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Jays outslug Red Sox

Apr 11, 2012 - 6:09 AM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Edwin Encarnacion finished 2-for-3 with a solo homer, two RBI and scored twice as Toronto downed Boston, 7-3, in the middle test of a three-game series from Rogers Centre.

J.P. Arencibia added a two-run single and Brett Lawrie collected two hits and drove in another run for the Blue Jays, who dropped the opener on Monday.

Kyle Drabek (1-0) worked 5 1/3 innings, giving up three hits and a run with three walks and four strikeouts.

"It was good to see [Drabek] continue the progression and the path that he established in spring training," said Toronto manager John Farrell.

Adrian Gonzalez drove in all three runs for the Red Sox, who have lost four of five to open the season.

Daniel Bard's first major-league start (0-1) didn't go as planned. He lasted five-plus frames, charged with eight hits and five runs despite fanning six.

Toronto turned a two-run lead into a five-run edge in the sixth.

Encarnacion worked a leadoff walk, then stole second. Lawrie singled to short, moving Encarnacion up, then after Justin Thomas came on for Bard, also swiped second. Eric Thames walked to load the bases then Arencibia's single brought in two and Colby Rasmus lifted a sacrifice fly to left to make it 6-1.

Encarnacion's seventh-inning blast pushed the lead to six, but the Sox rallied against Casey Janssen in the ninth, pulling within 7-3 on a two-out, two-run ground-rule double with the bases loaded. David Ortiz fanned looking to end the game.

The Jays scratched out a run in the first as Yunel Escobar led off with a single, Adam Lind doubled with two down then Encarnacion's ball to deep short scored Escobar.

It was 3-0 in the third on an one-out RBI single from Lind and a two-out run- scoring hit from Lawrie.

Boston hit the scoreboard in the sixth on a sac fly from Gonzalez, but after Ortiz walked and Drabek gave way to Jason Frasor, Kevin Youkilis hit into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.

"[Frasor] threw a splitter that kind of cut and went away," Youkilis said. "He made a good pitch. Seems like every time I face that guy he makes some good pitches."

Game Notes

Bard made 192 straight appearances from the bullpen prior to Tuesday, the most in Red Sox history for any pitcher before making his initial start...Dustin Pedroia had three hits and Youkilis ended up with two for Boston...Escobar hit safely twice and scored twice...Toronto finished 5-for-10 with runners in scoring position.