Suarez shines as Red Sox blank Blue Jays 5-0 in opener of three-game series

Boston Red Sox pitcher Ranger Suarez (55) works against the Blue Jays during a Major League Baseball game in Toronto on April 27, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

TORONTO — With one month of the regular season complete, the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox have both spent time in the American League East Division basement.

Bigger things were expected from both clubs in 2026.

“I’m sure there’s like five, six, seven teams where, in spring training, they weren’t pencilled in for the record they have or the injuries they have,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “So you’ve got to just kind of roll with it.”

The reigning AL champion Blue Jays shared last place with the Red Sox on April 20. Toronto is on the verge of returning to the bottom of the division after dropping a 5-0 decision to Boston on Monday night.

Boston starter Ranger Suarez was brilliant over eight innings to help the Red Sox extend their winning streak to three games.

“He’s good,” Schneider said. “He’s not giving in.”

Suarez (2-2), who combined with Greg Weissert on a two-hit shutout, didn’t allow a hit until Jesus Sanchez led off the sixth inning with a double down the left-field line.

Weissert gave up a pinch-hit double to Daulton Varsho before getting Ernie Clement on a flyout to end the game.

Suarez allowed one walk and had 10 strikeouts.

“Give him credit, he’s good for a reason and definitely pitched his game,” Schneider said.

The Blue Jays, who have won five of their last eight games, fell to 12-16, just a half-game up on 12-17 Boston. Toronto dropped to 8-8 at home this season.

The teams breezed through the first three innings before Boston got to Toronto starter Dylan Cease (1-1) in the fourth.

Marcelo Mayer’s RBI single plated Willson Contreras to open the scoring. Boston tacked on two more runs in the fifth and added another in the sixth to chase Cease.

The right-hander allowed seven hits, four earned runs, three walks and he hit one batter. Cease had five strikeouts.

“I wish I had focused a little more on powering the ball and maybe less on trying to be so pinpoint,” he said.

Carlos Narvaez tacked on an insurance run in the eighth inning with a solo shot off Toronto reliever Chase Lee.

It was a wild 48-hour stretch for the Red Sox after manager Alex Cora and five coaches were let go Saturday. Triple-A skipper Chad Tracy was bumped up to interim manager.

On Monday, the Red Sox filled out several positions. Jose David Flores was named interim bench coach, Jack Simonetty was named interim hitting assistant and Pablo Cabrera was named interim first base coach/outfield instructor.

“I think whenever you make a huge change like that, I think it just heightens the awareness of everybody,” Schneider said.

The three-game series will continue Tuesday night when right-hander Trey Yesavage makes his season debut for Toronto. He nursed a shoulder impingement in spring training but is now built up and ready to go.

In addition, Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer is moving closer to a return from a toe injury. He could be activated over the coming days.

“It’s almost guaranteed that every team is going to go through good, bad, healthy, not healthy,” Schneider said. “You’ve got to just focus on the day to day.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 27, 2026.

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press