TORONTO - Blue Jays left-hander Matt Boyd was hoping to build on the decent big-league debut he made last week.

His second career start couldn't have gone much worse.

Boyd was unable to record a single out on Thursday night as the Red Sox scored eight times in the first inning of a 12-6 victory over Toronto at Rogers Centre.

"It was definitely a tough one," said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. "They were hitting everything he threw up there."

Boyd gave up three singles, a three-run homer to David Ortiz, a Hanley Ramirez solo shot, another single, a wild pitch and a walk. He became the first starter in team history to give up seven earned runs without recording an out.

The 24-year-old left-hander was optioned to triple-A Buffalo after the game.

"It's a man's game, it's a tough business," Gibbons said. "You've got to sometimes take the bad with the good too."

Boyd (0-2) was impressive in the minor leagues this season and turned in a decent 6 2/3-inning performance in a spot start last week. But the Red Sox would not let up, essentially putting the game out of reach before many in the announced crowd of 29,758 had settled into their seats.

"I never had a night where I didn't record an out," Boyd said. "It definitely goes down as probably the worst one."

Toronto (42-39) dropped three of four against its American League East rival and finished the seven-game homestand with a 3-4 record. The Blue Jays remained tied in third place in the division standings, one game behind the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees.

Fans let out a Bronx cheer when reliever Liam Hendriks got No. 9 hitter Ryan Hanigan to pop up for the first out of the game. Boston (37-44) sent 12 men to the plate in the inning.

Toronto halved the lead in the second inning. Devon Travis hit an RBI single, Josh Donaldson drew a bases-loaded walk and Jose Bautista delivered a two-run single.

The Blue Jays brought the tying run to the plate against Boston starter Wade Miley (8-7) but Chris Colabello hit into a forceout to keep it a four-run game.

Both teams had several chances to add to their run totals in the middle innings. Toronto reliever Bo Schultz loaded the bases in the fourth before escaping by striking out Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval.

The Blue Jays threatened in the bottom half of the frame but Colabello struck out to strand three more runners.

Gibbons was ejected in the fifth inning after an argument with home plate umpire Gerry Davis. The Blue Jays had challenged a tag play at the plate involving Hanigan and Toronto's Danny Valencia, but the call was upheld after a lengthy review.

Boston tacked on three more runs in the seventh inning and added a single run in the eighth.

Canadian Russell Martin hit a solo shot in the ninth inning and Valencia followed with a homer of his own. It was Martin's 12th homer of the year and the fifth this season for Valencia.

Xander Bogaerts and Brock Holt had four hits apiece for the Red Sox, who outhit the Blue Jays 19-14. Leadoff man Mookie Betts chipped in with three hits for Boston.

"What Mookie, Brock and Bogie were able to do tonight certainly set the tone for us offensively," said Red Sox manager John Farrell.

Toronto left 14 runners on base to 10 for Boston. The game took three hours 34 minutes to play.

Notes: Miley allowed four earned runs and seven hits over five innings. He struck out two and issued seven walks. ... The eight runs allowed in the opening frame were the most given up by the Blue Jays in any inning this season. ... Ramirez has 16 homers this season, two more than Ortiz. ... The Blue Jays will kick off a 10-game road trip Friday in Detroit. Right-hander Drew Hutchison (8-1, 4.99 earned-run average) is scheduled to start against Tigers right-hander Anibal Sanchez (6-7, 4.63) ... Toronto announced the signing of international free agent Vladimir Guerrero Jr., before the game. The 16-year-old son of former big-league star Vladimir Guerrero is ranked No. 4 on MLB.com's list of the top 30 international prospects. ... Blue Jays infielder Steve Tolleson cleared waivers Thursday and will be outrighted to triple-A Buffalo. ... Toronto designated right-hander Todd Redmond for assignment after the game. Corresponding roster moves will be announced Friday.

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News from © The Canadian Press, 2015