BOSTON, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Jonathan Papelbon struck out two batters with the bases loaded in the ninth Friday, allowing Boston to escape with a 6-5 victory over Toronto.
The teams sat through a rain delay in the eighth inning with the score deadlocked at 5-5, but the Red Sox managed a run soon after play resumed.
David Ortiz scored from third on a bases-loaded ground out by Casey Kotchman, and Papelbon, despite a major scare, made the one-run lead stand up in the ninth.
After striking out Adam Lind to open the ninth, Pepelbon gave up singles to Lyle Overbay and Vernon Wells. The Boston reliever then hit Randy Ruiz with a pitch to load the bases.
Papelbon, however, struck out Rod Barajas on three pitches and got Travis Snider to strike out swinging. It was Palelbon's 31st save and made a winner out of Hideki Okajima (5-0).
Okajima threw just three pitches and retired the only man he faced in the eighth.
Brian Tallet (5-8), who came on in the bottom of the eighth and failed to get anybody out, took the loss.
Boston boosted its lead in the American League wild-card race to 2 1/2 games over Texas. The Red Sox still trail the New York Yankees by six games in the AL East.
