Guerrero homers as Jays win 7th straight, beat White Sox 7-3

Updated Jun. 1, 2022 10:30 p.m. ET
Associated Press

TORONTO (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a two-run homer, Danny Jansen added a three-run blast, and the Toronto Blue Jays extended their winning streak to seven games by beating the Chicago White Sox 7-3 on Wednesday night.

It’s Toronto’s longest winning streak since an eight-game run last Sept. 1-9.

Santiago Espinal added a solo shot as the Blue Jays won for the 11th time in 14 games.

Blue Jays left-hander Hyun Jin Ryu left after four innings because of tightness in his forearm. Ryu missed 24 games in April and May because of soreness in his forearm.

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Ryu left his previous start, May 26 against the Angels, after five innings because of a sore elbow.

Ryu allowed three runs, two earned, and four hits. He walked none and struck out four.

Ross Stripling (1-1) replaced Ryu and worked 2 2/3 scoreless innings. David Phelps pitched 1 1/3 innings and Yimi Garcia finished.

José Abreu hit a two-run home run and AJ Pollock added a solo blast, but the White Sox lost for the fifth time in seven games.

Back in the lineup after sitting out Tuesday because of a non-COVID illness, Pollock homered on Ryu’s third pitch of the game. It was Pollock’s third homer of the season and the fifth leadoff blast of his career.

Espinal replied with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first, snapping White Sox right-hander Michael Kopech’s 42-inning homerless streak to start the season.

Espinal has a career-high three home runs this season. The leadoff homer was the first of his career.

Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette drew a bases-loaded walk in the second but Kopech struck out Guerrero on a 98 mph fastball to leave the bases full.

Jansen’s homer, his seventh, was a two-out drive that came on an 0-2 fastball in the third.

Guerrero added some breathing room with a two-out blast off Bennett Sousa in the eighth, his 10th.

Pitching on nine days rest after starting the second game of a doubleheader against the Yankees on May 22, Kopech (1-2) allowed five runs and six hits in a season-low three innings.

Kopech walked four, struck out four and threw 85 pitches, 46 strikes. His ERA rose from 1.29 to 2.20.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: INF Yoán Moncada (quadriceps) did not start for the fifth straight game but came on as a pinch hitter in the ninth and struck out looking. … OF Eloy Jiménez (right hamstring) went 1 for 4 in his return to the lineup with Triple-A Charlotte. Jiménez left Saturday’s game, the first of his rehab stint with Charlotte, because of soreness in his leg.

Blue Jays: OF George Springer was not available because of a non-COVID illness. … LHP Tim Mayza (forearm) felt fine after a bullpen session Tuesday and will throw another Friday, manager Charlie Montoyo said. … RHP Nate Pearson (mononucleosis) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo. … The Bisons released OF Mallex Smith.

UP NEXT

White Sox RHP Johnny Cueto (0-1, 2.41) starts Thursday against Blue Jays RHP Alek Manoah (5-1, 1.77). Cueto hasn’t faced Toronto since 2015. Manoah is 8-0 with a 1.99 ERA in 13 career home starts.

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