The Boston Red Sox reversed their form against the free-scoring Toronto Blue Jays with a walk-off win as Rafael Devers drove in Alex Verdugo in the ninth inning on Monday.
The Blue Jays had already piled on 14 home runs in the three games of the series against the Red Sox before Monday's meeting but the Red Sox bucked that trend with Nathan Eovaldi on the hill.
Eovaldi kept big-hitting sluggers Vladimir Guerrero Jr and Marcus Semien quiet early on, with Enrique Hernandez scoring for the Red Sox in the third inning.
Boston held that lead until the top of the ninth inning, when Guerrero unleashed a 451-feet home run, his 22nd of the season. It was the first time in 22-year-old Guerrero's career he has scored home runs in four consecutive games.
At the bottom of the ninth inning, Devers stepped up and hit a long ball off the wall, allowing Verdugo to score for the walk-off win. It was Devers' third career walk-off hit.
The result lifts the Blue Jays to 33-31 behind the Red Sox on 40-27 in the American League East.
Meadows and Randy lift Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays, first in the American League East, won 5-2 over the Chicago White Sox, leaders in the American League Central.
Austin Meadows continued his excellent 2021 slugging form with his 15th home run of the season.
The early double was the first runs allowed in the first innings this season by White Sox pitcher Lance Lynn, who had the second-best majors ERA this season coming in, at 1.23.
Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow tossed down 53 pitches with four strikeouts before exiting early with elbow inflammation troubling him.
But the Rays got the job done without him, as the resurgent Randy Arozarena homered in the eighth inning, for his ninth of the season.
The San Francisco Giants made it six consecutive wins over the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 5-2 win.
Brandon Crawford hit a two-run shot at the bottom of the fifth inning to open up a 3-1 lead, his 15th home run of the season.
Will Smith and Chris Taylor hit home runs as reigning World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, won 3-1 over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Travel woes for the Padres
The San Diego Padres were one of the teams to watch earlier this season but they have been having some scoring issues on the road. Star man Fernando Tatis Jr represented that, going 0/4 including two strikeouts in their 3-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies. San Diego have lost seven of their past eight road games.
Red hot Schwarber
Washington Nationals left-hander Kyle Schwarber is in hot form and he continued that run with his fourth home run in three days as the Nats won 3-2 over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 28-year-old now has 13 home runs for the seaosn.
Monday's results
Washington Nationals 3-2 Pittsburgh Pirates
New York Mets 5-2 Chicago Cubs
Boston Red Sox 2-1 Toronto Blue Jays
Cleveland Indians 4-3 Baltimore Orioles
Tampa Bay Rays 5-2 Chicago White Sox
Cincinnati Reds 10-2 Milwaukee Brewers
Detroit Tigers 10-3 Kansas City Royals
St Louis Cardinals 4-2 Miami Marlins
Colorado Rockies 3-2 San Diego Padres
Oakland Athletics 8-5 Los Angeles Angels
San Francisco Giants 5-2 Arizona Diamondbacks
Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 Philadelphia Phillies
Seattle Mariners 4-3 Minnesota Twins
Cubs at Mets
The National League East leaders, the New York Mets (33-25), continue their entertaining series against the National League Central leaders, the Chicago Cubs (38-28).