BOSTON -- The Red Sox defeated the Blue Jays, 3-0, to snag a second consecutive win over Toronto at Fenway Park on Wednesday night.
With the victory, Boston improved to 69-64 while Toronto dropped to 65-70.
ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
Boston broke out of its five-game losing streak on Tuesday -- which included a doubleheader makeup defeat against the Blue Jays -- which gave the in-the-middle-of-the-pack Red Sox club a starting point to begin mustering up some late-season momentum. Right-hander Brayan Bello continued that effort with a dominant helping hand on the mound.
Bello worked the bare minimum in run support -- Boston scored once, in the first inning -- yet still managed to hold the Blue Jays to two hits worth of an offensive response. The 25-year-old overshadowed Toronto's Chris Bassitt, who held the Red Sox to one run in 6 2/3 innings pitched, by carrying Boston and giving the bullpen a breather.
The Blue Jays, not once, threatened to even up the slim 1-0 score while Bello was on the bump, going 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position while leaving two runners stranded on the basepaths against Boston's starter.
Lights-out pitching remained the theme from start to finish for the Red Sox as right-handed closer Kenley Jansen, too, held Toronto scoreless with a 1-2-3 ninth inning, giving the 36-year-old save No. 25 of the season while also securing a chance for Boston to secure a series win over the Blue Jays on Thursday night.
The Red Sox can go for a third straight trip to the win column before hitting the road for a six-game trip in Detroit and New York.
STARS OF THE GAME
-- Bello was spectacular from start to finish, giving the Red Sox eight scoreless innings of work against Toronto. He held the Blue Jays to two hits while striking out nine, receiving a well-earned round of applause from Fenway Park's attendance after striking out Toronto's Ernie Clement to cap off the outing.
-- Boston slugger Tyler O'Neill pitched in with some last-minute insurance by belting a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning off Toronto left-hander Brendon Little. O'Neill went 1-for-4 at the plate with a perfectly-timed swing.
-- Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu supplied the scoreless-breaking RBI in the first inning, finishing the night 1-for-4 at the plate for Boston.
ON DECK AT NESN
The Red Sox will wrap up their series with the Blue Jays on Thursday night. First pitch from Fenway Park is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET, and you can catch the game, plus a full hour of pregame coverage,
