The Toronto Blue Jays got solid pitching over the weekend and in the process swept the Pittsburgh Pirates. In each contest the Blue Jays scored four runs and won by scores of 4-0, 4-1, and 4-3.
On Friday, Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah threw 7 1/3 innings and had six strikeouts. He gave up five hits and one walk. Offensively, Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette had two extra base hits, as he hit a double and home run. With the win, Manoah won his 13th game of the season. That is the third most wins in the American League. Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros leads the American League with 16 wins, and Framber Valdez of the Astros is second with 14 wins.
On Saturday, Bichette was once again the Blue Jays offensive star. He had a three-run double in the seventh inning to break a 1-1 deadlock.
On Sunday, the Blue Jays got a quality start from Ross Stripling. In six innings of work, he gave up three earned runs, three walks and two hits to go along with eight strikeouts. Offensively, right fielder Teoscar Hernandez and designated hitter Alejandro Kirk each had two hits. Hernandez hit the game-winning RBI single that scored catcher Danny Jansen, which broke a 3-3 tie in the seventh inning.
The Blue Jays now play the Baltimore Orioles in a four-game series starting Monday. On Monday, Toronto and Baltimore will play a doubleheader. The Blue Jays have a two and a half game lead over the Orioles for the final playoff wildcard spot on the junior circuit.
