BOSTON (AP) – Kyle Snyder allowed two hits in seven innings and Mike Lowell homered for the second straight game to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.

Snyder (4-3) struck out a career-high eight batters, allowed just two runners past first base and retired the last nine batters he faced before being replaced by Keith Foulke.

Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon ran into trouble in the ninth, leaving with runners at second and third and one out after injuring himself. He shook his right hand after throwing a pitch that Lyle Overbay fouled off and was replaced by lefty Craig Breslow, who was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket earlier Friday.

Breslow struck out Overbay before being replaced by Mike Timlin, who allowed an RBI infield single to Alex Rios that put the tying run at third. Benjie Molina grounded out to short for the final out, giving Timlin his third save in nine chances. Boston has won two straight after a six-game losing streak.

The Blue Jays are 0-5 on their seven-game road trip that continues Saturday and Sunday at Fenway Park. They fell four games behind second-place Boston in the AL East.

Boston took a 1-0 lead against Ted Lilly (11-12) on Lowell’s 17th homer of the year with one out in the second inning. On Thursday, Lowell hit a three-run homer in the first in the Red Sox’s 6-4 victory.

The Red Sox made it 2-0 in the fifth after Lilly retired the first two batters. Eric Hinske then doubled and took third before Gabe Kapler walked. Hinske scored on a balk by Lilly.

Boston benefited from poor base running in the eighth when Foulke started the inning by allowing singles to Molina and Aaron Hill.

Pinch-hitter Kevin Barker then lined to right field. Kapler made the catch and Molina tagged up at second. Kapler threw to shortstop Alex Cora whose relay to third baseman Lowell caught Molina easily. Reed Johnson then grounded into a force out.

The Red Sox claimed Snyder off waivers from Kansas City on June 16. He had been winless since July 31, when he got the victory over Cleveland in relief of David Wells. Boston lost his last two starts, at Los Angeles on Aug. 22 and at Seattle last Sunday.

, although he was not involved in the decision against the Angels.

Snyder’s previous career high for strikeouts was six, accomplished four times. The last time was on July 31 against the Indians.

On Friday, he walked Overbay in the second, gave up a double to John McDonald and a walked Johnson in the third and allowed a double to Rios in the fifth.

Notes: Toronto 3B Troy Glaus left the game in the bottom of the fifth with a sinus infection and was replaced by John Hattig. … The Red Sox played again without DH David Ortiz (resting after being tested for heart palpitations), LF Manny Ramirez (knee) and OF Wily Mo Pena (wrist). … In rehabilitation assignments for Triple-A Pawtucket against Ottawa, Boston RF Trot Nixon played nine innings as a designated hitter and went 0-for-4, while C Jason Varitek caught five innings and went 1-for-3 with a solo homer in the first inning. Pawtucket won 3-1. Nixon and Varitek are expected to play for Pawtucket again Saturday.

AP-ES-09-01-06 2210EDT