Ernie Clement of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates with Brandon Valenzuela after scoring a run on an RBI double by Jesus Sanchez in the eighth inning.Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
Yohendrick Pinango and George Springer hit two-run doubles and starter Kevin Gausman pitched into the seventh inning as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2 on Friday night.
After Springer scored Toronto’s first run in the third inning, Pinango drove in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Daulton Varsho later in the frame.
That was enough support for Gausman (4-3), who settled in after giving up a run in the first inning. The veteran right-hander allowed six hits, one walk and had eight strikeouts.
Gausman was pulled with two outs in the seventh inning and Pittsburgh threatening with two runners in scoring position. Reliever Mason Fluharty needed one pitch to escape the jam as he got Oneil Cruz to fly out.
Pittsburgh put two more runners on in the eighth before Toronto manager John Schneider called on closer Louis Varland for a rare six-out performance. The Pirates scored on a fielder’s choice but left the potential tying run at third base when Jhostynxon Garcia grounded out.
Blue Jays outfielder Yohendrick Pinango hits a two-run double off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler.Chris Young/The Canadian Press
Toronto tacked on three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. Jesus Sanchez hit an RBI double and Springer drove in two runs with a ground-rule double.
A near-sellout crowd of 39,839 was on hand as Toronto (24-27) earned its third straight victory.
Bubba Chandler (1-6) absorbed the loss for the Pirates (26-25), who have dropped five of their last seven games.
TAKEAWAYS
Blue Jays: Toronto’s bats have been relatively quiet over the win streak. After recording a total of four runs and 15 hits over two victories in New York, the Blue Jays got another victory despite a five-hit showing against the Pirates.
Pirates: Pittsburgh came out hot as two of the first three batters reached base against Gausman. Former Blue Jay Spencer Horwitz hit a sacrifice fly to deep centre that brought home Brandon Lowe with the game’s first run.
KEY MOMENT
A Horwitz throwing error set up Toronto’s three-run third inning. The Pittsburgh first baseman’s throw to third base sailed high, allowing Springer to score and the other runners to move into scoring position.
KEY STAT
Pinango’s two-run double down the right-field line left the bat at a game-high velocity of 114.8 miles per hour.
COMING UP
Left-hander Patrick Corbin (1-1, 4.23 ERA) was scheduled to start for the Blue Jays on Saturday against right-hander Paul Skenes (6-3, 2.62).