TORONTO (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. extended his hitting streak to 21 games, José Berríos struck out eight times in seven innings and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Oakland Athletics 3-1 on Friday night.
Alejandro Kirk scored the decisive run in the sixth inning and Spencer Horwitz gave Toronto some security with a solo home run in the eighth inning, giving the Blue Jays their third win in four games.
Guerrero hit two singles and his hitting streak is the longest active streak in the major leagues.
Guerrero also dived into the net and landed in the first row of seats behind first base after catching Shea Langeliers’ foul popup, leaving two runners behind in the sixth inning.
Berríos (10-9) allowed one run and six hits. He is 8-2 with a 2.83 ERA in 12 home games and 2-7 with a 5.29 ERA in 12 road games.
Chad Green pitched the ninth inning and made his eleventh save in eleven chances.
Horwitz made 3 of 4 and came close to the triple of the cycle.
George Springer hit the 59th leadoff home run of his career, a second-deck hit against right-hander Mitch Spence. It was Springer’s second leadoff hit of the season, having done so against Detroit on July 21.
Springer is second on the baseball career list for leadoff home runs behind Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson (81). Springer has hit 20 leadoff home runs since joining the Blue Jays before the 2021 season.
Oakland tied the game in the third inning when rookie shortstop Darell Hernaiz hit his first career home run to take the lead. Berríos has now allowed 26 home runs this season. Only Boston’s Kutter Crawford (27) has allowed more.
Guerrero reached first base with a one-out single in the sixth inning, advanced to third base on a throwing error, and scored on Kirk’s grounder.
The Athletics sent runners to the corners with two outs in the seventh inning, but Berríos ended his assignment by taking Lawrence Butler out of the game.
Spence (7-8) lost his second straight start, allowing two runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. He did not allow a walk and had two strikeouts.
Next
RHP Yariel Rodríguez (1-4, 3.86 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Blue Jays on Saturday against Oakland RHP Osvaldo Bido (9-8, 4.35).
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