TORONTO (Interstat) — Kevin Gausman pitched 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball, striking out eight, and Louis Varland earned his seventh save with two perfect innings as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2 on Friday night at Rogers Centre. Gausman (4-3) scattered six hits. Varland retired all six batters he faced, three via strikeout. Pittsburgh took a first-inning lead on Spencer Horwitz’s sacrifice fly. Toronto answered with three runs in the third, ignited by a throwing error and capped by Yohendrick Piñango’s two-run double. The Pirates cut the lead to 3-2 in the eighth on Bryan Reynolds’ groundout, but the Blue Jays pulled away in the bottom half on Jesús Sánchez’s RBI double and George Springer’s two-run ground-rule double. Bubba Chandler (1-6) took the loss despite five innings of two-hit, one-earned-run ball with 11 strikeouts. Nick Gonzales had two hits for Pittsburgh, which outhit Toronto 7-5. The Blue Jays improved to 24-27; the Pirates fell to 26-25. Attendance was 39,839. Time: 2:56.

TORONTO (Interstat) — Kevin Gausman pitched six and two-thirds innings of one-run ball and the Toronto Blue Jays scored three runs in the third inning and three more in the eighth to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2 on Friday night at Rogers Centre in front of 39,839 fans. The Blue Jays improved to 24-27, while the Pirates fell to 26-25. Gausman, who won his second straight start after a rough outing earlier this month, allowed six hits and one earned run while striking out eight and walking one. He improved to 4-3 on the season. Bubba Chandler took the loss for Pittsburgh, dropping to 1-6. The right-hander went five innings, giving up two hits and one earned run while striking out 11. But a throwing error in the third inning opened the door for Toronto’s first big inning, and Chandler was not involved in the decision after leaving with the score tied 1-1. The game’s decisive moment came in the bottom of the eighth. With the score knotted at 2-2, Toronto broke open what had been a taut pitching duel. Ernie Clement led off with a double to left field, a call confirmed after a replay review. Jesús Sánchez followed with an RBI double to right field, scoring Clement and giving the Blue Jays a 3-2 lead. Brandon Valenzuela walked, and after Andrés Giménez struck out, George Springer delivered the game’s biggest blow: a ground-rule double down the right-field line that scored two runs, stretching the lead to 5-2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded out, bringing home another run for a 6-2 advantage. Toronto’s three-run third inning had given the Blue Jays an early 3-1 lead. The frame began with George Springer reaching on catcher interference by Endy Rodríguez. Guerrero Jr. singled, putting runners at the corners. Daulton Varsho then reached on a fielder’s choice, with Springer scoring and Guerrero Jr. moving to third. On the play, first baseman Spencer Horwitz made a throwing error that allowed Varsho to advance to second. After Kazuma Okamoto struck out, Yohendrick Piñango doubled sharply to right field, driving in Guerrero Jr. and Varsho for the 3-1 lead. Pittsburgh had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Brandon Lowe singled, Nick Gonzales doubled, and Lowe scored on a sacrifice fly by Horwitz. The Pirates tied the game in the top of the eighth. Lowe walked, Gonzales singled, and after a pitching change, Bryan Reynolds grounded out to second base, scoring Lowe. Gonzales advanced to third, but Konnor Griffin struck out and Jhostynxon Garcia grounded out to end the threat. Toronto’s Louis Varland earned the save, his seventh of the season. Varland pitched two scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out three. Brandan Bidois and Justin Lawrence each pitched one scoreless inning for Pittsburgh, striking out one apiece. Gausman was the top star for Toronto, continuing his resurgence after a difficult outing against Tampa Bay on May 11 in which he allowed six earned runs over 4 2/3 innings. His previous start, on May 17 at Detroit, was a six-inning shutout performance with five strikeouts in a 4-1 win. Pittsburgh’s offense managed seven hits on the night but went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base. Nick Gonzales had two hits, including a double, for the Pirates. Toronto’s five hits were spread across the lineup, with Piñango driving in two runs, Springer driving in two and Sánchez adding one RBI. The game took 2 hours, 56 minutes to play. The Pirates had come into the game having won their previous two games against St. Louis, including a 6-2 win Thursday and a 7-0 shutout Wednesday. The loss snapped a modest winning streak. Toronto, meanwhile, had taken two of three from the New York Yankees earlier in the week, including a 2-0 shutout Thursday. Pittsburgh’s next 10 games include the continuation of this series Saturday and Sunday in Toronto, followed by a six-game homestand against the Chicago Cubs and Minnesota Twins. Toronto will host Pittsburgh again Saturday and Sunday before a three-game series against the Miami Marlins. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Pittsburgh 4, Toronto 3. Interstat’s ELO system projected Toronto with a 58.80 percent probability to win. Toronto was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5.

(Interstat) — Pirates at Blue Jays Preview Two teams heading in opposite directions meet Friday night when the Pittsburgh Pirates visit the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. First pitch is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. EDT. Pittsburgh (26-24) enters the game after a 6-2 win Thursday at St. Louis and has won three of its last four. Toronto (23-27) counters after a 2-0 victory Thursday at the New York Yankees, its third win in four games. The Pirates will start right-hander Bubba Chandler (1-5, 5.40 ERA). The 23-year-old rookie has struggled this season, allowing four or more earned runs in four of his seven starts. One player to watch for Pittsburgh is right-hander Braxton Ashcraft, who has been dominant of late. Ashcraft earned the win Thursday against St. Louis, throwing seven innings and allowing four hits, one earned run and striking out nine. Over his last four appearances, he has allowed one earned run or fewer, including a complete-game shutout of the Reds on May 3 in which he struck out six over 7 2/3 innings. For Toronto, left-hander Spencer Miles has been a key piece out of the bullpen. Miles notched the win Thursday against the Yankees, throwing 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out six. Over his last three appearances, he has not allowed an earned run and has struck out 13 in 11 innings. The Blue Jays have been installed as pregame favorites with a spread of minus-1.5. The over/under is 8. Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Pittsburgh 4, Toronto 3. However, Interstat’s ELO system gives Toronto a 58.80 percent probability to win. The series continues Saturday and Sunday before Pittsburgh returns home to face the Chicago Cubs on Memorial Day. Toronto hosts the Miami Marlins on Monday.