Kevin Gausman pitched into the sixth inning and the visiting Toronto Blue Jays ended a three-game losing streak with a 6-3 win against the Washington Nationals on Saturday.
Kevin Kiermaier hit a two-run homer in his return from the injured list, and Danny Jansen and Daulton Varsho each had two hits for the Blue Jays, who had lost nine of 12.
Gausman (2-3) went 5 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits. He struck out eight and walked two. Gausman retired 10 straight at one point before allowing a single to Luis Garcia Jr. in the sixth.
CJ Abrams and Garcia each had two hits for the Nationals.
Toronto’s Bo Bichette was ejected after slamming his helmet to the ground when he was called out on strikes on a borderline 3-2 pitch in the fifth.
Washington starter Jake Irvin (2-3) allowed four unearned runs on five hits over five innings. He struck out four and walked one.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider shook up his lineup and the Blue Jays responded with four first inning runs, aided by the Washington infield.
George Springer led off with a grounder to third and Nick Senzel bounced his throw to first with Springer ending up on second. After Varsho — moved up from seventh to second — walked, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded to second. Garcia got the force at second but his throw to first was high and Guerrero was safe.
Justin Turner singled home Springer, and Bichette — who was moved from second to fifth — singled to load the bases. Daniel Vogelbach grounded to first, but instead of a double play, Toronto scored two more runs when Trey Lipscomb’s throw to second sailed into left field. Jansen’s double made it 4-0 with all the runs unearned.
The Nationals loaded the bass on two walks and a hit batter with one out in the seventh inning. Facing Nate Pearson, Abrams drove the ball deep to center, but Kiermaier made the catch on the warning track. One run scored and another came home when Senzel followed with a single.
Kiermaier provided cushion with his two-run shot in the eighth.
–Field Level Media
