Brook Holt powers Boston Red Sox to comeback win vs. Toronto Blue Jays

TORONTO -- John Gibbons called it one of those typical American League East games.

The Toronto Blue Jays manager saw his team take a 7-2 lead on a grand slam by Josh Donaldson in the fourth inning.

Then he watched as the Boston Red Sox pulled close on a sixth-inning on a grand slam by Brook Holt and added two runs in the seventh to come back for an 8-7 win to spoil the Blue Jays' home opener.

"That was a typical, in a lot of ways, American League East game in these ball parks," Gibbons said. "You never feel good if there's some innings left. That's what can happen."

Toronto right-hander Marcus Stroman allowed six hits, three walks and five runs in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out four.

Red Sox right-hander Joe Kelly did not get an out in Toronto's six-run fourth and departed after Donaldson's second career grand slam.

The Blue Jays (2-3) have lost three in a row.

Kelly was charged with seven runs on seven hits, three walks and a hit batter. He struck out four.

The Red Sox (2-1) climbed back into the game with Holt's first career grand slam, a liner to right. Stroman loaded the bases by giving up a double to Xander Bogaerts and two walks. He was replaced by right-hander Jesse Chavez, who gave up Holt's second homer of the season to cut Toronto's lead to 7-6.

"When it disappeared behind the wall, it was a good feeling," Holt said. "It's always good to come back to a happy dugout. Tonight was a big win for us. It showed a lot. I knew I got it good and it was going to be a double at least. When I saw it go over the wall it was a relief, for sure."

"He's on pace for about 60 homers right now, maybe more than that," Red Sox third baseman Travis Shaw said of Holt. "He's swinging the bat really well, getting good pitches to hit. He's got a little bit more juice than people think I thought it was going to be off the wall, maybe short hop the wall."

Right-hander Matt Barnes (1-0) pitched two innings to get the win.

Toronto right-hander Drew Storen (0-1) got an out before allowing singles to Dustin Pedroia and Bogaerts in the seventh.

Left-hander Brett Cecil took over and gave up a single to David Ortiz to tie the game and another by Hanley Ramirez to give Boston an 8-7 lead.

"We didn't pitch particularly well," said Gibbons when asked about his bullpen. "But they're good. They'll fall in line a little bit."

Red Sox right-hander Junichi Tazawa pitched a 1-2-3 seventh.

Right-hander Koji Uehara took over for Boston and overcame a leadoff walk to pinch-hitter Justin Smoak in the eighth.

Right-hander Craig Kimbrel pitched a perfect ninth to earn his first save of the season.

"I was a little off with my command today and they did a good job of capitalizing on bad pitches up in the zone," Stroman said. "We did an unbelievable job swinging the bats. I didn't do my job. I put a hundred percent faith in that bullpen.

"Just overall my command was not there today. I had three walks and that's very uncharacteristic of me. My command wasn't anywhere near where I need it to be."

Kevin Pillar tripled to lead off the Blue Jays' first and scored on a one-out sacrifice fly by Edwin Encarnacion.

The Red Sox tied the score in the second on two-out doubles by Shaw and Holt.

The damage might have been worse in the Boston second, but Ramirez was thrown out at second by Pillar from center field trying to stretch a single for the second out of the inning.

A two-out single by Bogaerts and a double by Ortiz produced a 2-1 Boston lead in the third.

The Blue Jays opened their big fourth with consecutive singles by Michael Saunders, Russell Martin, Ryan Goins and Darwin Barney to tie the score at 2. Pillar took a fastball off the bill of his helmet to force in a run and Donaldson followed with a grand slam, his third home run of the season, to give the Blue Jays a 7-2 lead.

Right-hander Noe Ramirez replaced Kelly.

NOTES: Blue Jays 3B Josh Donaldson, who left the game against Tampa Bay on Wednesday with a strained right calf muscle, returned to the lineup on Friday as designated hitter. The Blue Jays had Thursday off before playing the Red Sox in their home opener. Toronto manager John Gibbons said the move will be on a day-to-day basis to help protect the calf. ... INF Darwin Barney started at third base for Toronto and 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion played first. ... The rainout in Cleveland on Thursday meant LHP David Price will not face the Blue Jays on Sunday. His start has been moved to Monday, the Red Sox's home opener against Baltimore. Price pitched for Toronto late last season after being acquired in a trade with the Detroit Tigers on July 31. ... RHP Rick Porcello (season debut) will start for Boston on Saturday against Toronto knuckler RHP R.A. Dickey.