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Blue Jays drop series opener in Atlanta for fourth consecutive loss

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The Toronto Blue Jays are now on a four-game losing streak as they dropped the opener of a three-game weekend series with the Atlanta Braves by a score of 3-1.

The Braves scored all their runs in the second inning as Kevin Gausman struggled with his command. Gausman issued three walks in the frame and the Braves pushed three runs across the plate on a couple of soft singles and a groundout.

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Gausman settled down after the second inning and had three-up, three-down frames in the third, fourth, and fifth. He allowed a leadoff double to Marcell Ozuna in the sixth but cleared through the next three batters to strand the run on base. All told, the right-hander went six innings and allowed three earned runs on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts.

The only run that the Blue Jays managed in this game came in the top of the third inning. Nathan Lukes hit a leadoff single and George Springer reached on a fielding error. Daulton Varsho moved Lukes over to third on a groundout and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. brought him home with another ball on the ground.

Otherwise, the Blue Jays were completely shut down by Atlanta starter Max Fried. The lefty went seven innings and allowed one earned run on five hits and one walk while striking out eight batters.

Toronto mounted a rally in the top of the ninth inning with Atlanta closer Rasiel Iglesias on the mound. With two outs in the innings, Joey Loperfido hit a double and Lukes moved him over to third with a single. Springer came to the plate with the tying run just 90 feet away from home plate but struck out to end the game.

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The Blue Jays will look to snap out of their losing streak on Saturday evening in the second game of this series in Atlanta. José Berríos will take the mound for Toronto and rookie Spencer Schwellenbach will start for the Braves.