Houck works 5 shutout innings, Abreu reaches base 3 times as Red Sox beat Blue Jays 4-1
Houck works 5 shutout innings, Abreu reaches base 3 times as Red Sox beat Blue Jays 4-1
Boston Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck works against the Toronto Blue Jays during fourth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Ernie Clement (28) tumbles as Boston Red Sox’s Jarren Duran, back, steals second base during fourth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox’s Wilyer Abreu hits an RBI double against the Toronto Blue Jays during third-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox’s Vaughn Grissom (5) hits an RBI against the Toronto Blue Jays during first-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox’s Nick Sogard steals home to score against the Toronto Blue Jays during fourth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck, left, throws past Toronto Blue Jays’ Addison Barger, right, who runs during third-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox’s Wilyer Abreu, front left, celebrates after his RBI double as Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Ernie Clement, right, looks on during third-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox’s Danny Jansen acknowledges the home crowd as the former Toronto Blue Jays player returns for a baseball game against the Blue Jays in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Bowden Francis reacts after walking a Boston Red Sox batter during third-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt throws against the Boston Red Sox during first-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck looks to throw to first to force out Toronto Blue Jays’ Addison Barger during second-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Luis Guerrero, left, and third baseman Nick Sogard, right, react after Toronto Blue Jays’ Jonatan Clase popped out during eighth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox’s Jarren Duran watches his triple against the Toronto Blue Jays during sixth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays’ George Springer reacts after flying out against the Boston Red Sox during eighth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story, right, throws to first base as Toronto Blue Jays pinch-runner Joey Loperfido, left, is out at second to close a Red Sox win in a baseball game in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck works against the Toronto Blue Jays during fourth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck works against the Toronto Blue Jays during fourth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck works against the Toronto Blue Jays during fourth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Ernie Clement (28) tumbles as Boston Red Sox’s Jarren Duran, back, steals second base during fourth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Ernie Clement (28) tumbles as Boston Red Sox’s Jarren Duran, back, steals second base during fourth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox’s Wilyer Abreu hits an RBI double against the Toronto Blue Jays during third-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox’s Wilyer Abreu hits an RBI double against the Toronto Blue Jays during third-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox’s Vaughn Grissom (5) hits an RBI against the Toronto Blue Jays during first-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox’s Vaughn Grissom (5) hits an RBI against the Toronto Blue Jays during first-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox’s Nick Sogard steals home to score against the Toronto Blue Jays during fourth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox’s Nick Sogard steals home to score against the Toronto Blue Jays during fourth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck, left, throws past Toronto Blue Jays’ Addison Barger, right, who runs during third-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck, left, throws past Toronto Blue Jays’ Addison Barger, right, who runs during third-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox’s Wilyer Abreu, front left, celebrates after his RBI double as Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Ernie Clement, right, looks on during third-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox’s Wilyer Abreu, front left, celebrates after his RBI double as Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Ernie Clement, right, looks on during third-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox’s Danny Jansen acknowledges the home crowd as the former Toronto Blue Jays player returns for a baseball game against the Blue Jays in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox’s Danny Jansen acknowledges the home crowd as the former Toronto Blue Jays player returns for a baseball game against the Blue Jays in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Bowden Francis reacts after walking a Boston Red Sox batter during third-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Bowden Francis reacts after walking a Boston Red Sox batter during third-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt throws against the Boston Red Sox during first-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt throws against the Boston Red Sox during first-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck looks to throw to first to force out Toronto Blue Jays’ Addison Barger during second-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck looks to throw to first to force out Toronto Blue Jays’ Addison Barger during second-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Luis Guerrero, left, and third baseman Nick Sogard, right, react after Toronto Blue Jays’ Jonatan Clase popped out during eighth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Luis Guerrero, left, and third baseman Nick Sogard, right, react after Toronto Blue Jays’ Jonatan Clase popped out during eighth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox’s Jarren Duran watches his triple against the Toronto Blue Jays during sixth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox’s Jarren Duran watches his triple against the Toronto Blue Jays during sixth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays’ George Springer reacts after flying out against the Boston Red Sox during eighth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays’ George Springer reacts after flying out against the Boston Red Sox during eighth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story, right, throws to first base as Toronto Blue Jays pinch-runner Joey Loperfido, left, is out at second to close a Red Sox win in a baseball game in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story, right, throws to first base as Toronto Blue Jays pinch-runner Joey Loperfido, left, is out at second to close a Red Sox win in a baseball game in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck works against the Toronto Blue Jays during fourth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck works against the Toronto Blue Jays during fourth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
TORONTO (AP) — Tanner Houck pitched five shutout innings, Wilyer Abreu reached base three times and the Boston Red Sox extended their winning streak to three games with a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night.
The Red Sox opened their final road trip — a three-game set in Toronto — by improving to 4-0 in Canada this season.
Boston used 10 walks and five hits to win its 79th game. The Red Sox finished 78-84 in each of the last two seasons.
“We needed to be relentless in the strike zone and we were,” manager Alex Cora said. “Guys did an amazing job working counts, taking their walks.”
Abreu walked and scored on Vaughn Grissom’s sacrifice fly in the second, hit an RBI double in the third, and singled in the fifth, joining Jarren Duran as the only Boston players with multiple hits.
Houck (9-10) carried a perfect game into the fifth inning before walking Addison Barger with two outs. Ernie Clement followed with a single, but the 28-year-old right-hander got Jonatan Clase to fly out. Houck threw just 57 pitches, 36 strikes, in his first winning start since July 11 against Oakland.
“Felt good with everything, felt in synch with the body, felt strong,” Houck said. “I just went out there, trusted the defense and pounded the zone the whole night. It kind of felt like I had command over all the pitches.”
Houck made his 30th start of the season, reaching the mark for the first time.
“As a starter, that’s kind of what you strive for,” he said.
Leo Jiménez and George Springer hit back-to-back singles off Greg Weissert to start the sixth inning for Toronto, but Nathan Lukes grounded into a double play and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded out to end the threat.
Guerrero went 0 for 4 and saw his average slip to .324.
Boston left-hander Zach Penrod got two outs in the seventh and right-hander Luis Guerrero pitched 1 1/3 innings before righty Chris Martin pitched around Spencer Horwitz’s RBI single in the ninth.
Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt (10-14) walked a career-high seven in 4 1/3 innings, two of which came around to score. The 35-year-old right-hander was charged with three runs and four hits, losing his second consecutive start against Boston.
Bassitt has won just once in his last eight outings, but insisted he wants to make his final start of the year against Miami in Game 162 on Sunday.
“I’m healthy, I’m good, so I’m going to start,” Bassitt said. “I don’t believe that just because it’s the last game and we’re out of it, I shouldn’t throw. That’s kind of, I wouldn’t say embarrassing, but it’s not fair to the bullpen.”
Toronto fell to 38-38 at home in front of a crowd of 22,254, its smallest of the season.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Red Sox: Closer and four-time All-Star Kenley Jansen will miss the rest of the season after being placed on the 15-day injured list because of a sore right shoulder.
UP NEXT
RHP Bowden Francis (8-5, 3.47 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday against Red Sox RHP Brayan Bello (14-8, 4.49) in the second game of the three-game series.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb