BOSTON — Toronto manager John Gibbons emptied the Blue Jays bench in the sixth inning of Wednesday night’s 10-4 shellacking at the hands of the Boston Red Sox.
Gibbons, knowing his team, trailing 10-1 at the time, was headed to New York for a four-game weekend battle for first place with the Yankees, figured he’d get his guys a little rest during the final innings of the blowout.
Only first baseman Chris Colabello remained in the game — and Colabello drilled a three-run homer in the eighth inning.
The Jays, losing their first series in their last six and their second in the last 12, enter the New York set with a 1 1/2-game lead over the Yankees, who dropped two of three to the Baltimore Orioles while the Jays were losing two of three in Boston.
Right-hander Joe Kelly won his eighth straight start, his catcher, Ryan Hanigan, had three hits, a walk and three RBIs and designated hitter David Ortiz hit the 498th homer of his career to give the last-place Red Sox their fifth win in their last six games.
Center fielder Mookie Betts, extending his hitting streak to 15 games, homered and doubled in the 13-hit attack against starter Drew Hutchison (13-4) and five relievers.
The Red Sox have 44 runs on 67 hits during their 5-1 run and have scored 52 runs on 80 hits in their last seven games.
Kelly (10-6) worked the first 5 2/3 innings and was once again the recipient of big run support. The Red Sox have scored 64 runs in the eight games but Kelly has allowed just nine runs in the last seven and has a 2.59 ERA during the longest streak in the majors this season.
Colabello hit his 14th homer of the year, the highlight of the night for the large contingent of Toronto fans.
Ortiz’s sixth homer in the last 12 games was his 32nd of the year, his 26th since June 11.
In three games at Fenway this season, Hutchison has worked 9 2/3 innings and allowed 20 earned runs on 24 hits (five homers) and 10 walks.
Hutchison, getting a major-league high 8.14 runs per game of support coming in, allowed only a walk through the first two innings. He walked Hanigan to start the third and right fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a line drive that was short-hopped into the start of a double play by second baseman Ryan Goins. The play turned out to be a big one.
Betts then hit a shot to left-center that was called in play but overturned into his 14th home run of the year. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia and shortstop Xander Bogaerts then singled in front of Ortiz, who hit a 2-0 pitch into the centerfield bleachers for his sixth homer in the last 12 games.
Down 4-0, left fielder Ben Revere led off the Toronto fourth with a single, moved up on a one-out walk and scored on a single off the wall by designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion, who set a club record by reaching base for his 39th straight game — and notched his 27th RBI in his last 17 games.
Kelly escaped further damage by getting catcher Russell Martin looking at a third strike.
Back-to-back one-out doubles by left fielder Rusney Castillo and Hanigan chased Hutchison and Betts doubled in another run off right-hander Liam Hendriks to make it 6-1.
Kelly’s 100th pitch caught right fielder Jose Bautista looking at a 3-2 breaking ball to end the Toronto fifth — Bautista moving toward first base and Kelly staring at the Blue Jay as he was walking away. A couple of Jays stared into the Red Sox dugout as they took the field.
Third baseman Pablo Sandoval singled in one run, Hanigan doubled home two and Betts made it 10-1 with a groundout.
Sandoval left after five innings with mid-back tightness, the same injury that cost him three games last weekend.
NOTES: Toronto RHP Marcus Stroman, who beat the prognosis that called for him to miss the season with knee surgery, on his reaction when manager John Gibbons told him he will start Saturday in New York: “I just sat there, just still for a second, and just got the chills. Everything that I did this past summer, man, just to see that it paid off, I couldn’t be happier.” … New Red Sox president Dave Dombrowski announced three promotions, naming Brian Bannister director of pitching analysis and development, Chris Mears pitching cross-checker and Gus Quattlebaum director of pro scouting. … LHP David Price makes the third of four of his Blue Jays starts against the Yankees when he opens the four-game series in the Bronx on Thursday night. Price to WEEI.com on whether Dombrowski, who traded for him in Detroit, now being in Boston could lure him to the Red Sox: “I’m not going anywhere because of a GM or because of a coach or because of anyone.” … LHP Wade Miley goes for his team-high 12th win when he opens Boston’s three-game series and nine-game road trip at Tampa Bay on Friday night.
Sandoval exits with back issues
Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval left Wednesday night’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays after five innings with mid-back tightness, the same injury that sidelined him for all three games against the Philadelphia Phillies last weekend.
Sandoval struck out, grounded out and singled home a run as the Red Sox built a 10-1 lead through five innings. He ran hard scoring from second base in the fifth.
Rookie Deven Marrero entered the game at third base for Boston.