Myles Straw had a pair of hits and three RBIs, including a two-run single that capped a three-run third-inning rally, propelling the visiting Toronto Blue Jays to a 7-2 win over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.
The Blue Jays ended their four-game losing streak and salvaged the final contest of the three-game series.
Toronto scored three runs in the third inning against Atlanta ace left-hander Chris Sale. Charles McAdoo singled in a run to start the rally and Straw followed two batters later with a two-run
single to center field. The Braves avoided further damage when Tyler Heineman hit into an inning-ending double play.
Straw, who went 2-for-5, entered the game batting only .189 against left-handers and was 1-for-13 overall in the last 10 games. He had struck out twice in his only two career at-bats against Sale.
Straw added an RBI single in the ninth inning against reliever Reynaldo Lopez when the Jays scored four insurance runs.
Nathan Lukes went 2-for-3 and his two-out RBI single in the ninth helped Toronto expand its lead to 4-2. Lukes extended his hitting streak to a career-best 11 games.
The Blue Jays used six pitchers in the bullpen game. Mason Fluharty pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings to open the game, and Chad Dallas (1-0) followed with 3 2/3 solid innings, allowing one run on two hits and two walks, striking out two. Dallas got the win in his major league debut.
Tyler Rogers and Jeff Hoffman each pitched a scoreless inning, Braydon Fisher allowed one run in two-thirds of an inning, and Louis Varland completed the final 1 1/3 innings without further damage and earned his ninth save.
Sale (8-4) pitched 5 2/3 innings and was removed after throwing his 108th pitch. The left-hander allowed three runs on a season-high 10 hits as well as two walks. He struck out six. Sale retired the side in order only one time.
Atlanta got its first run in the third inning. Matt Olson hit a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Ronald Acuna Jr.
The Braves cut the margin to 3-2 in the eighth when Mauricio Dubon hit a solo homer to left field, his fifth, against Fisher.
--Field Level Media
