Tyler O’Neill homered, then Ceddanne Rafaela gave David Hamilton the go-ahead run in a two-run eighth inning, and the Boston Red Sox came from behind to defeat the Blue Jays of Toronto 4-3, Tuesday.
O’Neill started the inning with a 408-foot slap to center field against left-hander Brendon Little (0-1).
O’Neill, who hit two homers in the series opener Monday, leads the Red Sox with 15 home runs this season.
Rafaela followed with a productive two-out single that deflected off the glove of shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Having entered the game as a backup runner, Hamilton scored from second base.
“It’s great to help the team in this situation,” Rafaela said. They needed me to be good at bat, so I was trying to get the best pitch I could to get him to score. »
The Blue Jays were without several relievers, including Jordan Romano and Yimi Garcia.
“It’s tough when your trusted guys who have been good here for a long time, and especially recently, aren’t here,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. But it’s an opportunity for other players to raise their game.”
“You put yourself in a position to win and it just didn’t work out. »
Reliever Zack Kelly (1-1) worked on the mound for an inning and a third to win and specialist Kenley Jansen was perfect in the ninth to sign his 13e rescue of the countryside.
The Red Sox have won four games in a row.
Justin Turner scored two runs and Chris Bassitt provided a quality start for the Blue Jays, who will try to avoid a sweep in this three-game series on Wednesday.
O’Neill scored the first run of the game after hitting a double in the second. Dominic Smith allowed him to reach the plate with a single moments later.
Turner and Addison Barger, however, responded in the bottom of the inning when Ernie Clement hit a double.
The Blue Jays also placed shortstop Bo Bichette on the 10-day injured list due to a strained right calf.
The Toronto team announced the decision, retroactive to Saturday, before the match.