Achi news desk-
WASHINGTON (AP) –
Kevin Gausman pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings, Kevin Kiermaier hit a two-run homer in his return from the injured list Toronto The Blue Jays beat the Washington Nationals 6-3 on Saturday to end a three-game losing streak.
Gausman (2-3) allowed three hits while striking out eight. He walked two batters in the first inning, but settled down and later retired 10 straight — seven on a strikeout — before leaving after a one-out single by Luis Garcia Jr. in the sixth.
Gausman has given up two earned runs in 24 innings while striking out 21 with five walks over his last four starts.
Danny Jansen and Daulton Warshaw each had two hits for the Blue Jays, who lost eight of 11. Kiermaier returned after missing nine games with left hamstring inflammation and singled off Derek Lowe in the eighth inning for his first homer of the season.
C.J. Abrams and Garcia each had two hits for the Nationals, who won six of eight and missed a chance for a record win for the first time since July 1, 2021 when they were 40-39.
Washington starter Jake Irwin (2-3) allowed four unearned runs on five hits over five innings.
TorontoPitcher Beau Bichette was ejected by home plate umpire Jonathan Parra after slamming his helmet to the ground when called out for a hit on a 3-2 borderline pitch in the fifth.
Trailing 4-0, Washington loaded the bases with one out in the seventh. Abrams hit a drive to center that was caught by Kiermaier on the warning track for a sacrifice fly and Nick Sanzel followed with an RBI single.
Toronto Manager John Schneider shook up his lineup — including moving Warshaw to second and Bichette to fifth — but Washington’s defense played a major role in the Blue Jays’ fast start.
The Nationals wrapped up two throwing errors around another bad throw that erased the second out of a potential double play, as the Blue Jays scored four unearned runs in the first. Two runs scored when first baseman Trey Lipscomb threw the ball into left field on Daniel Vogelbach’s bases-loaded grounder, and Janssen capped the inning with an RBI double.
Coach’s room
Blue Jays: Schneider said RHP Alek Manoah (right shoulder soreness) will be back and will make his 2024 debut when he starts the series finale on Sunday. He hasn’t played in a major since August 10.
Nationals: RHP Josiah Gray (right elbow) threw a bullpen session Saturday. Manager Dave Martinez said Gray felt good after throwing 30-35 pitches and his next at-bat will be Tuesday or Wednesday.
the next
Manoah will face LHP McKenzie Gore (2-3, 3.19), who is averaging 11.03 strikeouts per nine innings.
