Red Sox bolster playoff hopes with crucial win over Blue Jays

Nathaniel Lowe and Carlos Narvaez had two RBIs apiece and the visiting Boston Red Sox defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 on Tuesday night.

Both had key hits in Boston's three-run sixth inning that broke a 1-1 tie in the opener of the three-game series.

The Red Sox (86-71) are trying to secure a playoff spot, while the Blue Jays (90-67) confirmed their postseason berth with a win on Sunday that ended a four-game losing streak.

The Blue Jays had their lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East cut to one game. The Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox 3-2 on Tuesday.

Boston had a 9-3 advantage in hits and took a 1-0 lead in the second against Kevin Gausman (10-11). Masataka Yoshida led off with a double into the right-field corner and scored on Lowe's two-out single to left. Boston further threatened when Wilyer Abreu blooped a double down the left-field line, but Narvaez lined out to right.

Toronto loaded the bases against Lucas Giolito in the bottom of the second on two walks and shortstop Trevor Story's second error of the game. George Springer's shot past third base was ruled foul and then he was called out on strikes.

Toronto tied the game in the fourth. Nathan Lukes doubled to right center, took third on Davis Schneider's single to left and scored on Andres Gimenez's fielder's choice grounder.

Justin Wilson (4-1) replaced Giolito in the fifth after a two-out walk. Giolito allowed one run, three hits and four walks with three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

The Red Sox regained the lead in the sixth. Romy Gonzalez doubled to left with one out, stopped at third on Ceddanne Rafaela's single to left and scored on Lowe's single to right. Rafaela was out in a rundown between third and home on Abreu's grounder to first. Narvaez lined a two-run double to right and Louis Varland replaced Gausman, who allowed four runs, nine hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

Boston's Garrett Whitlock pitched a perfect seventh inning with two strikeouts.

Justin Slaten took over for Boston in the eighth and pitched a clean inning.

Aroldis Chapman pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 32nd save of the season.

--Field Level Media