Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - David Ortiz belted a two-run homer and Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched seven shutout innings, as the Boston Red Sox crept closer to a playoff berth with a 3-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in the finale of a three-game set from the Rogers Centre.

Jacoby Ellsbury went 3-for-4 with a triple, two doubles and a pair of runs scored for Boston, which ensured no worse than a playoff for a wild card berth with just its second win in five games. The New York Yankees beat Baltimore on Sunday, to keep alive the possibility that the Yankees and Red Sox would be tied for the wild card spot at season's end.

Boston, however, can wrap up its fifth postseason appearance in six years with a win against Cleveland on Monday. The Red Sox also moved within 1 1/2 games of Tampa Bay for first place in the AL East after the Rays lost at home to Minnesota, 4-1, Sunday afternoon.

Matsuzaka (18-2) surrendered just two hits with two walks and had six strikeouts to win consecutive starts for the first time since August 14-19. He beat Tampa Bay six days ago and is 7-0 in 10 outings since his last loss on July 28 against the Angels. The right-hander also finished 9-0 in 13 road starts this season.

"It was one of those days where he had his stuff, we got enough early and he settled down a little bit," said Red Sox outfielder Jason Bay. "Going forward and into the playoffs you want guys to start getting a little momentum and he's got that."

Vernon Wells had two hits for the Blue Jays, who lost for the second time in five games.

Scott Richmond (0-3), in his fourth major league start for Toronto and first since August 10, took the loss. He was charged with three runs on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts in five innings.

The Red Sox grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Ellsbury led off the game with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Dustin Pedroia.

Toronto got a leadoff double from Wells in the second inning and he advanced to third on a grounder before Lyle Overbay walked. Matsuzaka, though, struck out both Scott Rolen and Travis Snider to keep the Red Sox in front.

"Dice works out of a jam early where they could have tied the game with a man on third and less than two outs," said Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek. "He made some good pitches and kept the game there for David [Ortiz] to hit a two-run homer."

Ellsbury ignited things for Boston in the third with a one-out double and Ortiz made it 3-0 with a two-out homer, his 22nd of the season.

Another Ellsbury double in the fifth, this time with two outs, was wasted when Pedroia flied out, and Matsuzaka worked around another leadoff double in the sixth. Joe Inglett led off the frame with a two-bagger, but was stranded there when the Boston right-hander retired the next three batters.

The Blue Jays didn't get another hit until the ninth, when Wells singled with two outs against Jonathan Papelbon. The Boston closer retired Adam Lind on a fly ball to left for his 40th save.