Blue Jays rout Red Sox for 11th straight win, matching team record
The way the Toronto Blue Jays are playing these days, even the last hitter in their lineup is plenty dangerous.
The Blue Jays won their 11th straight game to tie the team record, routing the Boston Red Sox 13-5 Sunday as ninth-place batter Ryan Goins homered, doubled and drove in five runs.
"Honestly, I think everybody's coming here every day knowing we're going to win," Goins. "You put that with probably having the best one-through-six in the whole league and it makes it easier for seven, eight, nine."
Danny Valencia, batting seventh, also homered as the highest-scoring club in the majors completed a sweep at Fenway Park and sent Boston to its season-worst sixth straight loss.
This is the fourth time Toronto has won 11 in a row, most recently in 2013. The Blue Jays can set the team mark Monday night when star shortstop Jose Reyes returns to Citi Field to play the New York Mets.
"The one word that describes it is `fun,'" Goins said.
The Blue Jays have scored 88 runs in their streak, including 31 this weekend in Boston.
Goins' three-run homer capped a six-run fourth inning as the Blue Jays roughed up rookie Eduardo Rodriguez (2-1).
According to research provided by the Red Sox, Rodriguez was the first pitcher in major league history to go six or more innings and not allow more than one run or three hits in each of his first three starts.
"He's been great and you can tell why and he's going to be great, but we're some kind of hot right now," manager John Gibbons said.
Marco Estrada (4-3) gave up five runs in five innings.
David Ortiz hit a three-run homer for Boston, which fell 10 games under .500.
"We're not in a good place right now as a team, but it's not because we're not giving effort," Boston manager John Farrell said. "We're not executing completely."
Toronto opened a 10-0 lead in the fifth. Chris Colabello had a RBI single and Russell Martin chased Rodriguez with a run-scoring double, with Red Sox fans booing when left fielder Hanley Ramirez misplayed a carom in the corner.
Valencia then hit reliever Steven Wright's first pitch completely over the Green Monster seats.
Rodriguez gave up nine runs on eight hits and three walks in 4-2/3 innings.
Asked what he learned from the outing, he said: "Throw better pitches."
"Throw the pitch exactly where I want," he said.
The Red Sox answered with five in the bottom of the inning. Dustin Pedroia and Ramirez had RBI singles before Ortiz homered.
Goins' two-run double came in a three-run seventh.
NICE GRAB
Blue Jays CF Kevin Pillar came charging in and made a diving grab on Alejandro De Aza's liner in right center.
SUN TROUBLES
The Red Sox lost two balls in the sun -- one by 2B Pedroia -- and another dropped between four players in short center. Blue Jays RF Jose Bautista also lost one.
"Obviously (it was) pretty bad anytime you see Pedroia fighting the sun," Gibbons said.
HOOPS GUY
Celtics forward Kelly Olynyk watched the game from the right-field roof deck.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Blue Jays: After the game, Gibbons said RHP Aaron Sanchez will be placed on the 15-day DL with a strained muscle in the back of his shoulder.
Red Sox: 3B Pablo Sandoval was back in the starting lineup after leaving Saturday's loss with tightness in his right quadriceps. ... RHP Justin Masterson, on the 15-day DL with right shoulder tendinitis, will make another rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Tuesday. ... Farrell said he'd know if CF Mookie Betts would be back in the lineup Monday after taking BP Sunday. He ran into the wall near Boston's bullpen on Friday. ... Slumping Mike Napoli was rested for the second straight day, but is expected back in the lineup Monday.