Kevin Gausman threw 5 1/3 innings without letting the Nationals score, Kevin Kiermaier hit a two-run home run after coming back from injury, and the Toronto Blue Jays won 6-3 against the Washington Nationals on Saturday, ending their three-game losing streak.
Gausman, who has a record of 2-3, gave up three hits and struck out eight batters. He walked two players in the first inning but got better as the game went on. He retired 10 batters in a row, with seven strikeouts, before leaving the game after Luis García Jr. hit a single in the sixth inning. He threw 112 pitches.
Gausman admitted his performance wasn’t very efficient, saying, “I had too many deep counts.” However, he knew he needed to pitch deep into the game, so he was okay with it.
In his last four starts, Gausman has only allowed two earned runs in 24 innings, striking out 21 and walking five.
Danny Jansen and Daulton Varsho also contributed with two hits each for the Blue Jays, who had lost eight of their last 11 games. Kiermaier, who returned after being sidelined for nine games due to left hip flexor inflammation, hit his first home run of the season off Derek Law in the eighth inning.
Manager John Schneider welcomed Kiermaier back, saying, “Nice add-on there at the end.”
