TORONTO - Ricky Romero went a strong 8 1-3 innings to lead the Toronto Blue Jays past the Boston Red Sox 3-1 on Wednesday afternoon.
The left-hander surrendered an earned run and three hits as Toronto (4-2) won the rubber match of the three-game set with Boston (1-5). Romero got stronger as the game wore on, retiring 17 straight Red Sox hitters through the middle of the game.
After allowing a run and three hits the third inning, Romero, who led Toronto last season in starts (32), wins (15), innings pitched (225) and earned-run average (2.92), really settled into a groove before opening the ninth with consecutive walks to Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Petroia. They moved to third and second, respectively, on Adrian Gonzalez's sacrifice fly, which spelled the end to Romero's outing.
Closer Sergio Santos, who blew two save chances earlier this season, struck out Kevin Youkilis and got David Ortiz to hit into a game-ending groundout to cement the victory.
Romero (1-0) outduelled Boston left-handed ace Jon Lester in a superbly pitched contest before 25,285 spectators -- many of them school kids -- at Rogers Centre, the lowest attendance of the three-game series after more than 48,000 took in the Red Sox's 4-2 win Monday before 26,251 witnessed Toronto's 7-3 victory on Tuesday night.
Lester (0-1) wasn't too shabby, either, as the hard-luck loser, allowing three runs and three hits in going the distance for Boston. He set down 15 straight Jays hitters before surrendering a two-out walk to Rajai Davis in the eighth. Yunel Escobar gave Toronto a two-run cushion with a run-scoring single that brought home Davis after he stole second on a failed pickoff throw.
Romero came in with a career 4-6 record against Boston and a bloated 7.12 ERA. Last year he was 2-2 in four starts against the Red Sox with a 6.56 ERA, giving up 28 hits, 17 earned runs, four homers and 12 walks in 23 1-3 innings while striking out 17.
Lester, on the other hand, was 10-4 against Toronto lifetime with a 3.06 ERA. Last season, he posted a 3-0 record versus the Jays with a 2.08 ERA and pitched seven scoreless innings and struck out a season-high 11 in his last start against the club, a 14-0 win Sept. 6.
Boston opened the scoring in the third after Romero retired the first six batters he faced. Ellsbury's run-scoring single scored Mike Aviles, who singled and went to second on Kelly Shoppach's fielder's choice. That still left two runners on base for Romero, who got out of the jam by striking out Pedroia and getting Adrian Gonzalez to ground out.
Toronto went ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the third on Yunel Escobar's sacrifice fly, which scored Davis. Davis drove in the Jays' opening run with a triple that scored Eric Thames, who had singled and went to second on a wild pitch. Kelly Johnson walked and reached second on a passed ball but was stranded there on Jose Bautista's inning-ending groundout.
Notes: Both teams have Thursday off before resuming new series. Toronto will open a three-game set against Baltimore on Friday while Boston holds its home opener against Tampa Bay. The Rays will then be at Rogers Centre to face the Blue Jays starting Tuesday night. ... The groundscrew at Rogers Centre jumped the gun in the fifth inning, coming out to clean the field before Davis was out. ... Johnson went hitless after having registered hits in Toronto's five previous games. Ryan Sweeney had done the same for Boston. ... Toronto's bullpen has been busy this season, having worked a major league-high 24 2-3 innings prior to Wednesday's game. The unit's 2.55 ERA ranked fourth in the American League.
