Left-hander James Paxton pitched into the eighth inning and was supported by three home runs as the visiting Boston Red Sox defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-0 on Friday night.

Jarren Duran hit a two-run home run for the Red Sox and also made a good catch at the center field wall. Justin Turner and Masataka Yoshida added solo home runs.

In winning the opener of the three-game series, the Red Sox ended a five-game losing streak.

They have defeated the Blue Jays in all five meeting between the teams this season.

The Red Sox swept the Blue Jays in a four-game series at Boston May 1-4.

Paxton (4-1) allowed three hits and two walks in 7 2/3 innings. The native of Ladner, B.C., struck out seven.

Toronto right-hander Jose Berrios (8-6) allowed four runs and five hits while striking out eight in six innings.

Turner led off the fifth with his 12th home run of the season, a drive to left on a 3-2 pitch. Berrios had retired the previous 10 batters after a first-inning single.

Paxton, who retired his first eight batters of the game before allowing a third-inning single, set the Blue Jays down in order in the home fifth. He also allowed a walk in the fourth that was erased on a double play.

Connor Wong led off the Red Sox sixth with a double to left, then Duran hit his fourth homer of the season on a drive to center. With one out, Yoshida hit a blast to right center for his ninth homer of the season.

Daulton Varsho led off the bottom of the sixth with a bunt single, but Boston turned a double play.

Boston had singles from Alex Verdugo and Yoshida in the eighth against Trent Thornton. Turner hit a one-out sacrifice fly against Mitch White.

Paxton allowed a single and a walk in the bottom of the eighth before Chris Martin replaced him with two outs to end the inning with a strikeout.

Boston’s Kaleb Ort pitched around an error in the ninth.

Toronto center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (back) did not play.

–Field Level Media