Clement and Valenzuela hit homers, Guerrero Jr. has three hits as Jays top Red Sox

Toronto Blue Jays catcher Brandon Valenzuela (59) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during eighth inning MLB baseball action against Boston Red Sox in Toronto on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

TORONTO — Ernie Clement hit a two-run homer and Kazuma Okamoto drove in two runs to power the Toronto Blue Jays to an 8-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had three hits and Brandon Valenzuela hit a solo shot and scored three times as the Blue Jays won their third series in a row.

George Springer returned to the lineup after a 15-game injury absence and had a pinch-hit RBI single as Toronto (14-16) won for the seventh time in 10 games.

Willson Contreras hit a solo homer for the Red Sox, who fell to 12-19.

Okamoto had a two-run single in Toronto’s three-run third inning. Clement turned on a pitch from Boston starter Brayan Bello (1-4) in the next frame for his first homer of the season.

Toronto starter Eric Lauer was pulled after loading the bases with one out in the fifth inning. Braydon Fisher (2-0) needed two pitches to escape the jam with a double play.

Valenzuela went deep in the eighth inning for his second homer of the year.

Takeaways

Blue Jays: Springer, who was activated about an hour before the game, was given a standing ovation by the sellout crowd of 41,314 when he came on in the fifth inning. The four-time all-star fractured his big toe in a game on April 11.

Red Sox: Toronto outhit Boston 10-9. The Red Sox had limited opponents to three runs or fewer in each of their previous four games.

Key Moment

In the fifth inning, Contreras lined out to shortstop Andres Gimenez, who threw to Clement at second base to double off Caleb Durbin.

Key Stat

Yohendrick Pinango recorded his first career RBI when he drove in Guerrero in the third inning.

Coming Up

The Blue Jays will send ace Kevin Gausman (2-1, 2.57 ERA) to the mound Thursday at Minnesota against fellow right-hander Bailey Ober (2-1, 3.94). The Red Sox get an off-day before welcoming the Houston Astros on Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 29, 2026.

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press