Stroman pitches eight solid innings; but Pirates down Blue Jays, 4-2

TORONTO — Jameson Taillon pitched six innings to snap a three-start winless streak, Josh Harrison had two hits and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-2, in interleague baseball play Friday night, their seventh win in nine games.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen limped off because of a sore left knee one batter after hitting an RBI double in the third.

Taillon (7-5) allowed two runs and six hits. He left after Toronto put runners at second and third with no outs in the seventh.

George Kontos came on and retired the next three batters.

Juan Nicasio worked the eighth and Felipe Rivero finished for his 12th save in 13 chances.

Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman (10-6) allowed four runs, none earned, and four hits in eight innings, snapping a six-start unbeaten streak. The loss was his first since a July 3 road defeat against the New York Yankees.

Pittsburgh took advantage of two errors by Blue Jays second baseman Rob Refsnyder to score four unearned runs in the third. After making an errant throw to second while trying to force John Jaso on Francisco Cervelli’s grounder, Refsnyder failed to touch second base while trying to turn a double-play on Adam Frazier’s hard shot to third, allowing the Pirates to score their first run.

Harrison followed with an RBI single, McCutchen hit an RBI double and Josh Bell capped the rally with a sacrifice fly.

Jose Bautista hit a solo homer for the Jays, his third in three games after going 18 games without one. Bautista’s homer was his 20th, giving him eight straight seasons with at least that many. Carlos Delgado, who did it in nine straight seasons, is the only other Blue Jay to achieve the feat.