The Red Sox’ Jacoby Ellsbury slides past Blue Jays starting pitcher Jesse Litsch to score a run on a wild pitch in the first inning of last night’s game at Fenway Park. Boston’s Dustin Pedroia, who was on second base, scored on the play as well.

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The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

BOSTON — Between games of yesterday’s doubleheader at Fenway Park, ailing Red Sox shortstop Julio Lugo took ground balls as he attempts to return to the club before the end of the regular season.

While the torn quadriceps in his left leg is slowly healing, rookie shortstop Jed Lowrie continues to be a a major contributor for Boston. He played both games of the twinbill against the Blue Jays and proved crucial in the nightcap to help the Red Sox to a 7-5 comeback victory after Boston dropped the matinee, 8-1.

“It was huge to be able to spilt a doubleheader, especially after the first game,” said Lowrie, who went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. “We didn’t really put out our best effort in the first game, but we came back and won a big one.”

After playing shortstop in the afternoon, Lowrie was shifted to third base last night and it didn’t start off all that well. His error in the second helped Toronto score five runs in the inning, and with the Jays holding a three-run lead, it appeared as though they were on their way to a sweep.

That wasn’t the case.

Lowrie’s miscue served as motivation for the rookie as he stepped into the batter’s box in the fourth inning. He narrowly missed a two-run homer but Jays’ right fielder Travis Snider robbed him with a spectacular catch at the wall in front of the visitors’ bullpen.

Lowrie came to the plate in the sixth inning with the bases loaded. But this time he supplied a sacrifice fly that began Boston’s comeback.

In the bottom of the eighth, he drove in the game-tying run before he scored the would-be winning run on Jacoby Ellsbury’s infield hit.

“He’s a very steady player,” said Lowrie’s double-play partner Dustin Pedroia. “Errors are going to happen. They happen to everybody, but it’s how you respond after an error, and Jed’s awesome. He’s always mentally focused in the game. Physical errors are going to happen, but he’ll never make a mental error.”

Even though Lowrie came up big at the plate, after his error in the second, his defense was superb the rest of the way. He and Pedroia combined for three double plays — in the third, sixth and eighth innings — to keep the game within striking distance for the Red Sox.

“He played his [butt] off,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. “That was good to see. (The error) was a critical play early in the game, and it opened up a chance for a big inning — it turned out to be a big inning. Then he took two swings and drove two balls to right and got nothing for it. Then with a runner on second he drives the ball to right-center and that was a beautiful at-bat.”

Boston played hardnosed, gritty baseball in the nightcap with takeout slides and aggressive base running

“There were a lot of critical points,” said Francona. “We kept getting turned away, and we talk all the time about handling frustration. We kept plugging and plugging and when we got close we couldn’t tie it. But we kept at it and a lot of things happened to give us a chance to win that game.”

Boston scored early with a pair of runs in the first inning before Bartolo Colon imploded in the top of the second. The right-hander allowed five runs as Toronto gained a 5-2 advantage. Fortunately for the Red Sox, Colon settled down and did not allow another run the rest of the way.

It was his first start for the Red Sox since June 16 and he allowed five runs (two earned) on seven hits. It was his first start

Boston began to chip away at the Blue Jays lead with a run in the sixth on Lowrie’s sacrifice fly, and another in the seventh on Kevin Youkilis’ fielder’s choice that scored Ellsbury from third.

The comeback continued in the bottom of the eighth inning when Lowrie’s RBI single scored Jason Bay, who led off with a double to left, to tie the game at 5-5. Ellsbury’s infield single scored Lowrie for the go-ahead run before Ortiz added a bit of insurance as Boston gained a 7-5 advantage on his RBI double.

In the matinee, Red Sox starter Paul Byrd wasn’t his usual effective self. The right-hander lasted only five innings (plus one batter in the sixth) and allowed five runs on 10 hits with no walks and three strikeouts.

“He almost threw too many strikes,” said Francona. “You hate to say that because you love when guys pound the zone. (Toronto) was so aggressive and he was around the plate. They were swinging from the get-go and they squared up a lot of balls.”

The big blow to Byrd and the Red Sox came in the top of the fifth inning when Snider (five RBI) launched a three-run homer to give Toronto a 5-0 lead. Byrd faced one batter in the sixth before he was lifted from the game after throwing only 59 pitches (47 strikes).

“I would have loved to stay out there and help our team,” said Byrd. “I felt like they were really aggressive and I felt they were swinging early. I just didn’t command my fastball well today, which is what I do for a living. I usually keep our team in the game and I didn’t today. It’s super frustrating for me. I’ve been throwing the ball well, but I want to throw the ball well every time out. I want to give this team a chance to win every time I take the mound.”

Yesterday was the fourth time in his last seven starts Byrd has faced the Blue Jays. And, he’s scheduled to start against them again next weekend in Toronto. Safe to say he’s sick of facing these guys.

“Yes!” he admitted after yesterday’s matinee game. “I know I’ve faced them a lot, but I just didn’t make the pitches I needed to make today. I couldn’t throw the ball away very well. I was up and left some key pitches over the middle of the plate, and you can’t do that against a team that is really hot and has great hitters.”

Red Sox reliever David Aardsma, who been battling a groin injury, replaced Byrd and quickly surrendered three runs on three hits as Toronto took an 8-0 lead.

If there was anything positive about the matinee game, it was the pitching performance by Sox’ Devern Hansack. The right-hander worked three perfect innings with three strikeouts.

“He pitched well,” said Francona. “I thought he pitched very well. He used all of his pitches and that was the bright spot by watching him pitch.” Blue Jays

8-5

Red Sox

1-7

Next Game

Today

vs. Toronto

1:35 p.m.

jmcdonal@projo.com