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Lawrie lifts Jays over Red Sox in extras

Sep 6, 2011 - 2:31 AM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Brett Lawrie's solo homer with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning sent Toronto past Boston, 1-0, in the opener of a four-game series from Rogers Centre.

Lawrie grooved a 1-1 pitch from Dan Wheeler (2-2) into the second deck in left-center to end the contest. It made a winner of Shawn Camp (3-3), who worked a scoreless top of the 11th.

"I'm just glad that I could help the team win, and get myself into the situation where I could try to get on base and do some damage for some guys behind me," Lawrie said. "But luckily enough, I got a pitch I could handle."

Starter Henderson Alvarez scattered four hits and one walk while fanning four over six scoreless innings for the Blue Jays, who snapped a three-game slide.

Josh Beckett struck out six and gave up three hits, but lasted just 3 2/3 innings before leaving with a sprained right ankle for the Red Sox, who have lost four of five and slid 2 1/2 games out of first in the AL East. The Yankees topped Baltimore earlier Monday.

Beckett departed with two outs in the fourth with the injury in a scoreless deadlock.

"I did fall in the bullpen trying to get off the mound and take a shirt off," Beckett said. "I didn't feel it between there, I didn't feel it until those last two pitches."

Alfredo Aceves came on and worked 3 2/3 scoreless innings, during which he fanned four walked three but allowed only one hit.

The Sox stranded two runners in the fourth, then wasted two men in scoring position in the seventh. Boston put runners on first and second in the eighth, but Kevin Youkilis looked at a called third strike to end the inning.

Toronto couldn't produce a run with two on in the home half, and a one- out double by Josh Reddick in the Red Sox ninth went for naught.

Jonathan Papelbon got into trouble in the home 10th, loading the bases on a single from Jose Molina and walks to pinch-hitter Mark Teahen and Jose Bautista, but worked out of the jam by fanning Adam Lind swinging.

Game Notes

Toronto has won four of the six meetings at home against Boston this season, but has won just five of 13 overall matchups in 2011...The Red Sox fell to 30-13 in day games...Prior to the game, the Blue Jays activated pitcher Dustin McGowan from the 60-day disabled list...The 29-year-old hasn't pitched in the majors since July 8, 2008 as he recovered from a torn right labrum...Also before the contest, the Red Sox designated infielder Drew Sutton for assignment, and recalled catcher Ryan Lavarnway, third baseman Nate Spears and pitcher Kyle Weiland from Triple-A Pawtucket.