starts, will pitch the finale of this three-game series, which starts at 7:10 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Kelly has allowed six earned runs or less in his last six starts.
Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.