TORONTO (AP) — Daniel Vogelbach had two hits and two RBIs, Chris Bassitt pitched five innings and the Toronto Blue Jays remained unbeaten in five games against Pittsburgh, leading them to a 5-4 victory over the Pirates on Sunday.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Davis Schneider each had one RBI and Doulton Varshaw scored two runs as the Blue Jays pulled away from Pittsburgh for a two-game series victory over Pittsburgh in the third.
“We're playing well right now, but there's always room to get better,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said.
Bassitt (6-6) allowed three runs and eight hits as he extended his winning streak as a starter to three, walking one and striking out seven.
The Pirates put at least one runner on base every inning against Bassitt, but the right-hander got out of a bases-loaded jam in the second inning.
“That ended up being the deciding factor in the game,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “We left eight guys on base in the first (four) innings. We had the ability to take advantage of that.”
Pittsburgh went 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position, leaving 13 runners on base.
Bassitt has started five games against the Pirates and is 4-0 with a 2.10 ERA.
Chad Green, Trevor Richards and Nate Pearson each pitched one inning of relief, and Yimi Garcia earned his third save in four attempts in the bottom of the ninth, getting off a one-run single by Rowdy Telles with two outs.
Tellez reached base four times and drove in all four runs, but the Pirates lost four of six.
Pirates right-hander Quinn Priester (0-5), who was recalled from Triple-A for the game against the Blue Jays, gave up four runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. Priester walked zero and struck out three.
“When I missed an opportunity, they were able to take advantage of it,” Priester said.
This was Guerrero's first start at third base since the final game of his rookie season in 2019. Since then, he has only appeared at third base twice and played just four innings there.
“It's not a position change by any means,” Schneider said. “I just think it gives me more flexibility.”
Guerrero caught the only two balls thrown his way Sunday, getting Nick Gonzalez out in the seventh inning and bringing in pinch-hitter Yasmani Grandal in the eighth.
“I signed as a third baseman, so that's my favorite position,” Guerrero said through an interpreter, “but I'm the type of player who thinks if I can play both corners properly, it gives the manager and the team more options.”
Guerrero, who won the American League Gold Glove Award as a first baseman in 2022, advanced to first base in the ninth inning Sunday. Isaiah Kiner-Falefa advanced from second to third base.
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said in a pregame interview with MLB Network Radio that Guerrero could start at third base to add some offensive power to a struggling Toronto lineup. The Blue Jays entered Sunday's game with the third-fewest runs allowed in the American League.
Trainer Room
The Pirates placed infielder Alika Williams (right wrist) on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to May 30, to make room for Priester.
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Pirates: Right-hander Jarrett Jones (3-5, 3.55 ERA) is scheduled to start when Pittsburgh hosts the Dodgers in the first of a three-game series on Tuesday. Right-hander Tyler Glasnow (6-3, 3.04 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for Los Angeles.
Blue Jays: Right-hander Kevin Gausman (4-3, 4.14 ERA) is scheduled to start Monday in the first of a four-game series against Baltimore. The Orioles have not announced their starting pitcher.
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