Blue Jays drop second straight game with 4-3 loss to Red Sox

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marco Estrada leaves the field after being pulled off the game against Boston Red Sox during third inning American League baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, June 30, 2015. (Frank Gunn / The Canadian Press)

TORONTO - Good or bad, Marco Estrada does his best to forget every start.

Estrada pitched only 2 1/3 innings on Tuesday, giving up four runs - two unearned - on three hits and four walks as the Blue Jays fell to the Boston Red Sox 4-3 on Tuesday night for Toronto's second straight loss.

"By the time I get home I'll forget about this game," said Estrada, whose record dropped to 5-4. "I don't like to ever think about them, good or bad, to be honest with you. By the next day it's a whole new clean slate, new page. You have to forget about it."

Jose Reyes had two hits, including a two-run homer, as Toronto (41-38) pulled to within a run of the Red Sox in the seventh inning. The Blue Jays have lost back-to-back games against Boston. Relievers Todd Redmond, Bo Schultz and Steve Delabar combined to shut out the Red Sox the rest of the way.

"They gave us a shot. They held the game in check," said Toronto manager John Gibbons of his bullpen. "It's one of those games where, the way it started, it could get out of hand quick. We just weren't able to really get anything going.

"We got the home run from Reyes, felt good, kinda perked everyone up a little bit. But that was it."

David Ortiz and Jackie Bradley Jr. both hit home runs for Boston (36-43), which has won three in a row. Mookie Betts had a pair of hits and also reached base on an error.

Eduardo Rodrgiuez (4-2) struck out four, giving up an earned run over six innings. Tommy Layne and Alexi Ogando pitched in relief. Koji Uehara earned his 18th save of the season in the ninth.

Estrada struggled with control in the first, giving up four walks after Betts reached first on an error by second baseman Devon Travis to lead off the inning. Walks to Mike Napoli and Alejandro De Aza cashed in two runs for a 2-0 Boston lead.

"I went out, threw the bullpen, thought I made some good pitches there and I was feeling pretty good," said Estrada. "Went out and as soon as the game started I just wasn't making pitches.

"I know these things are going to happen but I still got to battle through it."

Estrada's problems continued in the second when he gave up a home run to Bradley to start the inning. The Boston outfielder wasted no time rounding the bases, hustling to home plate.

"With me, I barely get them over the fence," said Bradley, who had his first home run in 248 at-bats. "I don't really have time to sit there and look at it."

Estrada then retired the next three hitters to keep the Red Sox's lead to 3-0.

Ortiz continued Estrada's troubles with a home run to deep right to lead off the third inning.

Redmond came in to relieve Estrada two hitters later after Pablo Sandoval popped out and Napoli hit a single to centre field. Redmond got Toronto out of the inning without allowing any more runs.

Chris Colabello got the Blue Jays on the board in the fourth, driving in Edwin Encarnacion on a one-out hit to centre field to make it 4-1. Encarnacion scored from second and Colabello made it to second on the throw from the outfield. Although Colabello advanced to third on a ground out by Danny Valencia, Toronto couldn't add any more runs.

Reyes pulled the Blue Jays to within a run in the seventh inning, putting a two-out pitch over the left-field wall to bring home Kevin Pillar.