Sox Stop Skid, Beat Blue Jays 10-6

TORONTO, ONTARIO - JULY 2: Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox hits a two-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning during a MLB game at the Rogers Centre on July 2, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)

By IAN HARRISON Associated Press

TORONTO (AP) — A red-hot Rafael Devers extended his six-game hitting streak to a third country.

David Price pitched six innings to win his fifth straight decision, Devers homered twice and matched his career-high with six RBI, and the Boston Red Sox snapped a three-game losing streak by beating the Toronto Blue Jays 10-6 on Tuesday night.

Christian Vázquez had a homer among his three hits and Mookie Betts reached base four times for the Red Sox, who were swept in a two-game series against the New York Yankees in London last weekend. Boston lost 8-7 to the White Sox in its final game before travelling to London.

Devers finished 4 for 5. He hit a two-run home run in the first, singled in the second, and chased Blue Jays right-hander Trent Thornton with a two-run single in the third.

"Overall, he's one of the best third baseman in the big leagues and he's showing it on a nightly basis," manager Alex Cora said.

After looking at strike three in the sixth, Devers went deep again in the eighth, a two-run shot off Joe Biagini. It was the fourth multihomer game of his career. The home runs were his 13th and 14th.

Devers has hit safely in six games, going 15 for 27 (.556) in that span. His streak started at home against the White Sox and continued in London before coming to Canada.

"It feels good to be performing as well as I am," Devers said through a translator.

Boston's slugging third baseman also homered twice in a six-RBI game against Baltimore last Sept. 26. The Red Sox won that one 19-3.

Cora and Price both said they're disappointed Devers missed out on making the AL roster for the All-Star game.

"He's an All-Star," Price said. "That's not the way it worked out but he hasn't changed because of it. He continues to move forward with his defense, at the plate."

Vázquez doubled and scored in the first, singled and scored in the third, flied out to the warning track in center in the fourth, and homered into the second deck in left in the seventh. The home run, his 12th, came off right-hander Derek Law.

Betts had two singles, walked twice, and scored three runs as the Red Sox won for the fourth time in five games north of the border.

Price (6-2) allowed two runs and four hits in six innings, improving to 10-0 in 13 career starts as an opponent at Rogers Centre. Price made 11 starts for the Blue Jays in 2015.

"He was great," Cora said. "Velocity was good, command was OK. He made pitches when he had to."

Price walked a season-high four, one fewer than he had walked in his previous eight starts combined. Price has walked 19 batters in 78 1.3 innings this season. He is unbeaten since a 2-1 defeat to Tampa Bay on April 27, a stretch of 10 starts.

Right-hander Colten Brewer and lefty Josh Taylor each worked one inning before Toronto scored three in the ninth off right-hander Trevor Kelley, who was making his major league debut.

Thornton (2-6) allowed career worsts of seven runs and 11 hits in 2 2/3 innings, the second time this season he has failed to complete three innings. Afterward, Thornton said shortstop Freddy Galvis told him he was tipping his pitches.

"Galvis told me after the game that I was doing a little something that even he could even see," Thornton said. "We'll take a deeper look at that."

Right-hander Sean Reid-Foley replaced Thornton and pitched 3 1/3 no-hit innings.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Red Sox: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (elbow) will pitch out of the bullpen when he rejoins the team, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. Eovaldi recently resumed throwing off the mound, and the Red Sox hope he'll be ready to return after the All-Star break. ... OF Steve Pearce (lower back) will miss at least a month after injuring his knee in a fall during a rehab game at Triple-A Pawtucket. Peace has been out since June 1.

Blue Jays: OF Teoscar Hernández (right shoulder) was not available.

HIT PARADE

Boston has 15 or more hits in four straight games, matching the fifth longest such streak since 1908. Four teams have done it in five straight, but none since the Dodgers in 1970.

ROAD SWING

Devers has hit 11 of his 14 home runs on the road, including five in Toronto. He has seven career homer against the Blue Jays, more than any other opponent.

ROSTER REPORT

Red Sox: Boston selected Kelley from Triple-A before the game. To make room on the 40-man roster, C Óscar Hernández was designated for assignment.

FOR TYLER

A moment of silence was observed before the anthems in honor of Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs, who died Monday. Skaggs was 27.

"We're a fraternity and we lost one of ours," Cora said. "It's sad. It puts everything in perspective."

UP NEXT

Red Sox: LHP Chris Sale (3-7, 3.82) is 5-1 with a 1.60 ERA in nine career appearances in Toronto

Blue Jays: Reid-Foley was scheduled to start Tuesday. Toronto could promote RHP Jacob Waguespack from Triple-A Buffalo. Waguespack made his major league debut at Tampa Bay on May 27.

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