TORONTO -- Strange as it seems, Julian Tavarez now has more complete games for the 2006 Red Sox than Josh Beckett or Curt Schilling.

Tavarez became the first Red Sox pitcher this season to go nine innings and win when he went the distance in a 7-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays last night, allowing just seven hits along the way.

Until last night, Tim Wakefield was the only Red Sox starter to pitch a complete game. He lost a 3-0 shutout against Seattle on April 15, more than five months ago.

"I think this is the only good thing I've done so far," said the beleaguered Tavarez, who evened his record at 4-4. "I'm excited about it."

Tavarez, who threw just 99 pitches, got 19 of his 27 outs on the ground, thanks to an effective sinker and sharp infield play behind him. The Sox turned three double plays.

"For a guy who wasn't in the bullpen too long ago to throw a complete game -- that's something," said manager Terry Francona. "He's been a breath of fresh air. We're looking for bodies to pitch and he's thrown well."

Since moving into the starting rotation on Aug. 31, Tavarez is 2-0 with a 4.08 E.R.A. The Sox have won four of his five starts.

"It's think it means a lot to him [to have success in the role]," said Francona. "You see his body language, his energy, his smile. It's great."

A second-inning two-run homer by Mike Lowell -- immediately following an error on a foul popup by Lyle Overbay that extended the at-bat -- gave the Sox a 2-0 lead.

Alex Gonzalez added a run-scoring double later in the inning, then stroked a two-run double in the sixth when the Sox scored four times.

Surgery for Crisp

The Sox announced yesterday that Coco Crisp will undergo season-ending surgery on his left index finger Monday.

Crisp first broke the finger in the first week of the season and missed the next two months. In the last few weeks, the finger began bothering him again and severely hampered his swing.

Tests performed Thursday in Boston revealed further damage and surgery was recommended. Originally, Crisp expressed a desire to play out the final 10 days of the season, but he later reconsidered after conferring with club officials, including Francona.

"It had healed to the point where he could play [in June]," said Francona. "But he got separation in there from banging it aroundI think we knew all along that he wasn't able to make some adjustments [because of the original injury]. He was tough enough to play through it."

He's expected to make a full recovery in time to undertake his usual off-season routine and conditioning.

Crisp's first season in Boston ends with disappointing numbers: a .264 batting average, eight homers and 36 RBI with 22 steals in 105 games.

With Crisp out, Francona said Gabe Kapler, Wily Mo Pena and David Murphy would split playing time at the position. Last night, Kapler was in center.

Clement's season over?

Matt Clement threw on the side, but refused to answer questions about how the session went, saying he didn't have the time.

It later became evident that the session didn't go well, as Clement left the Rogers Centre, headed to be examined elsewhere.

The Sox had been holding out hope that Clement, who last appeared in a game on June 14, might get cleared to appear in a game over the final week of the season. That hope is now apparently dashed.

Road streak on line

The Sox need to sweep the series to finish with a winning record on the road. The Sox are now 38-40 away from Fenway. The last time the team suffered a sub-.500 record on the road was 1997, when the Sox were 39-42 in Jimy Williams' first year. The team has put together eight straight winning seasons on the road before this year. . . . Devern Hansack makes his major-league debut this afternoon for the Sox. The Nicaraguan native, who throws a fastball, slider and changeup, was promoted from Pawtucket earlier this week. . . . Last night saw the return of two players to the lineup -- Pena in right and Kevin Youkilis in leftYoukilis had missed the last four games with a shoulder/neck sprain, suffered in New York last Sunday. Pena had been out since last Saturday with a strained quad.

smcadam@projo.com / (401) 277-7340