Beck Can’t Hold Lead for Red Sox : AL East: Closer gives up three runs in ninth inning of 7-5 loss to Blue Jays, who remain in race.

Rod Beck blew a save on Thursday night--the first time he has done that since coming to the Boston Red Sox.

And one too many for him.

“Some people don’t expect me to be perfect. I do,” he said after giving up three runs in the ninth inning of the Toronto Blue Jays’ 7-5 victory over the Red Sox.

“Guys battle all day for a lead and it’s my job to protect it. I didn’t do my job. Tonight I failed out there.”

Homer Bush and Shawn Green singled and scored on Tony Batista’s double as Toronto rallied from a 5-4 deficit to stave off elimination from the wild-card race. One more loss or Red Sox win will finish the Blue Jays.

“We’re happy because we never gave up,” Batista said. “Not in this game and not in this season.”

Nomar Garciaparra hit a two-run homer, then outran a double-play relay to drive in another run in the seventh inning and give the Red Sox a 5-4 lead.

But Beck (0-1), who was three for three in save opportunities since coming to Boston at the trading deadline, came on to start the ninth and couldn’t finish the job.