BOSTON -- Attempting to rebound from one of his worst starts of the season -- when he gave up five runs in just two innings at Detroit on July 15 -- Toronto left-hander Francisco Liriano instead had an even shorter start Thursday afternoon against the Boston Red Sox.

But Toronto's offense was led by Justin Smoak's two home runs and three RBIs, as the Blue Jays beat the Red Sox 8-6.

Liriano lasted just 1 2/3 innings, giving up three runs, two earned, at Fenway Park.

"Didn't start out real good," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "(The bullpen) carried a big workload, but they were all good.

"Any time a starter comes out early, you know it's going to turn the game."

But Red Sox starter Doug Fister also struggled, lasting just 4 1/3 innings. He gave up six runs on seven hits. He allowed four walks in his outing -- all in the third inning. He had not allowed more than three walks in his four previous outings this season.

"The strike zone began to elude him," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "This is one of the rare games that the number of walks issued today is a rarity."

It came down to mechanics, said Fister, who fell to 0-4.

"I've been working on a few things and seeing some results," he said. "I was down in the zone a lot today and that was really a focus and some of that was a little bit too much and then that's where the walks came from."

Toronto opened the scoring in the first inning when Russell Martin doubled and scored on Josh Donaldson's single to right.

The Red Sox came back with three in the second, capped by Mookie Betts' two-out, two-run single.

Trailing 3-1, the Blue Jays batted around in the third, scoring four runs on two hits and four walks. Steve Pearce and Ryan Goins each hit two-run singles in the inning. Red Sox second baseman Brock Holt lost Pearce's pop-up in the sun.

"I don't care how hard it's hit, it's a two-RBI knock," Pearce said. "Then Goins comes right behind me, keeps things rolling. We've had a lot of things going against us, so it's nice to finally have something go for us."

Smoak's 25th homer of the season, on Fister's first pitch of the fifth, put Toronto ahead 6-3. The Blue Jays added a run in the sixth when Smoak's two-out single off Kyle Martin scored Darwin Barney, who led off the inning with a walk.

Boston cut its deficit to one in the seventh on a three-run homer by Dustin Pedroia, who was serving as the designated hitter for the first time this season. The homer was his sixth of the season.

Smoak led off the ninth with his second homer of the game, his sixth career multi-homer game and second this season.

Right-hander Dominic Leone relieved Liriano and earned the win, improving to 2-0. Roberto Osuna pitched a scoreless ninth, with two strikeouts, for his 24th save.

NOTES: 2B Dustin Pedroia served as Boston's designated hitter on Thursday for the first time this season, and just the fifth time in his career. He is a career .500 hitter as the DH, going 9-for-18 with five RBIs. On Thursday he extended his hitting streak to nine games. ... With a scoreless first inning Toronto LHP Francisco Liriano lowered his first-inning ERA from 10.05 to 9.39. ... RHP Joe Smith, sidelined since June 14 with shoulder inflammation, is expected to join Toronto for its series in Cleveland beginning Friday. ... Red Sox SS Xander Bogaerts was back in the starting lineup on Thursday for the first time since Monday. He had been bothered by a muscle contusion and a sprained right hand after being hit by a pitch. ... 1B Justin Smoak recorded his sixth career multi-homer game and second this season. He is the only Toronto hitter this season with multiple multi-homer games. ... Blue Jays 3B Josh Donaldson has driven in seven runs in his last nine games. His first-inning RBI was his first against an American League East opponent since he had one RBI against the New York Yankees on June 4. ... Boston RHP Doug Fister allowed four walks in Toronto's four-run third inning. He had not allowed more than three walks in his four prior appearances this season ... Toronto INF Ryan Goins went 1-for-1 with two outs and runners in scoring position in the game. He is batting .379, going 11-for-29, in such situations this season. Overall, he is batting .311, going 14-for-45 with runners in scoring position this season. ... Red Sox C Christian Vazquez was not in the starting lineup. He entered the game in the ninth inning to play third base. It was the second time in his career playing third. He also played there in a June 19 loss at Kansas City.