Blue Jays erupt for 5 runs in the eighth to beat Red Sox 6-4, extend Boston's skid to 5

TORONTO (AP) — Kazuma Okamoto hit the go-ahead RBI single and Myles Straw had a two-run double in a five-run eighth inning, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat Boston 6-4 on Wednesday night, handing the Red Sox their fifth consecutive loss.

José Soriano, making his second start with Toronto, allowed one run and four hits in six innings. Tyler Rogers (2-2) worked the eighth inning for the win.

Willson Contreras hit his 24th home run but the Red Sox matched their longest losing streak of the season. Boston won at Cincinnati on opening day before losing the next five.

The Blue Jays have won three straight and 11 of 16 to gain ground in the AL wild-card race.

Trailing 6-1, Boston scored three runs in the ninth with two runs off Matt Waldron and one off Louis Varland, who got the final two outs for his 26th save in 27 chances.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk singled off Tyron Guerrero (1-2) to begin the eighth, and Brandon Valenzuela came in to run for Kirk.

After first baseman Contreras dropped Okamoto’s foul pop up, Toronto’s DH took advantage by lining an RBI single to left on the next pitch.

Guerrero intentionally walked Andrés Giménez to load the bases, then walked Ernie Clement to force in a third run.

Alec Gamboa came in to pitch for Boston, but George Springer hit a sacrifice fly and Straw added his two-run double.

Clement opened the scoring with a two-out RBI single off Ranger Suarez in the second. Boston tied it when Contreras homered off Soriano to begin the fifth.

Suarez allowed one run and six hits in five innings.

Red Sox LHP Payton Tolle (7-6, 3.20 ERA) is scheduled to start Thursday against Blue Jays RHP Max Scherzer (1-4, 7.25).

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Boston Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman (31) breaks his bat against the Toronto Blue Jays during first inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) reacts to the Boston Red Sox dugout after hitting into a double play during fifth inning American League MLB baseball action in Toronto on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boston Red Sox pitcher Ranger Suarez works against the Toronto Blue Jays during first inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher José Soriano works against the Boston Red Sox during first inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) reacts to the Boston Red Sox dugout after hitting into a double play during fifth inning American League MLB baseball action in Toronto on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

DETROIT (AP) — Jo Adell homered and Angel Martínez had three hits as the Cleveland Guardians defeated the Detroit Tigers 6-4 on Wednesday night to snap a three-game skid.

The Guardians (59-62) are 7-1 against the Tigers this season and have won 12 of the past 14 meetings between the AL Central rivals.

The Tigers (59-61) had won three straight and eight of 10 overall. They were trying to reach .500 for the first time since they were 18-18 on May 4.

Foster Griffin (13-4) allowed three runs — one earned — on four hits and a walk in five innings. He improved to 1-1 in two outings with Cleveland since arriving from Washington in a trade-deadline deal. The rookie left-hander had lost his previous two starts, giving up 11 runs in 9 1/3 innings.

Cade Smith got four outs for his 31st save this season, including five against the Tigers.

Framber Valdez (7-8) took the loss, yielding four runs on six hits and five walks in 5 2/3 innings.

The Guardians scored twice in the first on a run-scoring double play and an RBI double by Martínez, but the Tigers tied it in the bottom half. An error by third baseman José Ramírez gave them a runner at first with two outs before Hao-Yu Lee and Spencer Torkelson hit back-to-back doubles to make it 2-all.

Detroit took a 3-2 lead on Gleyber Torres' homer in the third, but Adell put the Guardians back in front with a two-run homer in the fifth. Adell is hitting .129 (4 for 31) against the Tigers this season with three home runs.

Cleveland made it 6-3 with a two-out rally against Enmanuel De Jesus in the seventh. Angel Genoa grounded an RBI double just inside first base to score Martínez, and Austin Hedges followed with an RBI single.

Kevin McGonigle scored on a wild pitch in the eighth, narrowing the margin to 6-4, but Smith struck out rookie Max Clark in a 12-pitch at-bat to end the inning.

The Tigers put two runners aboard in the ninth, but Cleveland shortstop Brayan Rocchio made a jumping throw from deep in the hole to retire McGonigle and end the game.

The teams finish the three-game series Thursday afternoon, with Cleveland LHP Parker Messick (9-6, 2.57 ERA) facing RHP Keider Montero (8-7, 3.38).

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Detroit Tigers pitcher Framber Valdez throws against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Cleveland Guardians outfielders Steven Kwan, from left, Angel MartÌnez and Petey Halpin celebrate after the final out against the Detroit Tigers during the ninth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Cleveland Guardians' Angel Genao hits a one-run double against the Detroit Tigers during the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Cleveland Guardians' Jo Adell, right, celebrates his two-run home run with José Ramírez, left, against the Detroit Tigers during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Cleveland Guardians' Jo Adell celebrates his two-run home run against the Detroit Tigers during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)