Jonatan Clase homers as Jays end Red Sox's playoff hopes

Jonatan Clase collected three hits, including his first career major league home run, as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Boston Red Sox 6-1 on Thursday night.

Alejandro Kirk added three hits and three RBIs for the Blue Jays (74-85), who ended a five-game losing streak and prevented a three-game sweep. The Red Sox (80-79) had their four-game winning streak end and saw their faint playoff hopes vanish.

Toronto right-hander Kevin Gausman (14-11) allowed one run, four hits and three walks while striking out three in six innings.

Boston right-hander Richard Fitts (0-1) gave up four runs, six hits and two walks with two strikeouts in five innings. They were the first earned runs he had allowed in four career major league starts. Boston has lost all four of his starts even though he owns a 1.74 ERA.

Toronto scored twice in the fourth, the first runs permitted by Fitts since the Chicago White Sox scored two unearned runs against him on Sept. 8 in his major league debut.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. led off the double high off the center field wall. He scored on a double to left by Kirk, who extended his hit streak to 17 games. One out later, Ernie Clement added an RBI single to left.

Toronto took a 4-0 lead in the fifth. Tyler Heineman walked, Clase singled and Nathan Lukes advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt. Kirk hit a two-out, two-run single to deep right but was thrown out trying for a double.

Boston scored once in the sixth. Jarren Duran led off with a double to left, Wilyer Abreu walked, and Triston Casas hit an RBI single to right to cut the deficit to 4-1. The Red Sox subsequently left the bases loaded.

Brendon Little replaced Gausman in the seventh and pitched around two singles with the help of a double play.

Joey Loperfido led off the home seventh with a single against Josh Winckowski, and Clase homered to right with one out.

Toronto's Chad Green worked around a single in the ninth.

--Field Level Media