TORONTO - Ryan Sweeney drove in the winning run as the Boston Red Sox scored three times in the ninth inning to claim a 4-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night.

Sweeney's single to right field off Jays closer Sergio Santos (0-1) scored pinch runner Darnell McDonald from second to break a 2-2 tie.

For a look at how fans were gearing up for the big game click here.

Santos, who came on to protect a 2-0 Toronto lead, issued consecutive two-out walks to Ortiz and Cody Ross to set up Sweeney's clutch hit.

Dustin Pedroia, who homered earlier in the game, belted a leadoff double for Boston (1-3) and scored on Adrian Gonzalez's sacrifice fly.

Ross later came home on a wild pitch by Santos, who blew his second straight save, much to the dismay of the towel-twirling Rogers Centre sellout of 48,473.

There would be no comeback for Toronto (2-2) as Boston right-hander Alfredo Aceves retired Brett Lawrie, Eric Thames and J.P. Arencibia in order in the ninth for the save. Scott Atchison (1-0), who relieved Red Sox starter Felix Doubront after the fifth, earned the win.

Boston's ninth-inning comeback spoiled Toronto's home opener and took the decision away from starter Henderson Alvarez, who went six solid innings on a historic night. At 21 years 355 days Alvarez became the youngest Blue Jay to start a home opener in club history. The distinction previously belonged to Jerry Garvin, who was 22 years 174 days when he started Toronto's home opener against the Detroit Tigers on April 14, 1978.

Alvarez allowed four hits, one run and a walk over six innings while fanning two. He did a good job of keeping his pitches low as 12 of his 18 outs came on grounders. And while he did allow a Pedroia homer, it was a solo shot.

Toronto dropped to 16-7 in home openers at Rogers Centre and 29-7 overall.

Fans in the upper deck watched the game with only one beer in hand after sales were restricted to the seating area. Spectators were limited to just one beer per trip Monday, half of what's allowed at regular games.

Other concession stands at Rogers Centre weren't affected. In the 2009 home opener against Detroit, fights broke out in the stands and the game was delayed when fans threw litter on the field.

Doubront allowing two runs (both earned) and four hits over five innings. He also registered six strikeouts and three walks before giving way to right-hander Atchison to start the sixth.

Toronto opened the scoring with two in the bottom of the third. Colby Rasmus scored on Kelly Johnson's fielder's choice as Doubront handled Johnson's comebacker to the mound and threw home. But Rasmus, who made a sparkling diving catch in centre in the second before delivering a one-out triple, managed to beat Jarrod Saltalamacchia's tag.

Yunel Escobar made it 2-0, scoring from second on Edwin Encarnacion's RBI single.

Boston threatened in the top of the fifth after Ross's single and Sweeney's ground-rule double put two on with one out. But Alvarez got Saltalamacchia and Mike Aviles to both ground out and end the threat.

The Red Sox got their first run of the game in the top of the sixth on Pedroia's first homer of the season.

Monday's contest opened an 11-day, nine-game homestand for Toronto. Following the three-game series with Boston, the Blue Jays will have a day off Thursday before opening a three-game weekend set against Baltimore. The club will have another off-day April 16 before finishing up with three games against Tampa Bay.

Notes: Toronto is scheduled to send right-hander Kyle Drabek to the mound in the second game of the series Tuesday night against Boston, with the Red Sox to counter with right-hander Daniel Bard. Blue Jays ace Ricky Romero will get his second start of the season in the series finale Wednesday afternoon, facing Jon Lester in a battle of left-handers . . . Boston was 10-8 last year against the Blue Jays and came into Monday's contest 96-79 at Rogers Centre and 140-112 all-time in Toronto. The two teams will meet 18 times this season . . . Toronto and Boston rank second and third, respectively, in homers over the last three seasons with 652 and 626, respectively. New York is tops with 667. Toronto's Jose Bautista is tied with Mark Teixeira for the AL lead with 111 homers over that span.