SPORTS

Toronto Blue Jays blank Red Sox 7-0

Dhiren Mahiban The Canadian Press
Published Friday, May 8, 2015 10:02PM EDT Last Updated Friday, May 8, 2015 10:45PM EDT

Toronto Blue Jays' Ryan Goins, left, and Devon Travis, right, turn an inning-ending double play over Boston Red Sox's Allen Craig during fourth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Friday, May 8, 2015. (Darren Calabrese/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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TORONTO -- Aaron Sanchez pitched seven-plus shutout innings as the Toronto Blue Jays blanked the Boston Red Sox 7-0 on Friday night at Rogers Centre.

Sanchez (3-2), who hadn't pitched into the seventh in any of his previous six starts this season, allowed just two hits while striking out three and walking five.

His only trouble came in the fourth inning when the 22-year-old issued back-to-back walks before hitting Allen Craig with a pitch. However, Sanchez managed to get Blake Swihart swinging before Xander Bogaerts grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Aaron Loup and Steve Delabar each pitched a scoreless inning in relief.

The Blue Jays (15-15) improved to .500 (2-2) against the Red Sox (13-16) this season. The loss drops Boston to 7-3 in series openers.

Josh Donaldson and Chris Colabello had solo home runs to give the Blue Jays a 2-0 lead after two.

Donaldson got the Jays on the board in the bottom of the first, taking Wade Miley's 1-2 pitch deep to left field for his seventh home run of the season.

Colabello gave Toronto a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second with a solo shot to right field. Colabello is now 7-for-12 with four runs scored and three RBI in three games with Toronto.

Toronto got to Miley again in the sixth.

After Edwin Encarnacion walked and Russell Martin reached on a bloop single, Danny Valencia singled to centre to score Encarnacion from second. Kevin Pillar's sac fly to right scored Martin from third, giving the Blue Jays a 4-0 lead.

Friday was Valencia's first game back after missing two games with a sprained ankle. He was replaced by Ezequiel Carrera to start the seventh after he slid awkwardly into second trying to advance on Pillar's sac fly.

Miley (1-4) went six innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits while striking out eight.

Jose Bautista led off the eighth inning with a triple off the top of the wall in centre field. It was Bautista's first triple since Aug. 21, 2011 in Oakland. He scored on Encarnacion's single to give Toronto a 5-0 lead.

After Martin doubled down the third base line, Carrera's single to left scored both Encarnacion and Martin for the seven-run lead.

Notes -- Blue Jays OF Michael Saunders, who has not played since May 3 in Cleveland due to inflammation in his left knee was eligible to come off the bench and will start Saturday. ΓÇª Red Sox DH David Ortiz, who was suspended for one game on April 21 for bumping into the umpire, served his suspension on Friday after losing his appeal. ΓÇª Blue Jays C Russell Martin received his 2014 Defensive Play of the Year award prior to the first pitch.