Blue Jays’ bats set for stun
Kirk’s 2nd HR in 2 days, Bichette’s slam helps Toronto avoid sweep
Bo Bichette hit a grand slam and Alejandro Kirk homered for the second straight game, leading Ross Stripling and the Toronto Blue Jays over the injury-riddled White Sox 9-5 Wednesday.
Bichette’s second career slam capped a five-run fourth inning as the Blue Jays avoided a three-game series sweep.
Kirk hit an RBI single in the first and a homer to center in the third. He tops All-Star fan voting for AL catchers and leads all qualified major league catchers in batting average (.307) and OPS (.857).
Kirk batted .364 (8 for 22) with four home runs and eight RBIs in five games against the White Sox this season.
Lucas Giolito (4-4) allowed seven runs on a season-high 11 hits in five innings. He has a 9.47 ERA in his last five starts.
Kirk is 4 for 9 with three home runs and six RBIs lifetime against Giolito.
The White Sox collected seven hits in the final three innings after Stripling departed. They scored three times in the eighth and brought the potential tying run to the plate, but Leury Garcia grounded.
Luis Robert extended his hitting streak to 13 games. He moved slowly running to first and stayed there even after his hit skipped past left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and eventually left the game in the eighth.
The White Sox were stretched at shortstop. Tim Anderson, who returned Monday after missing 18 games because of a right groin strain, didn’t play under doctor’s orders, manager Tony La Russa said before the game. White Sox shortstop Danny Mendick left after colliding with left fielder Adam Haseley on a foul pop in the second and left due to right knee discomfort. Garcia, who had been sidelined for the last four games because of side discomfort, replaced him.
Right fielder Adam Engel left after three innings because of right hamstring soreness.