DUNEDIN, Fla. — Alejandro Kirk hit a pair of home runs, Teoscar Hernandez hit a three-run homer in his return to the lineup, Robbie Ray took a one-hitter into the seventh inning and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Atlanta Braves 13-5 on Friday night.
Hernandez went 2 for 5, including a sixth-inning shot to centre off Jacob Webb that put Toronto ahead 10-0.
Ray (1-1) allowed two runs, five hits and struck out five over 6 2/3 innings. The left-hander allowed just one runner through six innings, on Travis d’Arnaud’s double with one out in the second, then gave up Ozzie Albies’ two-run homer in the seventh.
Bo Bichette, Kirk and Randal Grichuk all connected off Drew Smyly (0-2), who allowed six runs and seven hits in four-plus innings. Kirk also went deep against Edgar Santana.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit Toronto’s sixth homer, a solo shot in the eighth.
Bichette hit a two-run homer in the third. Kirk had a fourth-inning two-run drive and Grichuk’s solo shot in the fifth made it 5-0.
Kirk drove in two on his second home run in the fifth.
Atlanta’s Marcell Ozuna had been 0 for 20 against lefties this season before doubling off Ray in the seventh. He had a two-run single during a three-run eighth.
George Springer, who signed a team-record $150 million, six-year deal this off-season, singled in the first for his first Blue Jays hit and went 1 for 3, walked twice and stole a base. After missing time because of oblique and right quadriceps strains, he was hitless in four at-bats during his first game Wednesday against Washington.
SUN SPOT
The Blue Jays moved back the starting time of night games at TD Ballpark a half-hour to 7:37 EDT due in part to the sun, which was located just above first-base side roof at the single-deck stadium early on in recent games. Blue Jays 3B Joe Panik lost a high-hop single by Washington’s Ryan Zimmerman in the first inning Wednesday night in the sun.
Centre FIELD
Braves: Ronald Acuna Jr. was in centre so Guillermo Heredia, who started the previous 11 games, could be rested. Manager Brian Snitker said Acuna could get limited time at the position.
Blue Jays: Springer was the DH for the second straight game but might get a start in centre soon.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Braves: Snitker said LHP Max Fried (right hamstring) was feeling great one day after throwing to hitters. Fried could rejoin the rotation next week. ? LHP Sean Newcomb (undisclosed) returned from the 10-day IL and gave up two runs, two hits and two walks in two-thirds on an inning.
Blue Jays: LHP Hyun Jin Ryu (strained right glute) could return next week after missing one start.
UP NEXT
Braves RHP Charlie Morton (2-1) faces a Toronto bullpen day Saturday night.
