BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox went from almost being no-hit to almost winning the game.
Chris Young broke up Marco Estrada’s no-hit bid with a home run in the eighth inning. The Red Sox rallied for three more runs in the ninth but fell short in a 5-4 loss Sunday afternoon to the Toronto Blue Jays, before 35,823 at Fenway Park.
Both David Ortiz and Hanley Ramirez doubled home runs in the ninth against reliever Roberto Osuna. Jackie Bradley Jr. singled home Ramirez, and Young followed with another single. But with runners on first and second with two outs, Osuna struck out pinch-hitter Marco Hernandez.
Boston had to battle back from a 5-0 deficit. All the runs scored on four home runs against Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez (1-1).
Boston did little against Estrada (4-2), a right-hander whose fastball does not top 89 mph. But the way he commands his fastball, along with his change-up, cutter and curveball, had the Red Sox misfiring all afternoon.
“He’s got a fastball/change-up combination that is out of the same, exact release point,” Red Sox Manager John Farrell said. “He has tremendous deception. He threw a number of four-seam fastballs at the top of the strike zone that we would pop up.”
Estrada walked the first two batters but worked his way out of trouble in the first inning. After a leadoff walk to Ramirez in the second, Estrada retired 19 straight batters.
“He’s a master at his craft. He’s not going to light you up with that change-up, but he’s a pitcher – a very good pitcher,” Toronto Manager John Gibbons said. “He’s been doing that for two years. It shouldn’t surprise anybody.”
In his first two at-bats, Young popped up to the first baseman in foul territory, then flied out to center field.
“He’s tough,” Young said. “If you wait him out, you’re behind in the count. If you’re overly aggressive, you’re swinging at his pitch.”
In the eighth, Young got a cut fastball he could hit and launched it over the wall in left-center.
Estrada allowed a leadoff double to Dustin Pedroia in the ninth and was lifted. He finished with five strikeouts, allowing three walks and two hits.
Boston made it interesting against Osuna with RBI hits by Ortiz, Ramirez and Bradley. Hernandez, hitting for Christian Vazquez, worked the count full, then fouled off a pitch before missing a high, 97 mph fastball.
“We continue to battle,” Farrell said. “I love the fact that our guys don’t ever quit.”
Rodriguez, making his second start, allowed only four hits over 52/3 innings – but they were all home runs over the left-field wall – solo shots by Jose Bautista, Darwin Barney and Russell Martin, and a two-run blast by Edwin Encarnacion.
The loss dropped Boston to 33-24. Toronto is 31-27.
NOTES: Catcher/left fielder Blake Swihart was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a severely sprained ankle. Swihart will have his ankle immobilized for two weeks and then “we will re-evaluate to see what the next steps are,” Farrell said. Outfielder Rusney Castillo was brought back from Pawtucket to fill Swihart’s place. … Catcher Ryan Hanigan was also placed on the 15-day DL with a neck strain. Sandy Leon was summoned from Pawtucket to be the backup catcher. … In another roster move switching right-handed relievers, Heath Hembree was recalled from Pawtucket and Noe Ramirez was sent down. … While Leon figures to catch two of every five games, Castillo’s role is “reserve outfielder,” Farrell said ….
Pedroia and Ortiz both extended their hitting streaks to 13 games, the longest active streaks in the majors. … Pedroia tied Jerry Remy for the longest hitting streak against the Blue Jays (26 games). … The Red Sox have not been no-hit since April 22, 1993, by Seattle’s Chris Bosio.
Boston has Monday off and then plays two games in San Francisco before getting another day off. Ortiz is questionable to play first base because of a sore left foot. If he does play, Farrell said it would be Tuesday against right-hander Albert Suarez, and not Wednesday against lefty Madison Bumgarner.
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