The Boston Red Sox kept their playoff hopes alive Monday with a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in the first game of a three-game road series.
Red Sox starter Tanner Houck didn’t give up a run in five innings, allowing just one hit to improve to 9-10 this season. The Massachusetts club is 79-78.
Addison Barger ended his perfect game hopes in the fifth inning with a free throw.
In the other camp, Chris Bassitt allowed three runs, two earned, while giving up a season-high seven walks.
The Red Sox opened the scoring in the second inning when Vaughn Grissom’s sacrifice fly set up Connor Wong to score. They then doubled their lead on a double by Wilyer Abreu.
A bunt by Ceddanne Rafaela drove in Nick Sogard in the fourth, then his groundout to third in the eighth scored the Red Sox’s final run.
The Blue Jays slipped to 11 games under .500 at 73-84.
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