BOSTON -- It appeared to be a typical game of seasonal bad luck for the Boston Red Sox, but in the end they reached into their pockets and found a bit of 2013's comeback, walk-off magic, finishing with a 9-8 win in 10 innings over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night at Fenway Park.
Yoenis Cespedes provided the walk-off heroics with a deep blast to center field with the bases loaded. It was his second career walk-off hit, and first with the Red Sox.
Cespedes continues to be locked in at the plate. He went 4-for-6 with two RBIs and scored a run. He had three singles and a double and also stole a base.
The hot-hitting left fielder came up short with two runners on and no outs with the game tied at 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth when he popped out to second, but he responded in extra innings.
Since joining the Red Sox on Aug. 2, Cespedes has reached base safely in 27 of his 32 games.
Prior to the walk-off, the Red Sox's hopes seemed bleak.
In the top of the 10th inning, Dioner Navarro's broken-bat infield single drove in one run for Toronto, and then a miscue by Red Sox right fielder Allen Craig allowed the Blue Jays to push across another.
After Toronto gained a 7-6 lead on Navarro's one-out hit, Danny Valencia lifted a high fly ball to deep right field. Toronto's John Mayberry stood on second, waiting to tag up. Craig made the catch at the wall in front of the visitors bullpen and seemed to think it was the third out of the inning, taking his time throwing the ball back into the infield. Mayberry was waved home to give Toronto a two-run lead.
But Boston responded in the home half en route to victory.
Red Sox starter Allen Webster settled for a no-decision. The right-hander worked 5 1/3 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits, with two walks and five strikeouts. He tossed 91 pitches (60 strikes).
The Blue Jays gained a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, thanks to a two-run double by Adam Lind. Boston responded in the home half of the inning when Cespedes provided a two-out, RBI single to cut the Sox's deficit.
Boston tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the second inning when Christian Vazquez's sacrifice fly to right field easily scored Mookie Betts from third. The Red Sox gained a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third inning on Mike Napoli's infield groundout, as Dustin Pedroia scored from third.
But in the top of the sixth inning, with Webster's pitch count climbing, Jose Bautista crushed a two-run homer into the Monster seats to give Toronto a 4-3 lead. It was Bautista's 30th home run of the season.
Toronto held a one-run lead until the top of the eighth inning, when Edwin Encarnacion absolutely crushed a two-run homer off Red Sox reliever Alex Wilson. It was Encarnacion's 30th homer of the season and it cleared everything over the Monster to give Toronto a 6-3 lead.
Again, Boston chipped away at Toronto's lead and once again tied it at 6-6 in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Cespedes led off with a single and Napoli followed with an infield single. Both runners then successfully executed a double steal. With one out, Betts provided an RBI single, before Xander Bogaerts drove a two-run double to right-center field to tie the game at 6-6.
In the bottom of the ninth, Pedroia led off with a double to left. The Blue Jays elected to intentionally walk Ortiz, before Cespedes popped out to second base in shallow center field. With one out and two on, Napoli struck out swinging. The Red Sox left two stranded as Craig grounded out to the pitcher to end the threat.
After Toronto pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the 10th inning, the Red Sox responded with their heroics in the bottom of the inning en route to victory.
He's back: After missing five games with a concussion, Pedroia returned to the lineup and went 2-for-5, including a single, a double, run scored and sacrifice fly.
Don't test me: Opponents have the scouting report on Vazquez's strong and accurate arm, which makes them think twice about running on the Red Sox catcher. Now, it's getting to a point where opposing baserunners can't even take a lead, especially off first base. In the top of the third inning, Melky Cabrera drew a one-out walk and was taking his customary lead off the bag when Vazquez made a quick snap throw to pick off Cabrera. It's the fourth time this season Vazquez has picked off a runner. It's the most by a Red Sox catcher since Rich Gedman had five in 1985.
Web gem: With one out and the game tied at 6-6 in the top of the ninth inning, Kevin Pillar turned on an offering from new Red Sox closer Edward Mujica and sharply lined it toward third. Brock Holt showcased his quick reflexes and snared the ball for the second out of the inning. Holt left the game in the top of the 10th inning due to illness and was replaced by Will Middlebrooks.