BOSTON — Toronto manager John Gibbons may have to rethink his decision to go with a 20-year old closer that’s climbed to the big leagues with limited experience.
Miguel Castro had his second straight tough outing, allowing Mookie Betts’ game-ending RBI single in Boston’s 6-5 comeback win over the Blue Jays on Monday night.
The hard throwing right-hander had a blown save in his previous outing — Saturday in a loss against Tampa Bay — before giving up three ninth-inning hits to the Red Sox.
"This game effects everybody mentally," Gibbons said of Castro, who made the club in spring training after working in Single-A last year. "I hope he understands that the reason he’s in there’s. I put him in there because I’ve got confidence in the kid. You take your lumps a little bit, too. He’s a tough kid."
Russell Martin had a two-run double and rookie Devon Travis belted his sixth homer for the Blue Jays, who were coming off a three-game sweep against Tampa Bay on the first leg of their 10-game road trip.
"To succeed, you have to have a chance to fail. That’s part of it, too," Gibbons said. "Instead of looking over your shoulder: Who’s behind me? Are you going to yank me here and there? Those things make you tougher, but it is a lot to ask for kids."
Pablo Sandoval homered for the second straight day for Boston, hitting a solo shot before leaving the game with a sore neck. He also had a two-run single.
The Red Sox have won the opener of each of their seven series this season.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Xander Bogaerts and Ryan Hanigan singled off Castro (0-2) before moving up on a wild pitch. Betts then line a 96 mile per hour through a drawn-in infield — to the left of shortstop Jose Reyes.
"He throws a 100 so I figured I had to get ready for that," Betts said. "I got a decent pitch to hit."
Koji Uehara (2-1) worked a perfect ninth for the win.
Trailing 5-4 in the eighth, the Red Sox loaded the bases and David Ortiz was walked intentionally before Hanley Ramirez hit a tying sacrifice fly. Left fielder Dalton Pompey saved at least one run with a diving grab in the gap. Third baseman Josh Donaldson ended the inning by making a leaping grab of Daniel Nava’s liner.
Toronto starter Aaron Sanchez allowed four runs, three earned, and struck out seven in 5 2-3 innings.
Boston’s Joe Kelly struck out 10 in six innings, but gave up five runs and five hits.
The Blue Jays jumped ahead 3-0 in the first on an RBI single by Travis and two-run double by Martin.
Boston got two back in the bottom of the inning on Sandoval’s two-run single.
Travis homered into the Green Monster seats in the third, making it 4-2. Kevin Pillar added an RBI single.
Sandoval homered into Toronto’s bullpen in the fifth.
The start of the game was delayed 33 minutes by rain.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: Jose Bautista was back in the lineup after missing five games with a strained right shoulder. He went 0 for 3 while serving as the designated hitter because he’s still unable to throw.
Red Sox: Mike Napoli was out of the lineup because he was sick. … OF Rusney Castillo is expected to DH for Triple-A Pawtucket on Wednesday. He has been sidelined with a shoulder injury since spring training.
PANDA HURT ON BELLY FLOP
Sandoval made a headlong, belly-flop grab on Pompey’s soft liner on attempted sacrifice in the fourth inning. He homered in his next at-bat before leaving in the top of the sixth.
TEMPER, TEMPER
Reyes and Edwin Encarnacion flung their bats and helmets after striking out swinging to end innings.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: RHP Drew Hutchison (2-0, 5.48 ERA) is scheduled to start in the second game of the three-game series. He is coming off his best outing of the season, earning the victory after allowing two runs in eight innings against Baltimore last Thursday.
Red Sox: RHP Clay Buchholz (1-2, 4.84 ERA) is coming off a solid outing last Wednesday when he gave up just one earned run in six innings against Tampa Bay while posting his fifth career double-digit strikeout outing of his career with 10.
