Charles McAdoo, recalled from Triple-A Buffalo before Monday’s game, hit a solo home run and the Toronto Blue Jays held off the visiting Boston Red Sox 2-1.
Andres Gimenez added an RBI single in the opener of a four-game series. The Red Sox, who had been the hottest team in the majors, have lost three in a row.
Simeon Woods Richardson (2-7) allowed four hits and a run in three innings of relief for Toronto, which has won three of its last four games.
The Blue Jays have won seven of 10 against the Red Sox this season.
Louis Varland survived a leadoff double in the ninth to earn his 25th save of the season.
Toronto starter Jameson Taillon left after four scoreless innings with right forearm discomfort and was replaced by Woods Richardson, who was recalled from Triple-A on Monday.
Taillon gave up one hit and issued three walks with three strikeouts.
Woods Richardson survived a pair of two-out singles in the fifth.
McAdoo led off the home fifth with a homer to right on an 0-1 cutter from Sonny Gray (14-3) for the game’s first run. McAdoo started at third base with Kazuma Okamoto scratched because of a bruised left knee.
Toronto added a run in the sixth. George Springer singled with one out, stole second and slid home safely on a single to right by Andres Gimenez. A strong throw from Wilyer Abreu beat Springer to the plate but catcher Connor Wong dropped the ball.
Gray gave up two runs, six hits and one walk with four strikeouts in six innings.
Boston’s Anthony Seigler and Wong opened the seventh with singles. Nick Sogard forced Wong at second with a one-hopper to first. Ceddanne Rafaela hit a one-out flyout to center but it resulted in a double play when Sogard was doubled up after the runners thought there were two outs, as mistakenly indicated on the scoreboard. After a review by replay officials in New York, it was ruled that Seigler had scored after the catch before the third out was recorded at first despite not tagging up because the Blue Jays had not appealed to third.
Tyler Rogers pitched around a walk and a stolen base in the eighth.
Righty Lazardo Estrada and utilityman Davis Schneider were optioned to Buffalo before to open spots for Woods Richardson and McAdoo.
