Blue Jays beat the Pirates 6-2 for their 3rd straight victory

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TORONTO (AP) — Kevin Gausman pitched into the seventh inning, Yohendrick Pinango and George Springer had two-run doubles and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2 on Friday night for their third straight victory.

After Springer scored Toronto’s first run in the third inning, Pinango drove in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Daulton Varsho in the inning.

Gausman (4-3) settled in after giving up a run in the first inning. The right-hander allowed six hits, one walk and had eight strikeouts.

Pittsburgh starter Bubba Chandler (1-6) allowed three runs — only one earned — in five innings. The Pirates have lost five of seven to fall to 26-25.

Gausman was pulled with two outs in the seventh inning with two runners in scoring position. Reliever Mason Fluharty then needed one pitch to get Oneil Cruz to fly out.

Pittsburgh had two more runners in the eighth before Toronto manager John Schneider called on closer Louis Varland for a rare six-out save. The Pirates scored on a fielder’s choice, but left the potential tying run at third base when Jhostynxon Garcia grounded out. Varland has seven saves.

Toronto scored three times in the eighth. Jesus Sanchez had an RBI double, and Springer drove in two runs with a ground-rule double.

Toronto improved to 24-27.

RHP Paul Skenes (6-3, 2.63 ERA) was set to start for the Pirates on Saturday against LHP Patrick Corbin (1-1, 4.23).

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB