Max Scherzer delivered a dominant performance, securing his 220th career win, while George Springer’s early two-run home run powered the Toronto Blue Jays to a 7-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.
Scherzer, with a 4-2 record this season, showcased his prowess by allowing just one run and four hits over six innings. The seasoned pitcher, in his 18th year in the league, has now pitched at least six innings in his last five starts.
The Blue Jays, now standing at 74-53 for the season, established a commanding 5-0 lead in the opening two innings against Mitch Keller.
Springer’s impressive 423-foot homer to center field in the second inning marked his 20th home run of the season. The Blue Jays’ offense was further boosted by Alejandro Kirk’s RBI single and Nathan Lukes’ two-run single in the first inning.
Kirk later added a two-run home run, his 10th of the season, off Colin Holderman in the seventh inning, extending the lead to 7-1. The standout catcher wrapped up the game with three hits and three RBIs.
On the Pirates’ end, Keller struggled, conceding five runs in just 3 1/3 innings, following a tough outing against the Milwaukee Brewers in his previous start.
The loss against the Blue Jays marked the Pirates’ eighth defeat in their last ten games, causing them to sink further in the NL Central standings.
Notably, Blue Jays’ star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. sat out due to a left hamstring tightness, although an MRI earlier in the day revealed no significant damage. Manager John Schneider indicated that Guerrero is likely to miss Wednesday’s game to allow for proper recovery.
Guerrero’s absence was a result of a remarkable defensive play in the third inning, where he made a stretch to save a run on a throw from Bo Bichette, showcasing his dedication despite the injury.
The series finale on Wednesday will feature Chris Bassitt (11-6, 4.22 ERA) on the mound for the Blue Jays, while Johan Oviedo (0-0, 18.00) is set to start for the Pirates after being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis.