Blue Jays Beat Pirates 6-2 as Kevin Gausman Improves to 4-3

Kevin Gausman pitched into the seventh inning, and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2 on Friday night, extending their winning streak to three games. The victory came in front of a near sellout crowd of 39,839 at Rogers Centre.

Gausman settled in after allowing a run in the first inning, when the Pirates took an early lead on a sacrifice fly by former Blue Jay Spencer Horwitz that brought home Brandon Lowe. The right hander finished with eight strikeouts while giving up six hits and one walk over six and two thirds innings, improving his record to 4-3.

Toronto’s three run third inning was the decisive frame. George Springer scored the Blue Jays’ first run after a throwing error by Horwitz at first base allowed Springer to reach and advanced the runners. Yohendrick Pinango then followed with a two run double down the right field line, driving in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Daulton Varsho. The double left Pinango’s bat at a game high 114.8 miles per hour.

Toronto added three insurance runs in the eighth inning. Jesus Sanchez hit an RBI double, and Springer drove in two runs with a ground rule double.

Gausman was pulled with two outs in the seventh inning and two...