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Red Sox, Peavy deal Buehrle first loss

Apr 26, 2014 - 6:39 AM Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - Will Middlebrooks and Dustin Pedroia both drove in a pair of runs to back seven strong innings from Jake Peavy, and Boston took down Toronto, 8-1, in the opener of a three-game series.

A.J. Pierzynski and Jackie Bradley each finished with three hits, two runs scored and an RBI, while David Ortiz added a solo shot for the Red Sox, who were coming off a series loss in the Bronx.

Peavy (1-0) gave up a Juan Francisco homer and just four other hits, fanning seven and walking two.

Mark Buehrle (4-1) suffered his first defeat of the season after allowing 12 hits and seven runs -- six earned -- while issuing three walks without a strikeout over 5 1/3 frames for the Blue Jays, who have dropped three in a row and six of nine.

"I thought we had a very good offensive approach, we didn't expand the zone on Buehrle," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "We got an early lead, Jake made it stand up, and just a well played game all the way around."

The Sox picked up four runs in the first inning to seize control of the contest. Mike Napoli walked, Xander Bogaerts doubled with one out and a sacrifice fly from Pierzynski plated Napoli ahead of Middlebrooks' RBI double. Bradley followed with a double, then Pedroia brought home two with a single.

"I wasn't hitting my spots as good as I was in the past," said Buehrle. "They got some base hits. Overall, too many strikes in the middle of the zone. They took advantage of it."

Ortiz increased Boston's lead to 5-0 in the second on his fifth homer of the season, and the Red Sox chased home two more in the sixth on Middlebrooks' double to score Pierzynski and a bases-loaded walk from Napoli which scored Bradley.

Francisco finally dented Peavy on his one-out solo shot in the home seventh, then Brett Lawrie drew a walk, but the craft left-hander finished his outing by fanning Colby Rasmus swinging and retiring Ryan Goins on a grounder to first.

Chris Capuano retired the Jays in order in the home eighth, and Andrew Miller worked around an infield single from Dioner Navarro to toss a scoreless ninth.

Pierzynski slugged a one-out double in the top of the final frame, moved up on a groundout and came in on Bradley's double for an 8-1 score.

Game Notes

Middlebrooks was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to the game, and the Red Sox optioned infielder Brock Holt to Triple-A Pawtucket to make room on the roster ... Peavy picked up his first win since beating Colorado on Sept. 25, 2013 ... Buehrle last gave up as many as 12 hits and six earned runs in a start when he surrendered 12 hits and eight earned runs to the Angels on Sept. 10, 2013.