Right-hander Jose Berrios struck out eight in seven innings, George Springer and Spencer Horwitz homered and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Oakland Athletics 3-1 Friday night.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. extended his hit streak to 21 games with two singles and Ernie Clement had three singles in the opener of a three-game series.
Darell Hernaiz had a homer and single for the Athletics.
Berrios (10-9) allowed one run, six hits and one walk.
Oakland right-hander Mitch Spence (7-8) allowed two runs and eight hits with two strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
Springer hit his 14th homer of the season to start the home first, a blast to left center. It was his 59th career homer to lead off a game, second all-time to Rickey Henderson’s 81. Daulton Varsho followed with a single but was thrown out at third on Guerrero’s single to center.
Hernaiz led off the top of the third with his first career major league home run on a drive to left.
Oakland threatened in the sixth when Lawrence Butler led off with a double to left and Miguel Andujar walked. Butler took third on JJ Bleday’s flyout to the warning track in center. Brent Rooker was retired on Berrios’s 1,300th career strikeout and Shea Langeliers fouled to first when Guerrero tumbled into the seats making the catch.
Toronto scored in the bottom of the sixth. Guerrero singled with one out. He took third when shortstop Max Schuemann threw errantly to first on Horwitz’s infield hit. Guerrero scored on Alejandro Kirk’s fielder’s choice grounder to third. Clement singled and T.J. McFarland replaced Spence.
Oakland had runners at the corners after two-out singles by Hernaiz and Schuemann but Butler lined out to right.
Erik Swanson replaced Berrios in the eighth and pitched around a walk. The inning ended when shortstop Leo Jimenez speared a line drive by Langeliers.
Horwitz hit his fifth homer of the season in the home eighth against Austin Adams.
Chad Green pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 11th save in 11 opportunities.
–Field Level Media