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Instant Reaction: Kevin Gausman deals as Blue Jays offence comes to life late against the Pirates
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Photo credit: © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Michael Coyle
May 23, 2026, 07:00 EDTUpdated: May 23, 2026, 07:07 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays find themselves on a three-game winning streak. 
After taking the final two games against the New York Yankees, the Blue Jays returned home and claimed the first game of the series against the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2, and improved their record to 24-27. 
Kevin Gausman was brilliant for the second straight outing, turning in a pitching line of 6 2/3 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, and giving the Blue Jays much-needed length a day after using five relievers in New York. The 14-year MLB veteran has now recorded 61 strikeouts over his 64 innings, raising his career total to 2015, the sixth-most among active MLB pitchers. 
The 35-year-old toyed with the Pirates’ lineup to improve his record to 4-3, lower his ERA to 3.23 and his WHIP  to 1.05. The right-hander turned in his seven quality starts across his 11 outings. After allowing a run on a Spencer Horwitz sacrifice fly in the top of the first, Gausman settled in, never facing any real danger until the top of the seventh inning. 
Jhostynxon Garcia and Endy Rodríguez opened the inning with singles, and the Pirates threatened to cut into the Blue Jays’ lead. Gausman was able to record two straight groundouts to first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. before turning the ball over to Mason Fluharty, who got Oneil Cruz to fly out to Yohendrick Piñango. 
After Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler worked his way through the first two innings, the Blue Jays clawed their way to a three-run third inning. George Springer opened the frame by reaching via catcher interference, followed by a Guerrero single. Daulton Varsho followed and hit a groundball to Horwitz. Horwitz fielded the ball and chose to try to cut down Springer, but fired his throw over third baseman Nick Gonzales’ head to allow the Blue Jays to tie up the game. 
With one out and runners on first and third, Piñango turned on a Chandler curveball, driving it 114.8 MPH off the bat and cashing in both runners to give the Blue Jays a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Piñango continues to make his case to be an everyday player in the Blue Jays’ lineup. Over his first 21 career games, the 24-year-old is batting .295 with one home run and 10 RBIs. 
Chandler, Brandan Bidois, and Justin Lawrence held the Blue Jays off the board over the next four innings before the offence broke through.
Dennis Santana entered to begin the bottom of the eighth and was welcomed by Ernie Clement and Jesús Sánchez hitting back-to-back doubles, extending the lead to 4-2. After Brandon Valenzuela walked and Andrés Giménez struck out, Springer brought the Toronto faithful to their feet, slashing a Santana sinker down the right field line for a ground-rule double, providing a stress-free ninth for Louis Varland. 
Varland was sprung into action earlier than normal after Fluharty allowed the first two runners of the eighth inning to reach. John Schneider brought his closer in to face Bryan Reynolds. Varland uncorked a wild pitch, which allowed a Reynolds groundball to second to bring in a run. With a runner on third and one out, Varland set down rookie phenom Konnor Griffin on a strikeout, allowing the Blue Jays’ infield to return to normal depth with Garcia coming to the plate. Garcia grounded out to Giménez on a first-pitch fastball, ending the threat. 
Schneider kept Varland in for the ninth up 6-2, and the 28-year-old made quick work of the Pirates’ bottom three batters. Varland struck out both Rodríguez and Esmerlyn Valdez before getting Jake Mangum to ground out to short, sealing the win, and earning his seventh save of the year.  After his two shutout innings, Varland now holds a sparkling 0.65 ERA and has struck out 40 batters across 27 2/3 innings pitched. 
The Pirates have ace Paul Skenes on the mound for the second game of the series. Skenes is 6-3 with a 2.62 ERA, and is coming off a 2025 season where he picked up his first career Cy Young Award. 
The Blue Jays will counter with Patrick Corbin. Corbin is 1-1 with a 4.23 ERA and 1.49 WHIP, and has given the Blue Jays some quality outings as they continue to deal with injuries to their rotation. 
First pitch is set for 3:07 p.m EST at Rogers Centre.

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