OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Bo Bichette hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the eighth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Oakland Athletics 2-1 on Wednesday to snap a five-game losing streak.
Matt Chapman also homered against his former team for the second straight day. Chapman spent his first five seasons in Oakland before being traded to Toronto in March.
Ramón Laureano homered for the A’s, who failed to complete their first sweep of the season.
Laureano’s sixth long ball of the year broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth. Chapman responded with his 13 in the top of the seventh before Bichette hit his 13 an inning later.
Blue Jays starter José Berríos pitched six strong innings, allowing one run on four hits with six strikeouts and one walk. Adam Cimber (8-2) followed with two perfect innings for his eighth win, the most among major league relievers.
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Jordan Romano went 1-2-3 in the ninth with two strikeouts for his 18th save in 21 chances.
Oakland starter James Kaprielian shut out Toronto for six innings before homering to Chapman, one of his best friends, to start the seventh inning.
Kaprielian allowed five hits and four walks with one strikeout. It was his 24th straight start of six frames or fewer, extending the A’s all-time record.
Domingo Acevedo (1-2) allowed his seventh home run of the year to suffer his first loss since April 29.
ALLEN FLASHES THE LEATHER
A’s rookie Nick Allen made a pair of stunning defensive plays at second base in the fourth inning. With Bichette leading off the inning, Allen chased a fly ball into shallow right field and made a jump catch for a hit. Then, with two runners on and two out, Allen made a spectacular diving stop on a blistering one-hopper to steal Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and keep the game scoreless.
COACHES ROOM
Blue Jays: LD Kevin Gausman, who was hit with a comeback with his right foot on Saturday, is expected to miss his scheduled start on Thursday. Gausman played ball for the third straight day and could potentially make his next start this weekend.
Athletics: RHP Frankie Montas received a cortisone injection in his right shoulder after an MRI revealed swelling but no structural damage. He will miss his next start and is considered day to day. … RHP Dany Jimenez (sprained right shoulder) has caught out at 90 feet, but needs to stretch more over the next week to 10 days.
LIST MOVEMENTS
The Blue Jays claimed RHP Matt Peacock off waivers from the Kansas City Royals and designated RHP Shaun Anderson for assignment. Toronto also recalled RHP Casey Lawrence and sent RHP Trent Thornton to Triple-A Buffalo.
UNTIL NEXT TIME
Blue Jays: Begin a four-game series in Seattle on Thursday. With Gausman (ankle) expected to miss his start, Toronto has not named a starting pitcher.
Athletics: Coming off a bad day, RHP Paul Blackburn (6-3, 2.90 ERA) will open a three-game series at home against the Houston Astros on Friday.
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