TORONTO (AP) 鈥� Jonatan Clase hit his first career home run, Kevin Gausman pitched six innings to match his career high in wins and the Toronto Blue Jays beat Boston 6-1 on Wednesday night, eliminating the Red Sox from postseason contention.
Clase went 3 for 3 with a walk, scored twice and drove in two. He extended Toronto鈥檚 lead with a homer off Josh Winckowski in the seventh inning.
鈥淎 really good night from him,鈥� manager John Schneider said.
Alejandro Kirk, who extended his career-best hitting streak to 17 games, had three hits and three RBIs as the Blue Jays won for the first time in six games and avoided a three-game sweep. Boston had been 5-0 in Toronto this season.
The Blue Jays finished 21-31 against AL East opponents for the second straight year.
Gausman (14-11) allowed one run and four hits to win his second straight start. He walked three and struck out three, and ended his outing by retiring Nick Sogard on a fly ball with the bases loaded.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always good when you can tie a career high,鈥� Gausman said, 鈥渂ut I wish I would have been throwing the ball like last year.鈥�
The Red Sox, who had won four in a row coming into the game, needed to win their final four games and get help from opponents in the American League wild-card race.
鈥淎t one point it felt like we were a playoff caliber team and then we missed the opportunity,鈥� manager Alex Cora said. 鈥淟et鈥檚 put it that way. You look around, you look at the teams that are fighting. We had it right there and we blew it.鈥�
Boston went into the All-Star Game with a 53-43 record but a poor second half sank the Red Sox, starting with a three-game sweep at the Dodgers right out of the break.
鈥淪ince LA, we never got it going,鈥� Cora said.
Boston has missed the playoffs in three straight seasons, the first time that鈥檚 happened since 2010-2012. The Red Sox won the World Series in 2013.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud of what this clubhouse was able to do and what we accomplished,鈥� said outfielder Jarren Duran, who was 2 for 4 for his 50th multi-hit game. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a good building block for the next year.鈥�
Red Sox right-hander Richard Fitts (0-1) came in having not allowed a run over 15 2/3 innings to start his big league career, and extended that streak to 18 2/3 before Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Kirk hit consecutive doubles to begin the fourth.
Guerrero finished 2 for 4 and has 197 hits this season.
Fitts was charged with four runs and six hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out two.
鈥淭his was a crucial game for us,鈥� Fitts said. 鈥淚 just really feel like I let the team down. I know I have better and I can be better.鈥�
Kirk drove in two with a two-out single off the right field wall in the fifth, but Wilyer Abreu threw Kirk out trying to advance to second.
The Red Sox finished their road schedule at 43-38. They鈥檙e 37-41 at Fenway Park with three games remaining.
ROSTER MOVES
Blue Jays: Toronto recalled RHP Brett de Geus from Triple-A Buffalo and optioned RHP Tommy Nance to the spring training facility.
TRAINER鈥橲 ROOM
Blue Jays: SS Bo Bichette was scheduled to have surgery Wednesday on his fractured right middle finger.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: Boston returns home Friday to wrap up its season with a three-game series against Tampa Bay.
Blue Jays: Toronto closes out the season by hosting Miami in a three-game series starting Friday.
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AP MLB:
Ian Harrison, The Associated Press
