Wright records quality start but Sox drop finale

By Ian Browne and Alykhan Ravjiani / MLB.com

TORONTO -- Right-hander Marco Estrada helped the Blue Jays avoid being swept by Boston for the first time since 2011 after he tossed seven shutout innings in a 3-0 victory on Sunday afternoon at Rogers Centre.

Toronto was in danger of being swept by the Red Sox in a series of three games or more for the first time since June 10-12, 2011. Instead, Estrada snapped the Blue Jays' four-game losing streak after he allowed five hits and two walks while striking out eight batters.

Boston right-hander Steven Wright was the tough-luck loser, giving up just two runs (one earned) on five hits over his 6 2/3 innings, but the Red Sox's offense was unable to provide him any run support, recording just seven hits against Blue Jays pitching.

The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the first inning, loading up the bases on back-to-back singles
from Kevin Pillar and Josh Donaldson and a walk to Jose Bautista. Wright induced what looked to be a potential double-play ball off the bat of Edwin Encarnacion to short, but Bautista's hard slide into second forced an errant throw from Xander Bogaerts, allowing a second Toronto run to score.

Donaldson added a solo shot in the eighth for his fourth homer in seven games this season, while Roberto Osuna finished it off with his third save of the season.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Rapid relay: The Blue Jays' defense shut down a third-inning Red Sox rally against Estrada. With Dustin Pedroia on first base with two outs, Bogaerts hit a ball into the right-field corner. With Pedroia charging towards the plate, Bautista relayed the ball to Ryan Goins, who fired a strike to catcher Russell Martin. Martin's tag beat Pedroia to the plate, keeping Boston off the board. Bautista entered Sunday's action ninth on the active list with 81 career outfield assists.

Strong turnaround by Wright: Wright did a magnificent job settling down after a rocky first inning. The knuckleballer helped preserve the bullpen by going 6 2/3 innings -- the first time any Boston starter has gone that long through the first five games. The one earned run allowed by Wright was also the lowest by any Boston starter this season.

Missed double play costly: After loading the bases with nobody out in the first, it looked like Wright was about to get a double-play ball off the bat of Encarnacion. But Bogaerts, who perhaps could have made the play himself, instead made a late flip to Pedroia, who then made a throwing error that allowed an extra run to score to make it 2-0.

Donaldson does it again: Donaldson added his fourth home run in seven games this season with a solo shot to left off Boston reliever Noe Ramirez. According to Statcast™, the solo dinger was projected to travel 414 feet and left his bat at 108 mph. Donaldson, who has been dealing with a strained right calf muscle, has nine RBIs and five extra-base hits this year.

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Estrada stopped the Red Sox from scoring six or more runs in each of their first five games for the first time since 1985.

WHAT'S NEXT
Red Sox: Ace David Price draws the assignment for the Red Sox in Monday's 2:05 p.m. ET home opener against the Orioles. The lefty was dominant for most of his debut for Boston, allowing two runs while striking out 10 batters over six innings against the Indians. Price has allowed two earned runs or less in 10 of his 11 previous career regular-season starts at Fenway Park.

Blue Jays: After an off-day on Monday, right-hander Aaron Sanchez will make his second start of the season in the opener of a three-game series against the Yankees. Sanchez was dominant in his 2016 debut in St. Petersburg against the Rays, giving up just five hits and one run over seven innings in a no-decision. The 23-year-old made the team's rotation after an impressive Spring Training, beating out veteran Gavin Floyd.

Watch every out-of-market regular season game live on MLB.TV.

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Alykhan Ravjiani is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.