Teoscar Hernandez hit a go-ahead home run in the seventh inningand the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Cleveland Guardians 2-1 on Saturday afternoon.
Matt Chapman added home run for the Blue Jays, who stopped the Guardians’ six-game winning streak.
The Blue Jays ended a three-game losing streak, while earning a split of the first two games of the three-game series.
Vladimir Gurrero Jr. doubled in the first inning for Toronto to extend his career-best hitting streak to 22 games.
Cleveland right-hander Triston McKenzie (8-9) allowed two runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
Toronto right-hander Mitch White allowed one run, three hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. It was his first home start after arriving at the trade deadline in a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Cleveland’s Steven Kwan opened the game with a walk and stole second base with two outs before Josh Naylor walked. Andres Gimenez followed with an RBI single for the early 1-0 lead.
The Guardians’ Luke Maile led off the fifth with a single and was forced at second by Kwan. Amed Rosario singled and Zach Pop replaced White. Pop ended the threat when he got Jose Ramirez to fly out to center field.
Chapman led off the bottom of the fifth for the Blue Jays with his 23rd home run of the season to tie the score. Santiago Espinal singled with one out, but was caught stealing.
Gimenez singled with one out in the sixth for the Guardians and Adam Cimber replaced Pop. Gimenez reached second on a wild pitch and took third on a fly out before Nolan Jones struck out to end the inning.
Blue Jays right-hander Anthony Bass (3-3) pitched a perfect top of the seventh.
Hernandez gave Toronto the lead when he led off the bottom of the seventh with his 17th home run of the season. Enyel De Los Santos replaced McKenzie after Raimel Tapia’s two-out double. Tapia was thrown out at home on Espinal’s single to second baseman Gimenez.
Jordan Romano replaced Yimi Garcia after Naylor’s two-out double in the eighth. He gave up a single in the ninth inning before earning his 26th save.
–Field Level Media
