Defeat in the last away game means that the Red Sox are officially eliminated from the postseason

TORONTO – The Red Sox’s season-ending winning streak ended Wednesday night, along with their futile attempt to sneak into the postseason.

The Sox lost 6-1 to the Toronto Blue Jays, ending their four-game winning streak. The loss, along with wins by Kansas City and Detroit, officially eliminated the Red Sox from the playoffs. With three games remaining, the Red Sox need at least one win to avoid a negative record and two wins to finish above .500.

The Blue Jays went after rookie starter Richard Fitts, scoring two runs in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth, and didn’t let up. The Blue Jays scored two more runs in the seventh inning against reliever Josh Winckowski to win the game.

The Red Sox had no chance in the first five innings, but in the sixth inning they finally made a breakthrough against Toronto starter Kevin Gausman.

Jarren Duran led off with his 48th double of the year, and after Wilyer Abreu walked him to get on base, Duran rode home a single to right off Triston Casas.

That gave the Sox two on base and no outs, but the inning quickly unraveled when Tyler O’Neil’s grounder to center turned into an unorthodox double play that eliminated both baserunners on the bases when O’Neill arrived.

A fielder’s decision saw Blue Jays shortstop Ernie Clement fail to reach second base, knocking O’Neill out, and a walk by Trevor Story loaded the bases and gave the Sox another chance to get back in the game. But Gausman put Nick Sogard out with a flyout to right on the final pitch of his outing.

In the fifth inning, a walk by No. 9 hitter — and former Worcester batter mate — Tyler Heineman, followed by a single to left by Jonatan Clase, set the Jays up for a potentially big inning. After a sacrifice bunt and an infield popup, Fitts was one out away from getting through the inning unscathed, but Alejando Kirk hit a liner to right field to the opposite field, taking both baserunners out of the game.

Kirk was thrown out by Abreu while attempting to stretch at second base, but the damage was already done.

Fitts had not allowed a single earned run in his first three games, and on Wednesday he easily got through the first three innings, allowing only two baserunners.

But it didn’t take long for trouble to arise in the fourth. Vladimir Guerrero hit a leadoff double to right center, just over the outstretched glove of Jarren Duran. Alejandro Kirk followed that up with a double to center that Guerrero easily scored on, ending Fitts’ career-opening streak.

A single by Ernie Clement one out later increased Toronto’s lead to 2-0.

On the way home

Wednesday’s game was the Red Sox’s last away game of the season before they return to Boston for the final series.

After an off day on Thursday, they host Tampa Bay for the final three-game series, likely for third place in the American League East. The teams entered Wednesday’s game with the Red Sox a game and a half ahead of the Rays in the standings.

The Sox plan to start Nick Pivetta (6-11, 4.21) on Friday, followed by Kutter Crawford (9-15, 4.17) on Saturday. On Sunday, the Sox have the choice between Tanner Houck (9-10, 3.12) or Brayan Bello (14-8, 4.49) or a combination of both.