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Lowrie lifts Red Sox in extra innings

Aug 24, 2008 - 11:44 PM TORONTO (Ticker) -- Jed Lowrie helped the Boston Red Sox head to Yankee Stadium on a high note.

The rookie homered in the 11th inning Sunday, leading the Red Sox to a 6-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in the rubber game of a three-game series.

Lowrie, hitless in four previous at-bats, deposited a 1-1 pitch from Brandon League (0-2) over the right field wall for his second home run of the season. It was his second career blast and first while hitting lefthanded.

"Obviously, it's a big thrill - especially this time of year, because every win counts so much," Lowrie said.

Lowrie, playing third base, also made a relay throw to the plate to nail a runner in the sixth inning. The rookie initially replaced Julio Lugo when the shortstop suffered a quadriceps injury last month but recently has shifted to third to replace Mike Lowell, who is on the 15-day disabled list with an oblique strain.

"(Lowrie) continues to impact the game, and we'll take it. We need it," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "He's stepped in and been a valuable member of our ballclub."

Boston is off Monday before opening a three-game road series Tuesday night against New York. The Red Sox (79-55), who visit the Bronx for the final time this season, are five games ahead of the Yankees (74-60) in the American League wild card standings.

"Any series we have with New York is going to be a big series, but when we come off of a win like this, I feel like everyone will show up and just have a little more energy and be able to feed off this game," Lowrie said.

"It was a great win," Francona said. "We've got a day to regroup, and we probably need to."

Jonathan Papelbon (5-3) pitched two scoreless innings to record the win.

Vernon Wells gave the Blue Jays a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning, swatting a two-run homer off Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka.

"The minute you make a mistake, Vernon Wells hits it 400 feet," Francona said.

Matsuzaka lasted six innings, allowing five runs and eight hits while striking out eight and walking one. The Japanese righthander had allowed just five earned runs in four previous starts - all wins - this month and had won six of his past seven outings.

Dustin Pedroia gave the Red Sox the lead with a three-run homer in the third inning off A. J. Burnett. Kevin Youkilis added an RBI single later in the frame to give Boston a 4-2 edge.

Toronto got within a run on Lyle Overbay's 11th home run of the season in the fourth inning, then took a 5-4 lead in the sixth on RBI doubles by Wells and Rod Barajas.

Coco Crisp pulled the Red Sox even with a solo homer in the seventh off Burnett, setting the stage for extra innings.

"The loss is my fault," Burnett said. "I had the lead twice and gave it back both times with balls over the plate."

Burnett, who had won his previous six starts, surrendered five runs and seven hits in seven innings. He struck out seven and walked three.

After Lowrie's heroics, Manny Delcarmen relieved Papelbon in the bottom of the 11th and notched his first save of the season, working around a leadoff walk to Wells.