Alek Manoah struck out seven in seven innings and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Boston Red Sox 1-0 Thursday afternoon.

Manoah (4-0) held the Red Sox to three hits and one walk. He has gone at least six innings in each of his four starts this season.

Jordan Romano pitched around a single in the ninth to earn his ninth save of the season.

The Blue Jays, who scored an unearned run, took three of four games in the series and have won five of seven games from the Red Sox this season.

Alejandro Kirk had two singles and an RBI for Toronto.

Garrett Whitlock (1-1), making his second career major league start, allowed one unearned run on four hits and two walks, with two strikeouts in three innings.

The Blue Jays scored in the third. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. reached base with one out on an error by shortstop Christian Arroyo. Raimel Tapia walked and Kirk hit a two-out, RBI single.

Manoah allowed a single with one out in the first inning to Alex Verdugo. He retired the next 12 batters before Arroyo singled with one out in the fifth. Arroyo stole second, but Manoah worked out of the inning with two strikeouts.

Red Sox left-hander Austin Davis replaced Whitlock in the fourth, allowed a two-out walk and was replaced by John Schreiber, who finished the fourth and pitched around a two-out double in the fifth.

Manoah pitched around a one-out walk to Trevor Story in the sixth. Manoah then pitched around Enrique Hernandez’s leadoff double in the seventh, stranding the runner at third.

Adam Cimber was perfect for Toronto in the top of the eighth.

Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did not play. He had a sore foot after being hit by a foul ball on Wednesday. X-rays were negative.

Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who had four hits on Wednesday, did not start and grounded out as a pinch hitter in the eighth.

–Field Level Media