David Price rebounded from a rough start in Boston’s home opener with seven solid innings, Xander Bogaerts hit a three-run home run and the Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 on Saturday.
It was Boston’s third straight win. The Red Sox have defeated the defending AL East champs four times in five meetings.
Price (2-0) gave up two runs and six hits, struck out nine and didn’t allow a walk. He finished by striking out the side.
Craig Kimbrel struck out the side in the ninth for his fourth save.
Signed to a $217 million, seven-year deal during free agency, the left-hander had his best start for Boston. In his Fenway Park debut with the Red Sox on Monday, he gave up five runs in five innings after allowing two in six at Cleveland on opening day.
The 30-year-old went 9-1 for the Blue Jays last year after he was acquired in a trade from Detroit, helping them earn their first playoff appearance since 1993.
Marco Estrada (1-1) was charged with four runs and eight hits over six innings.
Estrada’s outing began well until he was hit on the left foot by Jackie Bradley Jr.’s hard grounder leading off the third. After a pop out, four of the next five batters got hits and the Red Sox jumped ahead with four runs.
Bogaerts pushed Boston ahead 3-1 with his first homer, a line drive into the Green Monster seats. Travis Shaw added an RBI single.
Jose Bautista’s RBI double gave the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead in the first after Josh Donaldson tripled into the center-field triangle area. Edwin Encarnacion added a run-scoring double in the fourth.
(Copyright (c) 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)