The winning streak has come to an end at four games.
Following Friday night’s walk-off victory, the Pittsburgh Pirates came back with an 8-1 pounding of the Blue Jays to knot this weekend’s series at one game each. The two teams will play the rubber match of the series on Sunday.
Yusei Kikuchi got the start for the Blue Jays looking to rebound from this worst start of the season last weekend against the Detroit Tigers. The lefty ran into trouble immediately as Ke’Bryan Hayes hit a two-run home run in the first inning to put the Pirates on top.
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Ke’Bryan Hayes mashes a 2-run shot! pic.twitter.com/DpxZSMH9Ir
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Kikuchi settled down and cruised through the second, third, and fourth innings before the Pirates got to him again in the fifth frame. He wound up going five-and-one-third innings and allowed six runs, five of which were earned, on nine hits, one walk, and four strikeouts.
Following Kikuchi, the newly-acquired Ryan Burr made his Blue Jays debut and finished off the sixth and seventh innings without allowing a run. Zach Pop tossed a scoreless eighth inning and then Brandon Little, who was just recalled from Triple-A Buffalo, allowed two runs in the ninth.
The Pirates held the Blue Jays to just one run on six hits and one walk throughout this game. Starter Mitch Keller struck out eight batters over six innings and reliever Luis L. Ortiz finished them off with three scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Toronto’s only run came when Daniel Vogelbach hit a two-out single in the sixth inning to score Vladimir Guerrero Jr. from second base.
Up Next: The Blue Jays and Pirates will play the rubber match of this series on Sunday afternoon. Chris Bassitt will take the mound for Toronto while Pittsburgh’s starter is listed as To Be Determined.