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  Friday, Jun. 23 7:05pm ET
Mondesi goes deep for go-ahead runs
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

TORONTO (AP) -- Not since winning the World Series in 1993 have the Blue Jays been in first place this late in the season.

John Wasdin
Red Sox pitcher John Wasdin watches in frustration as Raul Mondesi rounds the bases.

Toronto moved into first place in the AL East as Frank Castillo won his third straight start to beat the Boston Red Sox 5-4 Friday night.

"I know it's early, but any time you can be in first place it's always fun," Castillo said.

Raul Mondesi hit a go-ahead, two-run homer for the Blue Jays, and Brad Fullmer and Jose Cruz Jr. also connected.

Toronto, which moved a half-game ahead of Boston and a game ahead of the New York Yankees, overcame a two-run deficit to extend its winning streak to three. The Blue Jays had not led this season since April 5, when they were 2-0.

"The first couple of innings were tough because I wasn't locating my fastball," Castillo said. "I started locating later, and I got ahead of guys."

Castillo (4-5) allowed four runs and six hits in 7 1-3 innings, retiring 15 straight before consecutive doubles by Darren Lewis and Jeff Frye with one out in the eighth pulled Boston to 5-3.

Pedro Borbon relieved Castillo, and Trot Nixon followed with a grounder to shortstop Alex Gonzalez, who got Frye in a rundown for the second out.

Billy Koch relieved and walked Nomar Garciaparra, before Carl Everett hit an RBI double down the right field line to cut Toronto's lead to 5-4.

Koch then walked Brian Daubach, loading the bases, and then threw what could have been a wild pitch, but the ball hit off the toe of umpire Dale Scott, keeping Garciaparra from scoring the tying run. "That was a great kick save," Koch said.

Jason Varitek popped up to shallow left field. "Those kind of breaks seem to find a team that's going well," Boston's Trot Nixon said. "We didn't have any luck."

Koch finished for his 16th save. "The eighth inning wasn't the prettiest, but the Blue Jays are in first place now," he said.

John Wasdin (0-3), making his first start since 1998, gave up five runs and seven hits in four innings.

Solo homers by Nixon in the first and Everett in the second put Boston ahead, but Toronto tied it in the second on Fullmer's homer and Homer Bush's RBI single.

Mondesi's 17th homer gave Toronto a 4-2 lead in the third, and Cruz added his 16th in the fourth. The Blue Jays, who have homered in a club record 21 straight games.

Game notes
Castillo has pitched at least six innings in eight of his last 10 tarts and has allowed just five earned runs in his last 21 1-3 innings. ... Castillo is 3-0 with a 2.53 ERA in his last three starts. ... Carlos Delgado extended his hitting streak to 17 games. ... Garciaparra, who injured his right shoulder in a collision with Carl Everett on Thursday night, was at designated hitter and went 0-for-3 with a walk. It was Latin night at SkyDome. A salsa band performed, and the PA announcer spoke Spanish throughout the game. ... Nixon left in the eighth with a leg injury. He thought he'd be able to play Saturday.
 


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AUDIO/VIDEO
audio
 With a lot of effort and a little luck, Jim Fregosi's Blue Jays came on top.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6

 Trot Nixon and the Red Sox remain optimistic after losing the division lead.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6

 The Jays' Billy Koch talks about the wild pitch and kick save by umpire Dale Scott.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6

 Carlos Delgado praises the Blue Jays' pitching staff for keeping them in the game.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6