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Rios lifts Blue Jays over Red Sox

Jul 14, 2007 - 4:20 AM BOSTON (Ticker) -- Alex Rios continued his personal domination of the Boston Red Sox's pitching staff en route to a 6-5 victory by the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.

Reed Johnson drove in a run and scored twice for the Blue Jays, who pulled within a game of .500 (44-45) on the strength of three scoreless innings of relief from Scott Downs, Casey Janssen and Jeremy Accardo.

Rios, who was Toronto's lone representative in Tuesday's All-Star Game, had three hits, drove in a run and scored once. The 26-year-old budding star entered Friday's contest with a .354 career batting average against the Red Sox - his best mark against all American League East Division opponents.

Rios pushed across the winning run in the top of the sixth with his second double of the night, plating Johnson.

"I've always liked hitting here," Rios said. "I'm seeing the ball real well. We did a good job of getting to their starter and getting into their bullpen early. That was important."

Vernon Wells had walked to begin the rally against Boston reliever Kyle Snyder (1-2) and came around to score when Johnson blasted a double to deep right.

Blue Jays starter Shaun Marcum (5-3) battled through six innings, surrendering five runs - three earned - and seven hits while striking out six and issuing one walk to earn his fourth win as a starter this season.

The 25-year-old righthander has been a revelation for Toronto this season, entering Friday's game with a 3-1 record and 3.02 ERA in 11 games since being inserted into the rotation on May 13.

Marcum was backed by a stellar relief corps, which held Boston's powerful lineup to three hits over the final three frames.

Accardo pitched the final 1 1/3 innings - retiring David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez with runners on first and second for the final two outs - to earn his 12th save of the season.

"One-run games here aren't real fun," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "But we hung in there. Marcum pitched a great game. We took the lead and we kept it right there. Then the bullpen. It never fails when those guys (Ortiz and Ramirez) roll around somehow. Sometimes we think they must bat out of turn or something."

Julio Lugo singled to lead off the ninth, but Wily Mo Pena struck out. Pena became Boston's third right fielder of the night after starter J.D. Drew left in the top of the fourth with a tight right hamstring and Eric Hinske was lifted when the Blue Jays brought in the lefthanded Downs.

Dustin Pedroia walked, giving the Red Sox runners at first and second with Ortiz and Ramirez coming up. But Ortiz flew out to center and Ramirez lined out to right to end the game.

"That's what we want, is to get guys on base with those guys coming up, but it doesn't always work out," Pedroia said. "You've got to give credit to their guy. He was able to come in and get the job done."

"Lugo gets on, does a great job," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "Pedroia has a great at-bat. We've seen David do that so often and Manny rifles the ball to right. It didn't find the outfield grass. It was a great swing."

For Accardo, it was his 12th save in 14 chances since taking over the closer's role.

"He's got a ton of confidence," Gibbons said. "He's scared of nothing. He's not afraid to go after you either. He's not going to nibble or pick. He's got the closer's mentality and he's doing a great job for us."

Ramirez and Ortiz put Boston on top in the first.

Ortiz beat the shift with a two-out single to left field through the third baseman's vacated position. Ramirez wasted little time driving him home, lifting Marcum's 0-1 offering over the "Green Monster" in left for his 12th homer of the season - first since June 20 - and a 2-0 lead.

Red Sox starter Julian Tavarez failed to hold the lead, yielding four runs in the third. Johnson got the rally started when Tavarez hit him with a pitch.

He moved to second on Rios' double and scored Toronto's first run when Tavarez unleashed a wild pitch.

After Frank Thomas walked, consecutive RBI singles by Troy Glaus and Lyle Overbay gave the Blue Jays a 3-2 lead. Aaron Hill followed with a run-scoring grounder, but further damage was averted when Ramirez and Julio Lugo combined to throw out Hill, who was trying to score on Gregg Zaun's double, at home.

Ramirez and fellow All-Star Mike Lowell gave Tavarez another lead with which to work in the bottom of the frame. After Drew led off with a double and moved to third on a groundout, Ramirez clubbed an RBI single to left to pull Boston within 4-3.

Toronto third baseman Glaus kept alive the inning with an error, which allowed Lowell the chance to swat a two-run triple to deep center field for a 5-4 edge.

Tavarez was replaced by Snyder after surrendering a leadoff single in the fifth. The veteran sinkerballer was charged with four runs and nine hits in just four-plus frames.

"My No. 1 pitch," Tavarez said, referring to his fastball. "I have been throwing it (on) 1-0 and 2-0 (counts), and all of a sudden, I have to go up to the hitter and maybe end up walking him. In this game, every little mistake you make can cost you the game."