Jays botch the basics

TORONTO Despite a pair of doubles earlier in the game, Devon Travis was unable to execute when the Blue Jays needed him the most on Tuesday.

Travis was signalled to bunt with two on, no outs and Toronto trailing 6-5 in the eighth inning, but was eventually struck out by Braves reliever Arodys Vizcaino. Darwin Barney followed by lining into an inning-ending double play.

Atlanta added three runs in the ninth to defeat the Blue Jays 9-5.

“It’s nice to walk up to the plate with two doubles or two hits — whatever the case may be,” said Travis, who finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs. “When you’re told to do a job though, especially bunting, that’s important for this team, it wins games. I’ve got to do my job it’s that simple.”

Toronto manager John Gibbons said that the rationale behind the move was to get the runners over and create a better scoring opportunity.

“Well we’re down a run, want to get the guy to third base, contact, trying run, you get a big hit, you take the lead,” said Gibbons.

Dansby Swanson hit a goahead home run off Danny Barnes (0-1) in the seventh inning to help the Braves (1521) earn their fourth win in five games. Jose Ramirez (2-1) allowed an earned run on two hits over 1 2/3 innings for the win.

Toronto (17-23) erased a 5-3 deficit in the sixth on an RBI single from Barney and a weak grounder from Ezequiel Carrera, which scored Travis. The Blue Jays have dropped back-to-back games after having their season-high fivegame winning streak snapped in Monday’s loss.

The two teams head to Atlanta on Wednesday for a quick two-game series.

CUBS 9, REDS 5

CHICAGO — Slumping sluggers Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber homered, rookie Ian Happ connected again and the Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds.

RANGERS 5, PHILLIES 1

ARLINGTON, Texas — Yu Darvish struck out nine over seven solid innings and Texas beat Philadelphia to stretch the majors’ longest active winning streak to seven games.

ASTROS 12, MARLINS 2

MIAMI — Unbeaten ace Dallas Keuchel became the first seven-game winner in the majors despite pitching only five innings, his shortest outing this season, and Houston beat swooning Miami.

NATIONALS 8, PIRATES 4

PITTSBURGH — Bryce Harper belted his 13th home run, Ryan Zimmerman smacked a two-run double to add to his major league-leading RBI total and Washington held off struggling Pittsburgh.

ROCKIES 7, TWINS 3

MINNEAPOLIS — Charlie Blackmon hit a towering tworun homer during a four-run sixth inning and finished with three hits to lead Colorado over Minnesota.

RED SOX 6, CARDINALS 3

ST. LOUIS — Mookie Betts homered and drove in two runs, Jackie Bradley Jr. also went deep and Boston beat St. Louis in the opener of a twogame interleague series.

YANKEES 7, ROYALS 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Gary Sanchez hit a three-run homer, Chris Carter added a two-run shot and CC Sabathia got back on track as New York rolled

RAYS 6, INDIANS 4

CLEVELAND — Corey Dickerson hit two of Tampa Bay’s season-high five home runs in a victory over Cleveland.