Alejandro Kirk leads Jays past White Sox, to sixth straight win

[June 01, 2022] Alejandro Kirk hit a pair of two-run home runs and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Chicago White Sox 6-5 on Tuesday night to extend their winning streak to six games.

Teoscar Hernandez added two doubles and two RBIs for Toronto in the opener of a three-game series.

Chicago's Andrew Vaughn drove in two runs, on a solo home run, a double and two singles.

Toronto right-hander Kevin Gausman (5-3) allowed three runs, six hits and one walk, with five strikeouts, in five innings.

Jordan Romano pitched around two singles in the ninth, with a double play and a strikeout, to pick up his 16th save.

Chicago right-hander Lucas Giolito (3-2) allowed six runs, eight hits and two walks while striking out eight in 4 2/3 innings.

Vaughn hit his sixth homer of the season on a drive to left with one out in the first inning.

Hernandez led off the second with a double and Kirk homered to left.

Chicago scored twice in the fifth. Former Blue Jay Reese McGuire led off with a double and scored on Danny Mendick's double. Vaughn then hit a two-out RBI single.

Toronto regained the lead with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. George Springer singled with one out and Bo Bichette hit a ground-rule double. Both scored as Hernandez lined a double to center that eluded Adam Engel's dive.

 Chicago White Sox left fielder AJ Pollock (18) bats against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Kirk then delivered his third home run of the season.

Trevor Richards replaced Gausman and allowed two singles, McGuire's RBI double and a walk to load the bases with none out. Adam Cimber replaced Richards.

A run scored on Mendick's fielder's choice grounder. Yasmani Grandal was denied a sacrifice fly on his drive to left when McGuire did not run hard home after tagging up and did not reach the plate as Mendick was thrown out at second to complete an inning-ending double play.

Yimi Garcia pitched around a walk in the top of the seventh. Julian Merryweather survived two singles in the top of the eighth.

Chicago put shortstop Tim Anderson (groin) on the injured list and activated outfielder Luis Robert from the COVID-19 list.

Toronto recalled right-hander Trent Thornton from Triple-A Buffalo and designated left-hander Ryan Borucki for assignment.

--Field Level Media

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