Braves end losing streak, down Blue Jays
Atlanta 3, Toronto 2
ATLANTA — Andrelton Simmons’ tiebreaking RBI single in the ninth inning snapped a 12-game home losing streak and the Atlanta Braves beat the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Toronto began the night with a three-game lead over the New York Yankees, but the Blue Jays, despite the majors’ best record since the All-Star break, have lost two straight.
The Braves ended the longest home skid in franchise history. They began the game 14-46 overall since July 8.
Aaron Sanchez (7-6) took the loss, allowing four hits, one run and striking out one in 1 1-3 innings.
Arodys Vizcaino (3-1) faced the minimum in the ninth to earn the win.
Blue Jays sluggers Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista went a combined 0 for 8 with four strikeouts. First baseman Edwin Encarnacion, Toronto’s other big bat, missed his second straight game with an injured finger.
Justin Smoak drew a leadoff walk in the second inning and Toronto took the lead on Cliff Pennington’s RBI single.
Atlanta went up 2-1 in the bottom of the inning when Simmons grounded out and Freddie Freeman reached on first baseman Smoak’s fielding error.
Mark Buehrle struck out two and gave up six hits, one walk and two runs — one earned — in five innings. The left-hander threw just 66 pitches after getting a cortisone shot in his throwing shoulder Sept. 8.
Julio Teheran allowed five hits, two runs, four walks and struck out seven in 5 2-3 innings. He threw 113 pitches.
Smoak’s 16th homer, a solo shot to start the sixth, made it 2-all.
Brett Cecil pitched a perfect sixth for Toronto, his 25th consecutive scoreless inning, most by an AL reliever this year.
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons has moved RHP Drew Hutchison to the bullpen as RHP Marcus Stroman moves into the five-man rotation. Gibbons told Hutchison, who is 13-4 but has a 5.33 ERA in 27 starts, on Sunday. “He was fine,” Gibbons said. “He didn’t like it.” Stroman returned from a season-long knee injury to win Saturday at Yankee Stadium. Hutchison has a 9.44 ERA on the road this year.