Jason Varitek drove in four runs and was one of five Boston players with three hits apiece as the visiting Red Sox outlasted the Toronto Blue Jays 13-12 in the opener of a three-game series Monday night.

The teams combined for 34 hits in the wild slugfest before Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon set down the side in order in the ninth for his sixth save of the season to end it.

Marco Scutaro, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis and Adrian Beltre all had three hits for the Red Sox, who failed to hold four leads before sending the Blue Jays to their third straight defeat.

Pedroia’s two-run double capped a four-run sixth inning that gave the Red Sox a 13-9 lead and they barely managed to hold off the Jays.

Lyle Overbay was one of three Toronto players with three hits, belting a solo home run, two-run double and RBI single. Jose Bautista added a three-run blast and Adam Lind and Vernon Wells had three hits apiece for the Jays, who erased an early 5-0 deficit with a six-run third inning against Red Sox starter Josh Beckett.

Beckett was shelled for eight runs and nine hits in three-plus innings. Blue Jays starter Dana Eveland also worked three-plus innings, and was racked for seven runs on eight hits.