BUFFALO, N.Y. -- For the city of Buffalo, it was fun while it lasted.
After not hosting a Major League Baseball game since its days as a Federal League outpost in 1915, Buffalo made the most of its opportunity, hosting the Toronto Blue Jays over two seasons because of coronavirus concerns.
It all ended Wednesday night, as J.D. Martinez and Hunter Renfroe went back to back to help the Boston Red Sox win a home run derby, beating Toronto 7-4 in the final MLB game to be played in the city for the foreseeable future.
In the middle of the third inning, Toronto players and coaches came out of the dugout to salute the fans at Sahlen Field.
In the end, there was no mistaking the finality of the Blue Jays' tenure along Lake Erie as Simon & Garfunkel's "Homeward Bound" played on the stadium's sound system just after Boston finished its on-field celebration.
The Blue Jays will return to Toronto on July 30 after the Canadian government granted them an exemption to the U.S.-Canada travel ban. The Blue Jays haven't played at Rogers Centre since 2019 because of coronavirus protocols.
"It's been a good ride here," Blue Jays Manager Charlie Montoyo said. "We're never going to forget that this was the place where we clinched the playoffs last year. The crowds have been great."
Kike Hernandez, Rafael Devers and Michael Chavis also connected for Boston, which went deep six times in Monday's 13-4 win over Toronto.
RAYS 5, ORIOLES 4 Austin Meadows hit a two-out, two-run single in the ninth inning and Tampa Bay rallied past Baltimore.
TIGERS 4, RANGERS 2 Matt Manning pitched six strong innings and Detroit won its sixth consecutive game, beating Texas, which suffered its eighth consecutive loss.
INDIANS 5, ASTROS 4 Rookie Ernie Clement had a season-high three RBI and Cesar Hernandez hit a tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning to lift Cleveland over Houston.
TWINS 7, WHITE SOX 2 Jorge Polanco had three hits, including a home run, as Minnesota defeated Chicago.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
METS 7, REDS 0 Marcus Stroman pitched one-hit ball for eight innings, Dominic Smith launched a grand slam and New York cruised to a victory over Cincinnati.
DIAMONDBACKS 6, PIRATES 4 Pavin Smith and Daulton Varsho hit consecutive home runs in the seventh inning for the go-ahead runs and Arizona completed a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh.
MARLINS 3, NATIONALS 1 (10) Pinch-hitter Jorge Alfaro drove in the go-ahead run with a double in the 10th inning, and Miami snapped a four-game losing streak with a victory over Washington.
PADRES 3, BRAVES 2 Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a two-run home run, starter Chris Paddack reversed his recent struggles and San Diego beat Atlanta in the first game of a doubleheader. Paddack, who had a 10.31 ERA in his last five appearances, worked 5 scoreless innings. The second game was suspended with the Padres leading 5-4 in the fifth inning.
CARDINALS 3, CUBS 2 (10) Yadier Molina doubled with one out in the 10th inning to score Paul Goldschmidt with the winning run as St. Louis defeated Chicago.
INTERLEAGUE
ROYALS 6, BREWERS 3 Nicky Lopez hit a bases-loaded, tiebreaking double, Brad Keller earned his first win in over six weeks and Kansas City completed a season sweep of Milwaukee.
ROCKIES 6, MARINERS 3 Austin Gomber pitched effectively for six innings after spending a month on the injured list, Dom Nunez hit a bases-loaded double in a five-run first and Colorado beat Seattle.
YANKEES 6, PHILLIES 5 (10) Pinch-hitter Ryan LaMarre singled home the winning run in the 10th inning as New York recovered to beat Philadelphia after blowing a late three-run lead.
Wednesday’s games
NATIONAL LEAGUE
San Diego 3, Atlanta 2
Second game susp. in bottom of 5th inning
NY Mets 7, Cincinnati 0
Arizona 6, PIttsburgh 4
Miami 3, Washington 1 (10)
St. Louis 3, Chicago Cubs 2 (10)
San Francisco at LA Dodgers, (n)
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Tampa Bay 5, Baltimore 4
Boston 7, Toronto 4
Detroit 4, Texas 2
Cleveland 5, Houston 4
Minnesota 7, Chicago White Sox 2
INTERLEAGUE
Kansas City 6, Milwaukee 3
Colorado 6, Seattle 3
NY Yankees 6, Philadelphia 5 (10)
