Rios' gaffe dooms Halladay, Blue Jays vs. Red Sox

BOSTON (AP) -- A game finally went Boston's way when Toronto right fielder Alex Rios slapped the ball the wrong way.

Rios accidentally swatted Alex Cora's fly ball into the stands from about 10 feet in front of the wall for a two-run homer in the seventh inning that gave the Red Sox a 6-4 win Thursday night and snapped their six-game losing streak.

Rios drifted onto the warning track and tried to catch the ball over his left shoulder. It bounced off his glove and dropped to his waist where he attempted to catch it with his barehand but, instead, pushed it over the three-foot-high fence.

"It was a reaction play," he said. "I was in a weird position to catch the ball so it was a little tougher play."

The homer off Roy Halladay (16-5) was a rare bright spot for the Red Sox, who ended the night eight games behind the New York Yankees in the AL East and three ahead of third-place Toronto.

"If wishing and blowing on it helps, I was helping," manager Terry Francona said. "Sometimes you need a break. We played ourselves into position where a break helps us win a game, not gets us back within four."

Boston traded lefty David Wells, one of its best starters, to San Diego early in the game for a player to be named. Julian Tavarez started for Wells, who had been scheduled to pitch Thursday.

"That's why the game's funny," said Mike Lowell, who hit a three-run homer in the first. "You say you trade David Wells, start Tavarez against Halladay, you'd say we have no chance, but look what happens."

Boston's injury-depleted lineup resembled a spring training split-squad road game, missing designated hitter David Ortiz (heart palpitations); outfielders Manny Ramirez (knee), Trot Nixon (biceps) and Wily Mo Pena (sore wrist); catcher Jason Varitek (knee); and shortstop Alex Gonzalez (oblique muscle). Ortiz was released from a hospital Thursday and hopes to play Saturday.

"I don't care what lineup they have out there," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "This is a tough place to win."

Dustin Pedroia was on first when Cora came to the plate with two outs and the score 4-4. Cora, who had not homered in 245 at-bats since Aug. 15, 2005, lofted a fly to right. Halladay gestured in exasperation back in the infield. Cora was 0-for-8 in his career against Halladay before his homer.

"It was a freaky play that you don't see very often," Halladay said. "He's been a pretty good outfielder for us and, hopefully, he can put it behind him."

Manny Delcarmen (2-0) pitched the sixth and seventh for the win, Mike Timlin got the first two outs in the eighth and Jonathan Papelbon finished for his 35th save in 41 chances.

Tavarez, making his first start since Sept. 17, 2002, allowed three runs and five hits in three innings. Halladay gave up six runs and seven hits in seven innings.

Lowell's three-run homer was the first time in eight games in which the Red Sox scored more than one run in an inning. Toronto tied it on an RBI double by Aaron Hill in the second and a two-run double by Lyle Overbay in the third.

"It just felt like we've always been playing behind the last week or two. To get a three-run lead, I think, is a little different," Lowell said. "I think we showed more after they came back and tied it up and then we went ahead again."

Javy Lopez put the Red Sox ahead when he hit into a run-scoring double play in the sixth, but the Blue Jays tied it in the seventh on Vernon Wells' infield single following Frank Catalanotto's triple.

"It's good to walk away with a win," Papelbon said. "Win one tomorrow, it's a winning streak. Yeah, it's a good feeling"

Game notes
The Red Sox obtained right-hander Kevin Jarvis from the Arizona Diamondbacks and assigned him to Triple-A Pawtucket. ... Nixon went 0-for-4 in a rehabilitation assignment at Pawtucket. ... Vernon Wells has hits in all his 11 games against Boston this year. ... Hill has three RBI in four games after going 12 games without one.