G145: Red Sox 8, Blue Jays 5

Red Sox   - 000 320 003 - 8 10  0
Blue Jays - 003 001 010 - 5  7  1

Mauro Gomez's two-run triple in the ninth inning snapped a 5-5 tie. Gomez scored three runs, and Ryan Lavarnway had four RBI.

Toronto scored three times in the third off Matsuzaka (5.1-3-4-3-5, 98) without a base hit. The ugliness: HBP, BB, K, BB, wild pitch (run), BB/wild pitch (run), 463 (run), K. Matsuzaka threw 37 pitches in the inning and the Jays hit exactly one fair ball.

The Red Sox came right back as Cody Ross walked, Gomez singled, and Ryan Lavarnway homered to left. Daniel Nava's bases-loaded single scored Mike Aviles and Gomez to put the Sox on top 5-3 in the fifth.

The Blue Jays rallied. Adam Lind tripled and scored on Yunel Escobar single in the sixth and Brett Lawrie doubled home Cody Rasmus in the eighth.

In the top of the ninth, Jacoby Ellsbury singled off Darren Oliver. The Jays called on Casey Janssen, and he failed the test. Mike Aviles flied to right, but Ross singled. Both baserunners scored on Gomez's three-bagger. Lavarnway followed with a sac fly to make it 8-5.

In the home half of the ninth, Andrew Bailey allowed a two-out single, but nailed down his third save of the season.

Elsewhere: The Rays beat the Yankees 6-4 and the Orioles lost to the Athletics 3-2.

Daisuke Matsuzaka / Aaron Laffey

Ciriaco, 3B
Ellsbury, CF
Aviles, 2B
Ross, RF
Gomez, DH
Lavarnway, C
Nava, LF
Loney, 1B
Iglesias, SS

The Red Sox - 2-13 since August 28 - begin a seven-game road trip in Toronto (WEEI preview). After three games against the Blue Jays, it's down to Tampa Bay for four games against the Rays. Then it's back to Fenway Park for the season's final homestand.

Fun Stat Of The Day: Boston is 21-37 since the All-Star break - the franchise's worst post-ASG record (since 1933).

The Pawtucket Red Sox won the International League championship for the first time since 1984, sweeping the Charlotte Knights (Cleveland) 7-2, 2-0, and 4-1. They will play the Pacific Coast League champion next Tuesday in the AAA Championship Game.

Division Race: Rays at Yankees; Orioles at Athletics. Boston's AL East elimination number is 2 (a Red Sox loss coupled with wins from both the Orioles and Yankees = no AL East title this season!).