TORONTO -- The Boston Red Sox had the bases loaded against Toronto Blue Jays rookie right-hander Aaron Sanchez in the fourth inning on Friday.

The 22-year-old, with a little encouragement from catcher Russell Martin, worked out of the jam with a strikeout and a double play and kept the score at 2-0.

Sanchez went on to pitch into the eighth inning and the Blue Jays defeated the Red Sox 7-0 in the opener of a three-game series with third baseman Josh Donaldson and right fielder Chris Colabello hitting solo home runs.

"I thought there were a couple of pitches (in the fourth) that could have gone either way," Sanchez said. "And I think I let it affect me too much and Russell came out and told me to calm down and play catch. I found a way to get out of it."

Sanchez held the Red Sox to two hits while walking five and striking out three for his third win in a row to improve his record to 3-2.

"I tip my hat to the kid," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He worked himself into a tough little jam but he got out of it, which was huge."

Boston left-hander Wade Miley (1-4) allowed eight hits, one walk and four runs while striking out eight over six innings to take his third straight loss.

"Probably one of the better outings he's had for us this year," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "He used the full assortment of pitches, he had a good feel for his breaking pitches as well as his changeup. He threw his fastball to both sides of the plate. Wade kept us in the ball game."

Miley allowed two runs in his final inning to give the Jays a 4-0 lead. First baseman Edwin Encarnacion walked and Martin and left fielder Danny Valencia followed with singles to produce one run.

Center fielder Kevin Pillar hit a sacrifice fly to right for the second run.

"It's always difficult when you go through a stretch like this," Miley said. "It's on us to get out of it. Obviously this lineup is going to hit. We're capable of just getting ridiculous. Right now it's a little slow but, like I said, this lineup is going to hit."

Sanchez, who had never pitched more than 5 2/3 innings in the majors, was sent back out for the eighth inning but did not get an out.

He walked first baseman Travis Shaw to start the inning and allowed a single to center fielder Mookie Betts before left-hander Aaron Loup took over and retired the next three batters, two on strikeouts.

Designated hitter Jose Bautista led off the bottom of the eighth with a triple to the top of the center-field wall against left-hander Robbie Ross, Jr. Encarnacion followed with a single to make it 5-0.

Martin doubled to send Encarnacion to third. Left fielder Ezequiel Carrera singled in two runs for a 7-0 lead.

After Donaldson hit his seventh homer of the season in the first and Colabello hit his first of the season in the second, the Red Sox had a big chance in the fourth.

Sanchez opened the fourth by walking designated hitter Mike Napoli and right fielder Daniel Nava and hitting left fielder Allen Craig with a pitch to load the bases. After Martin came out to settle him, Sanchez struck out catcher Blake Swihart on a full count for the first out and was out of the jam when shortstop Xavier Bogaerts grounded into a double play.

It left the Red Sox in a 4-for-49 drought with runners in scoring position.

Sanchez felt a surge of confidence from the escape.

"A ton," he said. "Bases loaded nobody out and you find a way. Our mentality is one is better than two, two is better than three and so on and so forth and to come out of with nothing that's huge."

NOTES: Boston DH David Ortiz served a one-game suspension Friday after losing his appeal. He was disciplined for his actions during the April 19 game against Baltimore at Fenway Park. ... The Red Sox have not yet named a replacement for pitching coach Juan Nieves, who was fired Thursday. ... Blue Jays hitting coach Brook Jacoby lost his appeal of a 14-game suspension for his conduct toward the umpires after the April 29 game at Fenway Park. ... The Red Sox designated RHP Edward Mujica for assignment and recalled INF Travis Shaw from Triple-A Pawtucket. ... The Blue Jays recalled RHP Ryan Tepera from Triple-A Buffalo and returned RHP Chad Jenkins on option to the Bisons. ... Blue Jays INF/OF Danny Valencia started in left field after missing two games with a sprained ankle. ... Boston will start RHP Joe Kelly (1-1, 5.72 ERA) on Saturday against Toronto RHP Drew Hutchison (2-0, 7.47 ERA).