Blue Jays hold on to get one back from Guardians

Kevin Gausman pitched an effective 6 2/3 innings, Kazuma Okamoto homered and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Cleveland Guardians 5-3 on Saturday afternoon.

Gausman (2-1) allowed two runs, six hits and no walks with three strikeouts.

Louis Varland allowed one run on two singles and a double in the ninth to pick up his second save.

Andres Gimenez keyed a three-run sixth with a two-run double to help the Blue Jays gain a split of the first two games of the three-game series.

David Fry hit a solo homer for the Guardians.

Cleveland scored once in the third against Gausman. Juan Brito led off with a double to left, took third on a groundout and scored on Brayan Rocchio's groundout to shortstop.

Okamoto led off the home fourth with a home run to center on a 1-1 fastball against Joey Cantillo (1-1).

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. led off the sixth with a single to right, stole second and took third on Okamoto's single to left. Matt Festa replaced Cantillo. With one out, Daulton Varsho's grounder to second squirted past Brito for an RBI single. Gimenez blooped a two-run double down the left-field line.

Cantillo allowed three runs, six hits and one walk while striking out four in five-plus innings.

Cleveland got one run back when Fry hit a first-pitch slider to left with one out for his first homer of the season. Mason Fluharty replaced Gausman with two outs in the seventh.

Toronto loaded the bases with none out in the seventh against Peyton Pallette when Myles Straw and Ernie Clement singled and Guerrero walked. Okamoto walked to force in the only run of the inning.

Cleveland rallied in the ninth against Varland. Rhys Hoskins and George Valera singled with one out. Pinch hitter Kyle Manzardo stroked an RBI double to left. Brito walked to load the bases before Varland struck out the next two batters.

Cleveland's Steven Kwan was a late scratch with a stiff neck.

Toronto put Nathan Lukes on the injured list with a strained left hamstring. Outfielder Yohendrick Pinango was promoted from Triple-A Buffalo.

--Field Level Media