It was Russ Adams to the rescue for the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.
Adams broke a 2-2 deadlock with a pinch-hit, two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Blue Jays rallied for a 4-3 victory over the visiting Boston Red Sox in front of 32,290 fans at the Rogers Centre.
A.J. Burnett throws to first base for an out in Tuesday's 4-3 Blue Jays win.
(Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)
It was stunning setback for Boston, which has watched its 12-game lead in the American League East Division dwindle to 2½ games over the New York Yankees.
"I don't think anybody is thinking about that," Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia said. "We just have to play better than we have been, that's about it."
Toronto, reduced to playing spoiler, trails by 13½ games.
"We're just trying to excite the Big Smoke, the big T.O.," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons quipped. "There is no question this time of year, when you're playing the top teams and you're out of it, it brings some incentive."
Adams's winning hit came off former Cy Young Award winner Eric Gagne (3-2), and in support of A.J. Burnett (9-7), who pitched brilliantly for the Blue Jays (76-75).
"I don't know how to put it into words," Gagne said. "Just very frustrating.
"I just didn't throw strikes. You don't get people out if you don't throw strikes."
Gagne, from Mascouche, Que., retired the first two batters in the eigth before walking Frank Thomas, who was lifted in favour of pinch-runner Curtis Thigpen.
Aaron Hill singled and Fredericton's Matt Stairs walked to load the bases for Zaun, who walked on a 3-1 pitch to force in the tying run.
"Everything looked like he wanted to throw it through the backstop instead of remembering what makes him Eric Gagne," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "I think he got a little revved up."
That brought Adams to the plate and he lined the decisive double beyond the reach of right-fielder J.D. Drew, who relayed the ball back to the infield in time to nail a sliding Zaun at home for the third out.
"I was looking for a fastball," Adams said. "He was in a pretty tight spot."
"It was nice to get that big hit," Burnett said. "I think I went nuts in the dugout."
Burnett tried to complete the contest, but was relieved by Scott Downs after giving up a solo home run to Julio Lugo with two out in the top of the ninth inning.
Downs struck out rookie Jacoby Ellsbury to preserve the win for Burnett, who scattered nine hits, walked three and struck out 11.
"Whether in it or out of it [the playoff race], these guys don't give up," Burnett said.
Burnett superb
Burnett has been superb since being activated Aug. 12 from the disabled list, posting a 4-1 record over eight starts.
He is 3-0 in four career starts versus the Red Sox (90-62), losers in four of their last five games.
"Even though you're out of it, you have to play ball and spoil some teams," Burnett said.
Vernon Wells drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the first inning, and scored on an RBI double to right field from Alex Rios to put Toronto ahead 1-0.
But Boston tallied runs in the fourth and fifth innings to pull out the win.
In the fourth, Mike Lowell singled and Drew walked to put runners aboard for Jason Varitek, who smacked an RBI double to left field.
In the fifth, Pedroia singled and circled the bases to score on David Ortiz's RBI double to centre field.
"We were able to manufacture a few runs today against a guy who had lights-out stuff," Varitek said.
Boston starter Jon Lester lasted 6 2/3 innings, surrendering just one run on three hits and four walks with five strikeouts.
Of note, Stairs moved past Terry Puhl of Melville, Sask., into second place overall in games played by a Canadian with 1,532.
"I never thought I'd make it to the major leagues," Stairs said. "To become the second Canadian in games played, one, it's an honour, two, I worked my ass off all those years and maintained the swing."
Larry Walker, from Maple Ridge, B.C., played 1,988 games.
