Toronto downs Red Sox

Marcus Stroman carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and Juan Francisco ended a double shy of the cycle, as Toronto downed Boston, 8-0, Thursday afternoon at Rogers Centre.

Stroman (6-2) allowed just one hit, walked two and struck out seven over seven scoreless innings for the Blue Jays, who won the final three games of this four-game set. The right-handed rookie has won consecutive starts and improved to 3-0 over his last six trips to the mound.

Francisco went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and drove in four runs for Toronto, which has won five of six overall. The double he couldn't find was hit three times by Melky Cabrera, who ended 3-for-4 with two RBI.

Dioner Navaro added two hits and walked twice for the Blue Jays, who pounded out 14 hits to end a seven-game homestand 5-2.

Boston's Shane Victorino broke up the no-hit bid to lead off the seventh inning. He finished 1-for-3 with a walk as the Red Sox fell to 1-3 on their current seven-game road trip.

[SportsNetwork.com]