Stroman hit hard by Red Sox again, Blue Jays lose 6-4

Boston Red Sox's David Ortiz, right, follows through on a two-run single in front of Toronto Blue Jays' Russell Martin during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 4, 2016, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

BOSTON - Marcus Stroman should be glad he won't see the Boston Red Sox for a while.

Stroman was hit hard by Boston for the third time this season, giving up six runs over 5 2/3 innings in the Toronto Blue Jays' 6-4 loss to the Red Sox on Saturday.

The loss was Toronto's third in its past 12 games.

“They're a good lineup, one through nine,” Stroman said. “They're obviously on a great run. They're all very hot, but I just wasn't executing. Just got to kind of find out what's been going on where I can kind of get back to where I've been in the past.”

Stroman (5-2) gave up nine hits, walked five and struck out four. He's allowed at least six runs in three of his last four starts.

The righty has given up 18 runs over 16 1/3 innings in his three starts against the Red Sox, getting a loss and two no-decisions.

“It was a battle for him, really typical Fenway Park game,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “They swing the bats and got some big hits for them.”

After this weekend, the Blue Jays aren't scheduled to see the Red Sox until early September in Toronto.

David Ortiz added two more RBIs to his torrid start in what he says will be his final season and Mookie Betts had two hits and drove in two runs for the Red Sox.

The 40-year-old Ortiz entered the day leading the majors in RBIs and raised his total to 53, helping Boston snap a three-game losing streak. He announced his retirement on his birthday in November.

Knuckleballer Steven Wright (6-4) gave up three unearned runs, five walks and three hits in five innings, striking out three, but was lifted due to a high pitch count.

Craig Kimbrel worked the ninth for his 13th save.

Leading 5-4 in the sixth inning, Boston benefited from an overturned review on a play at home plate.

Betts doubled into the left-field corner and Blake Swihart tried to score from first but was called out by plate umpire Jerry Meals. After a lengthy review, it was ruled Swihart touched the plate before catcher Russell Martin's tag.

Ortiz's broken-bat, two-run single with runners on second and third gave Boston a 3-0 edge in the third.

Justin Smoak's RBI single in the fourth sliced it to 3-1 before Betts' run-scoring single pushed Boston back in front by three in the bottom half.

Toronto then cut it to 4-3 in the fifth when Wright struck out Michael Saunders for what would have been the final out, but the ball bounced off catcher Ryan Hanigan's glove for a passed ball.

Ryan Goins scored from third and Jose Bautista from second when Hanigan threw late to first with the plate left uncovered.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Blue Jays: 3B Josh Donaldson was sidelined with a sore right thumb he jammed about a week ago. He aggravated it in Friday's win, and the club's hoping he won't need a DL stint.

Red Sox: Ortiz was in the lineup after getting hit on the left wrist by a pitch on Friday. “Anytime a hitter gets a pitch around the wrist you're always concerned because that's an integral part of the swing,” manager John Farrell said. “There was soreness last night, but he came out of the game fine.” ... LF Swihart left the game after injuring his left ankle running into a side wall trying to match a catch. ... Hanigan left with a strained neck.

LIKE A KID

Patriots WR Danny Amendola watched the Red Sox take batting practice, going unnoticed for a while near Boston's dugout with his mother and nephew, who was visiting from Texas.

“Yeah, I wish I could play,” he said, breaking into a smile when asked if he was enjoying himself.

When fans finally noticed him he signed a number of balls and hats.

The receiver hugged Ortiz in the dugout when he left the field.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: RHP Marco Estrada (3-2, 2.43 ERA) is set for the series finale. He went eight shutout innings in a win against the Yankees on Monday.

Red Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (1-0, 3.00) is expected to make his second start since opening the season on the DL with a right knee injury.